Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in debate on a criminal justice motion placed before the House by the official opposition. It raises the need for greater focus on reform of our criminal justice laws to make Canadians feel safer in their homes and in their neighbourhoods.
At the outset let me say how very disappointed I was to hear the shrill and extreme remarks of the parliamentary secretary to the attorney general. This morning she suggested that if the official opposition had its way Canada would be a country governed by vigilante justice where every individual would own a firearm.
I understand partisan differences and differences of opinions between members of this place. That is what serious democratic deliberation is all about. I find that kind of shrill, extreme demagogic rhetoric from a member beyond the pale of reasonable debate.
The member cackles across. She does herself a gross disservice by engaging in that kind of over the top, demagogic rhetoric by grossly mischaracterizing the legitimate and heartfelt concern of the members of the official opposition and the millions of Canadians we represent when it comes to the need for criminal justice reform.
I can have a disagreement with the parliamentary secretary and members of her party about how to weigh victims rights versus the rights of criminals, due process, sentencing and so forth. We can have legitimate arguments about these matters. That is what this parliament is for. I will not ascribe motives to that member and suggest she does not care about criminal justice. I know she does. I will not castigate this government as not caring about victims. I know it does. We have different approaches about how to defend the rights of victims. I will not countenance any member from any side of the House using that kind of extremist and shrill rhetoric we heard from that member this morning.