moved for leave to introduce Bill C-639, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of critical infrastructures).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce my private member's bill to protect Canada's critical infrastructure.
Currently, the punishment for those who interfere with critical infrastructure is not appropriately defined in the Criminal Code, relative to the severity of these acts. Across Canada, interference with critical infrastructure has put communities at risk. These acts should be considered more than just petty crimes.
The legislation, which I propose today, would keep our communities safe by providing law enforcement with an additional tool to protect and secure critical infrastructure. Balanced and fair, this bill is a result of months of consultations with stakeholders across Canada.
This legislation would create a new offence under the Criminal Code to capture conduct related to interference with critical infrastructure and would provide the flexibility required to adapt to the changing nature of threats. By promoting harsher sentencing, the measures proposed would deter criminals and punish those whose crimes cause serious economic disruptions and endanger the public safety of Canadians.
I ask my colleagues in this House to support this legislation, and I look forward to their input and debate.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)