House of Commons Hansard #145 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was process.

Topics

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Madam Speaker, yes, I believe that amendment is an improvement to the bill.

Any time there is an opportunity to have input from the victim, it is a step in the right direction. That is important, and we must continue to do work to ensure that victims are heard throughout our court process and, in this instance, a judicial complaints process.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:40 a.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

Madam Speaker, it is hard for me to thank the member for his speech, which was essentially a long recitation of the Conservative's commitment to tough-on-crime policies, which have clearly failed. However, my real disappointment with his speech is that we have done some work in this Parliament, particularly on the study on the rights of victims where parties have worked together to try and improve the justice system.

My question is about the bill and confidence in the judicial system. I wonder whether the Conservatives actually believe that the justice system and judges, in particular, have to look more like the face of Canada for the public to have confidence in that system.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Madam Speaker, to answer the member's question directly, yes, I agree with him.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Madam Speaker, I am here to talk about Bill C-9, an act to amend the Judges Act.

In the end, the Michel Girouard case was not even about whether Justice Girouard had purchased cocaine from his former client, a known drug dealer. The Canadian Judicial Council panel hearing the case found that there was not enough evidence on a balance of probability to find that the judge had been dealing in drugs.

There was a video recording, which, unfortunately for him, captured an exchange between him and his client, with money going one way and a package going the other. The judge said that exchange was not about drugs; it was about pornography. Clearly, this judge had a bad habit or maybe two bad habits, but I am willing to concede to the panel's finding that there was no drug dealing. In the end, it was the cover-up that torpedoed this judge's short time on the bench.

The panel's report reads, “[He] deliberately and intentionally attempted to conceal the truth during the hearing.” After that, they recommended his removal. However, Judge Michel Girouard of the Quebec Superior Court was a very good judge. He was certainly a very smart judge. He was a very competent lawyer too. He had a good track record as trial counsel, and he knew his way through the legal court system probably better than anybody did. He used the experience he attained during his career as a lawyer to his full advantage.

Here is a short history. In 2010, he was appointed to the court. In 2012, there was a complaint launched against him relating to drug dealing. In 2014, the Canadian Judicial Council undertook a full investigation, and at the end of that, it recommended his removal to the minister of justice at the time.

I will give a brief explanation of how the Canadian Judicial Council works.

It is a body of judges that is appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Judges Act to review judges' complaints against judges. This is judges judging judges. The idea behind the structure, as with all administrative bodies, is to take specialized cases out of the regular court system. The idea is to be more fair, more transparent and more efficient.

Generally, this works, but it can be abused, as it was in the Girouard case. That case was dragged through the Canadian Judicial Council appeal processes and then through the court system under judicial review procedures. All of these tools were available to Justice Girouard under the governing legislation, the Judges Act, which we are reviewing today. Along the way, he found some courts that were actually sympathetic to his position. The case went back and forth, and it finally ended up at the doors of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2019, which refused to hear the appeal.

The end of the story is that Justice Girouard resigned, mercifully for all of us, but not until after eight years of dragging the case through the court system while he had full pay, even though he did not have to show up for work. His pension also accrued during that time.

Although the Supreme Court of Canada decided not to hear this case, the chief justice had this to say, not specifically about this case but generally: “If the judge has to be removed, he has to be removed quickly and without too much cost to society. We need reforms. Parliament should find a way to make sure that these matters don’t drag for too long and aren't too expensive.”

That is why we are here today to review Bill C-9, an act to amend the Judges Act. I do not want to leave the impression that Bill C-9 is Parliament's response to the Girouard case. It is not. I took up that case only because it is high profile and a good example. It illustrates why reform is necessary.

The Canadian Judicial Council is busy with many files. It oversees the work of almost 1,200 federally appointed judges. The vast majority of those judges are very competent, fair, judicious, respectful of the people who appear before them and respected by their profession and in their communities. The CJC's judicial conduct oversight role is part of its general mandate to keep the judicial system efficient, uniform and accountable, and in large part, it does that work effectively.

I do not want to get into the details of Bill C-9; we do not have time for that. A general overview is that it expedites the inquiry process and simplifies it, while also keeping it fair to judges. It also aims to secure the public's confidence in our court system. Importantly, it keeps cases out of the court system.

The council's recommendation to the Minister of Justice will be the final decision, except in the case of an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. That is a faint hope because most applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court are turned down, as in the Girouard case. It did not make the cut. Most cases coming out of the Canadian Judicial Council, I am sure, would not make the cut to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Not everyone is going to be happy with that. In the Girouard case, for example, which made it to the federal trial court in its long and winding history of eight years, the judge had something to say in response to the Canadian Judicial Council's arguments that only the council had any jurisdiction over the oversight of judges and that the Federal Court had no jurisdiction at all. This is what the federal trial judge said:

It is undeniable that a report recommending the removal of a judge has a serious impact on that judge, professionally and personally, and on his or her family. It is inconceivable that a single body, with no independent supervision and beyond the reach of all judicial review, may decide a person's fate on its own.

If the judge who wrote that paragraph were sitting here today, he would be voting against Bill C-9.

At committee, as stated earlier in debate with the Minister of Justice, the Conservative members of the justice committee put forward a common-sense motion to amend Bill C-9 to allow for an automatic right of appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal. This is not to a trial court, where things could get bogged down, but directly to the Federal Court of Appeal. Unfortunately, the other members of the committee voted against that.

All that said, despite that flaw, which I think is significant, this legislation is good and sound. It stands in line with other judicial reform legislation of recent years and we support it.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Madam Speaker, one of the issues I have raised is confidence in the judicial system, in particular the public's confidence. I think it adds value to public confidence when we get legislation like this that is supported unanimously in the House.

My understanding is that the Conservative Party will be voting in favour of the legislation. Can the member provide his thoughts on the importance of having legislation of this nature, which reinforces public confidence in the independence of the judiciary?

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Madam Speaker, of course, judicial independence is extremely important. It goes to the core of our society and our judicial system, and the public must have confidence in the judicial system.

I think we can celebrate that Canada's judges are highly professional, highly ethical and very considerate of the people who appear before them. They are highly regarded by the community as well. There is a lot to celebrate. Bill C-9 brings that a step further to expedite the system for reviewing judges' behaviour.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his interesting speech. The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C‑9, just as he does. The legal community has called for it and we commend this bill.

I would like to ask my colleague about the judicial appointment process. We know about the “Liberalist” scandal of the past few years. The government used its party's membership list to appoint judges. The government has said that it is no longer using the list, but the judicial appointment process still falls primarily to the government.

Does my hon. colleague agree with my party's position that there should be an all-party committee with greater transparency to appoint judges in order to increase trust in the process?

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Madam Speaker, I completely agree that the appointment of judges must be non-partisan altogether, whether or not that is done through a multi-party body that oversees the appointment of judges. I would take it a step further and say that politicians should not be involved in it at all. It should just be done on a very non-partisan basis, based on the lawyer's ability to be a good judge.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Madam Speaker, one thing Canadians feel strongly about is the independence of the judiciary. In the United States, we see the overtly political Supreme Court creating political discord because of a lack of confidence in its decisions.

Rona Ambrose, the former Conservative member who was a very strong voice for women and justice in the House, talked about the need for mandatory training. There have been a few cases of judges who made really disturbing decisions based on sexual assault and the treatment of women.

Does my hon. colleague agree with Ms. Ambrose's position that we need to make sure the judges adjudicating these cases have a good understanding of victims' rights and women's rights in terms of sexual violence?

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Madam Speaker, we voted in favour of Bill C-3 in the previous Parliament, which originated as a private member's bill from the Hon. Rona Ambrose. I completely support it. I know there was some debate about whether Parliament telling judges they must get educated interfered with their independence. I do not think it did. Judges, like everybody, should be fully educated and informed on the topics they have to address.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

Resuming debate, which will only last 90 seconds.

The hon. member for Saint-Jean.

Judges ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

Bloc

Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC

Madam Speaker, I thank you. I was not sure whether you were going to give me a few seconds to start my speech, which I will be pleased to continue after question period.

Since the end of this parliamentary period and the holidays are approaching, I want to take a few moments to recognize a few people. We will, of course, recognize those who work with us in the House in the coming week, but I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of my team, which is something that we perhaps do not do often enough. The work of an MP is only as good as the work of those who support them in their riding office. I therefore want to thank Dave, Diane and Hugo, as well as our new recruits, Philippe‑Olivier and Huguette, for their great work, unwavering support and top-notch service.

That being said, Bill C-9, which is before us today, seems to have almost unanimous support. I had the pleasure of rising to speak to this bill last June. Generally speaking, the questions asked in the House as part of the debate were not so much about the bill itself as they were about the broader aspects of the justice system review, which shows that the bill's content is not very controversial.

In fact, the bill—

Judges ActGovernment Orders

11 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

I think it would be a good idea to stop there and resume debate after question period.

Season's GreetingsStatements by Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Terry Sheehan Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish everyone in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie a holiday season filled with joy, a heart with love and a life with blessings.

As we continue to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, let us embrace the beautiful traditions this year that bring us together around the table with our family, our friends and our loved ones.

I give a special holiday greeting, as well, to our Canadian Armed Forces members and their families who serve in Canada and overseas, and I thank them for their sacrifices, which keep us safe and protect our way of life.

Let us also continue our resolve and hope and support for the people of Ukraine and Iran, and many other people in the world who are in conflict.

Let all our voices call out for peace on earth and goodwill to all.

Again, I wish a merry Christmas and a very healthy, happy and prosperous new year to everyone in Canada.

Foreign AffairsStatements by Members

December 9th, 2022 / 11 a.m.

Conservative

Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON

Madam Speaker, the Liberal government continues to make Canada's credibility around the world a joke. It continues to dishonour our commitment to NATO funding, to our indigenous peoples and even to the United Nations.

The international Great Lakes Fishery Commission is now on the razor's edge of collapsing, with our American friends walking away, fed up with our continued failure to honour our word.

What does the government say to our American partners who have written us on this critical issue, such as members of Congress Dingell, Joyce, Kaptur, Huizenga and Grothman, as well as Senators Stabenow, Portman, Smith, Brown, Durbin, Klobuchar, Casey, Duckworth, Peters and Chuck Schumer, all reminding us of our commitment?

We call upon the government to direct existing payments, already budgeted to the international commission, through Global Affairs Canada and not through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which continues to mismanage this critical file.

If our word is not good, what good are we?

Coptic Orthodox ChurchStatements by Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON

Madam Speaker, I met His Grace Bishop Boulos, the bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church and other community leaders. I am glad to hear that changes are happening in Egypt and that its president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has transformed the previously established state policies and positively altered the relationship between the state and the church.

I understand that he is the first president to physically visit the Coptic capital and has commissioned construction of the Cathedral of Nativity in Egypt's new administrative capital.

I am told that the bureaucratic challenges that limited the construction and renovation of Coptic churches have now been lifted. It is good to hear that the Copts are living through a period of peace, tranquility and equality under the current leadership in Egypt.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous 2023.

Indigenous AffairsStatements by Members

11 a.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Madam Speaker, more than three years ago the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls published its report, with over 230 calls for justice. Since then, from the government, there have been lots of pretty words but no action on the scale required, showing utter disrespect for the thousands of victims.

Where is the indigenous-led housing that is needed? Where are the shelters for indigenous women fleeing from violence? The tragic reality of Canada today is that tonight, close to 1,000 indigenous and non-indigenous women and children will be left outside, without access to shelters or services.

The horrific revelation of the deaths of four indigenous women in Winnipeg, murdered by a predator, shows once again that the government has failed to act on the scale that is required to keep indigenous women and girls safe.

To the families of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and the victim whom elders and the community have named Buffalo Woman, we are devastated that this has happened to their loved ones. We will fight to honour their memories.

Annual Children's Fundraiser with Dr. BureauStatements by Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to speak about the annual children's fundraiser with Dr. Bureau of the Gatineau Social Pediatric Center, which will be ongoing until January 15, 2023.

The funds collected will support quality care and services for extremely vulnerable children. In the past few years, the Gatineau Social Pediatric Center has developed many innovative projects with various community partners to support families and children in a stimulating and caring environment.

The children's fundraiser with Dr. Bureau is made possible by its passionate and engaged team, the board of directors and many volunteers.

For that reason, my colleagues and I want to express our appreciation for their invaluable contribution to our region's youth.

Bill Dowson and Bob McKinleyStatements by Members

11:05 a.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to offer tribute to two men from Huron County who left us recently.

Bill Dowson passed on November 9. He spent over 30 years in public service, first in Stanley Township and then as the first mayor of the Municipality of Bluewater and the warden of Huron County.

Bob McKinley passed on October 16. He served here in the House of Commons from 1965 to 1980 as a Progressive Conservative member of Parliament and the chief opposition whip. Bob was a friend and mentor for almost 20 years.

I would like to thank Bill and Bob for their years of service to our community. Huron County has lost two great public servants and two great guys.

VolunteerismStatements by Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

Madam Speaker, earlier this year, when Londoner Wayne Dunn was honoured by the Governor General for his contributions to volunteerism, it came as no surprise to residents of our community.

For 23 years, Wayne and the organizing committee of the Business Cares Food Drive have done extraordinary work in getting businesses together so food drives could be organized for the community, specifically in support of the London Food Bank. Just last year, almost 600,000 pounds of food was contributed. Obviously, the need is great again this year, and the work has begun. On December 1, this year's campaign began.

In addition to supporting the food bank, the contributions also support local soup kitchens, school breakfast programs and drop-in programs carried out by the community. It is a wonderful thing to see. It is an example of volunteerism in action in our community and the generosity of businesses.

I thank Wayne very much for all he has done for London.

Salvation ArmyStatements by Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

John Aldag Liberal Cloverdale—Langley City, BC

Madam Speaker, last weekend I had the honour of volunteering with the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign outside the Langley Superstore.

The kettle campaign is one of Canada's largest and most recognizable charitable events during the Christmas season. The funds raised stay in the community in which they are donated and are used to support local Salvation Army programs for people in need.

This was not the first time I volunteered with the Salvation Army. The Gateway of Hope, a ministry within the Salvation Army itself, filled backpacks for kids in need this fall as part of its family services program. In the end, between 800 and 900 families received help from this campaign.

I would like to personally thank the individuals at the Gateway of Hope who provide these important services in Cloverdale—Langley City. Dan Donkers is the volunteer coordinator who manages the kettle campaign. Cristina Schneiter is the residential services manager. She works with the local shelter and manages the emergency weather alerts. Andrea Voss is the family services coordinator. She helped organize the backpack campaign and also offers the community volunteer income tax program.

There are many people to thank for the services the Salvation Army provides, and I wish each of them a very merry Christmas.

Marie-Philip PoulinStatements by Members

11:05 a.m.

Conservative

Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC

Madam Speaker, this week, a panel of Canadian sports journalists chose the winner of the Northern Star Award, which is given annually to Canada's athlete of the year. This year, this prestigious award goes to Beauce's own Marie‑Philip Poulin, who proudly wore the letter “C” at the last Olympic Games and, along with her entire team, brought home gold for women's hockey.

She is now one of four legendary Quebec hockey players to have won this award, along with Guy Lafleur, Mario Lemieux and Maurice Richard. Also this week, Ms. Poulin became the very first member of the women's hockey team to be inducted into the hall of fame at Boston University, where she played with the Terriers for four years.

Marie-Philip Poulin continues to be an inspiration for young and old alike, not only in Beauce, but across the country. She proves day after day that passion and hard work can lead to greatness.

Congratulations once again to our beloved number 29. To Beauce, she will always be number one.

Bravo, Marie‑Philip Poulin.

Remembrance Project in Bloor West VillageStatements by Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute two teachers in my community of Parkdale—High Park, Katy Whitfield and Ian DaSilva.

During Remembrance Week they conceived a simple goal: making national sacrifice locally relatable. The project that emerged is called “They Walked These Streets”.

On two lawns in Bloor West Village, Katy and Ian mounted signs dedicated to the Canadian men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in both world wars. The signs captured the names of these military heroes, where they served and where they passed. The information also lists where these soldiers lived and which local school they attended, and in that, Canadian soldiers became instantly relatable to generations of my constituents. Schoolchildren would pass by and exclaim, “She went to my school,” or “He lived on my street.” Seniors would visit and pay homage to relatives who served.

There are 235 soldiers' stories depicted this year, and over 1,000 neighbours visited to learn and pay their respects. I thank Katy and Ian for helping this important history come alive in our community. We will indeed remember them.

Human Rights in IranStatements by Members

11:10 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON

Madam Speaker, Montrealer Sarah Kazemi, national wrestling champion Navid Afkari, 176 people including 55 Canadians on flight 752, Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini, and so many more have been killed by a murderous regime. Now Mohsen Shekari has been executed, in the first execution by hanging, for simply participating in recent protests in Iran, for simply exercising his universal and fundamental human right to free speech.

The people of Iran have been brave and tenacious in standing up to a oppressive autocratic regime. Canadians, too, have stood up in solidarity with the people of Iran. It is now time for this government to stand up with the people of Iran.

The government came to office promising to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen Canada's embassy in Tehran, and while it has backed off those promises, it has still not done what our allies have done and what the House has insisted the government do, which is to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.

The EconomyStatements by Members

11:10 a.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Madam Speaker, this week's interest rate hike means that the prime rate of Canada's chartered banks is 6.45%, the highest in 22 years.

Half of Canadian homeowners with a mortgage are worried they will not be able to afford their own home when their mortgage comes up for renewal. A typical homebuyer from five years ago, renewing a $400,000 mortgage, can expect their payments to go up by $400 or $500 a month or more when they renew, and new buyers, at today's rates and prices, have all but given up hope.

Canadians already face higher prices from Liberal tax increases on gas, groceries and home heating. They cannot afford higher mortgage payments too. The Liberals justified their out-of-control spending and borrowing since 2015 by saying that interest rates would never go up, but they were wrong. Liberal spending and borrowing drove up the cost of credit, and now Canadians have to pay more for their mortgages, and their kids are saddled with a legacy of Liberal debt.