Mr. Speaker, this series of amendments would considerably increase fines and penalties for citizenship related offences. They are very consistent. They would all do the same thing.
Bill C-16 already increases the penalties rather appreciatively. The new penalties are also in line with penalties proposed for existing offences within other federal legislation, including the criminal code.
I am going to resist the urge to editorialize on the propensity for the party opposite to look for incarceration as its punishment of choice. Filling our jails and building new ones would probably be very good for the economy, but not particularly good for the people involved.
Therefore, I would suggest that the government oppose this series of amendments.