Evidence of meeting #123 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was interpretation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
November 25th, 2024 / 3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
The TPS called for enhanced penalties for gun smuggling and gun trafficking. We enacted those penalties and enhancements in Bill C-21, which that member voted against—
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Minister. This is my time.
We know that indigenous people are more likely to be victims of crime. This has been reiterated in numerous government studies, such as the MMIWG and the TRC. The statistics don't seem to have changed much since these reports were made public. In 2022, StatsCan reported that nearly two-thirds, or 62%, of indigenous people have experienced at least one sexual or physical assault after the age of 15.
Will you, Minister, commit to reinforcing the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights to better protect indigenous victims of crime and uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act?
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
I absolutely commit to ensuring that people are protected from things like sexual assault, including indigenous people. I applaud the member opposite for noting that indigenous people are overrepresented, both as accused and—
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Will you reinforce the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights?
Liberal
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
I applaud the note and the recognition that indigenous people are overrepresented in our system, both as accused and as victims.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Will you reinforce the Victims Bill of Rights, Minister?
It's a simple question. Yes or no?
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
We conducted a study of a review of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights—
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
The answer is no. Thank you.
Would the minister consider a similar approach to victims' rights—
Liberal
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Madam Chair, could I raise an issue, please?
Generally, when we pose a question—
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
He can't make a point of order on his own time, Madam Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Actually, I was at another committee and they made that very clear. It's true.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Madam Chair, generally you afford a witness the same amount of time it takes for the question to be put. That is not being done here.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
That's not being done here. That's my fault. You're taking a lot more time to ask the question and you're not allowing the minister the time to respond.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
The reason I'm taking a lot more time to ask the question is that the Liberal members are constantly interrupting. I constantly have to go back to the original question and repeat myself. That's what's happening here.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Listen, we had stopped the clock. I'm not going to keep stopping the clock.
Can we please continue with that now?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Before you do.... Minister, have you responded to that last question?