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.
Conservative
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
It's “Mr. Bittle”, Mr. Brock. We show each other respect in this room.
Again, he insisted last week that we stick to the topic at hand. He isn't doing what he insisted that we do last week. I hope that Mr. Brock will comport himself in the same way that Mr. Brock of a week ago insisted we should comport ourselves.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Toronto police officers found themselves in the middle of an active shootout between rival groups. Sixteen firearms were seized, all stolen and smuggled from the U.S. Twenty-three people, including a young offender with three firearm prohibitions, were arrested. In response, the Toronto Police Association, the Police Association of Ontario, and the Ontario Provincial Police Association, representing 35,000 officers across the province, were calling on the federal government for immediate bail reform. Their calls to action included tough-on-crime measures that ensure repeat violent offenders are kept in custody, imposing stricter penalties for bail violations, and shifting resources away from ineffective gun bans—
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
—to focus on combatting illegal firearms smuggling. This isn't the first time—
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Brock is entitled to his time. I have two points. One, he understands the importance of being allowed to ask his questions, a point he's made now more than once. It's also important that he allow the minister the opportunity to answer the question, which he didn't do on his first question.
He's asked two questions now that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic we're here to discuss. I think it is incumbent upon you, Madam Chair, to get Mr. Brock to stay within the realm of relevance. I know that Mr. Brock thinks relevance is subjective, but it's not. It's objective, and it's for you to determine whether his questions are appropriate or not. Both of these questions are inappropriate and far outside the scope of what we're here for today.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
It would be very helpful if Mr. Maloney allowed me to actually ask the question, which he interrupted halfway through.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Mr. Brock, you have three minutes.
We've stopped the clock, by the way, each and every time a point of order was raised.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
No. You have three minutes and 29 seconds. We've stopped it every time.
I'm going to suspend for a minute.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
We will continue, Mr. Brock.
I will ask you to please make a link to Bill S-13, the bill that we are studying.
The clock will start now.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I intend on doing that with the six minutes that I have available. Has the time started?
November 25th, 2024 / 3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
This isn't the first time the TPA has raised alarms, Minister.
In the House today, you proudly stated that you delivered bail reform. The premiers of the provinces and territories and the presidents of police associations across this country unanimously claim that Bill C-48 is an abject failure.
Instead of blaming provincially appointed judges and justices of the peace, when will you finally toughen up our bail regime to keep our communities safe?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
I'm going to allow the minister to respond to that.
If you wish, bring it back to what we're studying.
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
I object to that categorization.
I'll refer the member to three points. The first is that the work of the Toronto Police Service is heroic. I applaud their courage.
The second point I would make is that there are 700 fewer police officers in Toronto now than there were in 2015, when we first got elected, which is a problem for the municipality and a problem for the province.
The third point I would make is that the same TPS letter actually referred to the penalties for things like gun smuggling and gun trafficking. In preparing for this appearance, I actually noted that in Bill—
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
If he's allowed to ask the question, the minister is allowed to answer.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
This is my time, Madam Chair.
He's answered the question. He said he had three points. I gave him the opportunity to raise those three points.
This is the member's time. I'm reclaiming my time.