Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the hon. member for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, even though he is comparing apples to oranges. He is all over the map.
Let me begin by acknowledging the legitimate frustration many Canadians feel when they hear stories about repeat offenders being released on bail. These cases raise serious questions about the balance between public safety and individual rights, but we must be careful not to confuse symptoms with causes.
The example that was mentioned, of a homeless person released on bail with a curfew, does not demonstrate that a law was poorly drafted. Indeed, current law, as set out in the Criminal Code and confirmed by the Supreme Court, specifies that release conditions must be reasonable and appropriate. In this case, the court found that imposing a curfew on a homeless person was, at the very least, imprudent and unrealistic. When the law is clear, it is not up to Parliament to amend it; it is up to the courts to guide those who make the decisions on the ground.
To be clear, protecting the safety and security of Canadians demands collaboration from all levels of government. Our government is moving forward with ambitious reforms to the Criminal Code, but the provinces must also do their part. Too many of their courts and prisons are underfunded or overcrowded. The fact is, most bail determinations are made by justices of the peace, who are appointed by the provinces, not by Ottawa. Provincial prosecutors, who can and must challenge overly lenient decisions, are overwhelmed and under-resourced. Police and prosecutors need adequate support from the provinces to keep dangerous offenders behind bars.
At the federal level, our government has already taken action. In 2023, we introduced Bill C‑48 to tighten the rules for violent repeat offenders and those who use weapons, while strengthening protection for victims of intimate partner violence. These reforms were unanimously supported by every province and territory, including those with Conservative governments. That is federal leadership in action: bringing Canadians together and finding solutions that work.
We will do more. This fall, we will introduce legislation to make bail and sentencing rules even stricter, especially for organized crime, auto theft and human trafficking.
Unlike the opposition, we do not believe in empty slogans, like the “three strikes and you're out” rule. This rhetoric, aimed at scoring political points, solves nothing. It has failed everywhere it was put to the test in the United States. Even the Conservatives seem to have learned that lesson after losing the last election. In fact, despite campaigning on it, they did not even include the proposal in their bail legislation, Bill C‑242. I offer the member the opportunity to rise and clearly tell Canadians that he was wrong and that this proposal was in fact absurd.
Our Liberal government is committed to building a system that protects communities and addresses the causes of recidivism. For that, stronger laws are required. Investments in mental health, addiction treatment and community programs are also required. We will do our part, and we hope that the provinces will do theirs.
