Justice Committee on Nov. 7th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Ms. Ferreri was on the list next in any case. Whether she's speaking to the motion or on the list, she was there anyway. I'm not sure what she's speaking on, but....

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Do we need to add ourselves to the new list right now?

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

I think we'll continue with the list as is.

Ms. Ferreri, you're there, and then Mr. Jivani will go next.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Before my colleague jumps back in, I'd like to be added to that list as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

I have added both you and Madam Goodridge.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

As I was saying, what are we doing here today? Well, we're talking about a bill, and then an amendment that was put forward. Bill C-270 is much, much needed. It's an act to amend the Criminal Code related to pornographic material. What I was speaking about at the beginning of this was sextortion. For a lot of parents, you know, this is a tough conversation to have at home, but it's important that we know what this is.

What is sextortion? Well, it is where people are having a conversation online through an app. It can be Snapchat or Instagram or a lot of these applications that our children use every day and that adults use, but obviously it's a different can of worms when minors are impacted or involved. There is an exchange or an ask for an image, an intimate image. That person says okay and they send it to them. That picture or image or video, or whatever it is, is then used to extort that person. They are asked for money.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Ms. Ferreri, let me clarify this a little bit.

We are speaking to the amendment. I believe the amendment was sent to everybody. It deals with reinviting and asking the minister to appear on supplementary estimates.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

This is where I have Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Kurek, I guess, if we're—

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Sorry. I don't want to be added. I have nothing to say.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

You don't want to be added? Fabulous.

Mr. Kurek, you'll be after Ms. Ferreri.

Can I just conclude with the amendment portion before I go back to the main one?

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Go ahead, Ms. Goodridge.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, I believe that was actually the point of order that was raised by my colleague Mr. Kurek a few minutes ago. It was to clarify the speaking order and consider whether we needed to reset the speaking list, as we are speaking to the amendment that was brought forward by Mr. Bittle. I can understand that there's perhaps some confusion. I do believe my colleague Ms. Ferreri is talking specifically to the amendment that was brought forward by Mr. Bittle. As you're aware, there's a lot of latitude given in committees to get back to our point. This is directly relevant to the piece at hand.

I would ask you to clarify this. We are speaking to the amendment. You had earlier stated that the speaking order from prior to the amendment was going to carry. Is that no longer the case? I'm very confused.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

That's fair enough.

Ms. Ferreri is speaking to the amendment. When we have completed the amendment, she'll be back on the list as the first one on the main motion.

After Ms. Ferreri, on the amendment itself, we only have Mr. Kurek and no one else.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Then we also have everyone else on everything else.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Madam Chair, I'd like to be added to the speaking list.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

You would like to be added to the list for the amendment, and Ms. Goodridge would, as well.

Thank you.

Ms. Ferreri, go ahead.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Madam Chair, this is just for clarification for anybody who's following at home.

We had a motion on the table:

That the Committee request an extension of 30 sitting days to the period of Committee consideration for Bill C-270.

The amendment put forward was to add “and that the Committee invite the Minister of Justice to appear for one hour on the Supplementary Estimates (B) and reinvite Arnold Viersen to appear on the subject of Bill C-270.”

What that means is that we're talking about this amendment. We're debating an amendment that's been put forward. However, when we ask a minister to come in and talk about supplementary estimates, we now have a lot of latitude in terms of what we're going to discuss.

This is the justice committee. As you can imagine, there's not a person or a Canadian, I assume, who isn't watching at home who hasn't felt the impact of the increasing crime after nine years of the Prime Minister.... What we're doing now is really trying to ask the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc to really dive into the crisis that this country is under.

I have so many things, obviously, as the critic for families, children and social development. This is one of the biggest impacts to families across this country. Public safety should be there for everyone, and it's not.

In my community, in Peterborough, for example, it feels like at least every day there is a headline of another stabbing or a shooting in what was once a very sleepy, sweet town. That is really what we're here to discuss. How do we improve that? That's what committees are designed to do. You can't correct a problem if you don't acknowledge a problem.

In this committee, we are tasked with bringing forward information, listening to experts and really having tough discussions about what's happening.

Let's put it into the context of data. I think everybody knows there's nobody out there who has gone outside who can't say that things don't feel less safe in Canada after nine years of Justin Trudeau. That's just a fact. Total sexual assaults are up 75%. Sexual violations against children are up 119%. Forcible confinement or kidnapping is up 11%. Indecent and harassing communications are up 86.4%. Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is up 801%.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

The motion and this amendment are purely about scheduling, and the comments of my colleague opposite have nothing to do with that, so I suggest that unless she has something—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Madam Chair—

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

—relevant to scheduling, we move on.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Madam Chair, this is—

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Also, I would ask her to have the courtesy to stop talking until I'm finished.