Debates of Feb. 3rd, 2023

Justice

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, our hearts go out to those impacted by violence, and especially gun violence. As far as bail is concerned, there is no right to bail if someone poses a serious risk to public safety. There is, in fact, a reverse onus for bail imposed on the accused charged with certain firearms offences, including offences involving a firearm that are committed while subject to a weapons prohibition order. We will continue to work with the provinces and territories to ensure that bail is accessible, but at the same time it is limited to those who do not pose a risk to public safety.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Madam Speaker, eight years ago, Constable David Wynn of the St. Albert RCMP was gunned down by a violent repeat offender who was mistakenly released on bail. The system failed. However, after eight years of the Prime Minister, a tragic mistake has become a matter of government policy of deliberately releasing violent repeat offenders on bail who kill innocent police officers and victims.

When will the Prime Minister acknowledge his failure and fix his broken justice system?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, let me be very clear on bail. The laws on bail are limited to those who do not pose a risk to public safety to be released on bail. If we look at the criminal justice system as a whole, we have a shared responsibility with the provincial and territorial governments. With respect to the federal government, we are responsible for the Criminal Code. The federal government is working with the provinces and territories to ensure that the administration of justice is strengthened. We will work with them in order to get to the right place on bail.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I just want to remind members that, if they do not have the floor, they should not be speaking, and there should not be debate going on back and forth while others have the floor.

The hon. member for Sturgeon River—Parkland.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Madam Speaker, police officers, victims and the provinces are calling on the Prime Minister to fix this broken justice system. After eight years of the Liberal government, it has never been easier for violent repeat offenders to be released. If the Liberals do not believe it, the proof is in the pudding. Out of 44 gang-related homicides in Toronto in 2022, 24 were committed by those out on bail. The consequences of the Prime Minister's catch-and-release justice agenda are fatal.

After eight years of failure, when will the Prime Minister take responsibility and fix this broken justice system?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, sadly, there is no one among us who has not been subject to the effects of violence. All of us know people who are victims. Every single one of us shares an equal commitment to making sure that justice is served and that our communities are kept safe. The reality is that Canada enjoys one of the greatest reputations in the world for its justice system. We have one of the lowest rates of recidivism anywhere in the world.

The policies the Conservatives advocated were struck down by the courts again and again. They were tried in jurisdictions like the United States where even the father of that movement, Newt Gingrich, said they were an abject failure.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, I send my regards to the family and friends of the late Dale Culver. They deserve justice. It is absolutely incredible that it has taken six years to charge five RCMP officers in his death.

An indigenous policing bill should have been introduced long ago, as the Liberals promised. It is clear they will only take incremental steps to ensure justice for indigenous peoples.

When will the current government pass legislation so indigenous peoples can keep themselves safe?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Madam Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the member opposite for her advocacy.

This is an important subject that we have to get right in Canada. As an indigenous person who lives in an indigenous community, I am aware of the complexities and also the need for indigenous policing legislation and indigenous policing commitments. That is why our government put almost $1 billion in the 2020 budget to ensure that we are moving forward on indigenous policing. We are going to do so because we owe a debt to indigenous people across this country so they can be safe and secure in the places where they reside.

Persons with Disabilities

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Speaker, I raise my hands to the member for Nunavut.

Living with a disability should not mean living in poverty, but for one million Canadians this is exactly what it means. The Canada disability benefit is at least a year away, and as Canadians wait for it, the cost of living continues to rise. The situation is dire as people skip meals and contemplate MAID. They need financial support now.

Will the Liberals provide a disability emergency relief benefit immediately to close that income gap?

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment]

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her tireless advocacy.

In Canada, no person with a disability should live in poverty. That is why we are committed to creating the Canada disability benefit, a thoughtfully designed income supplement with the potential to seriously reduce poverty and improve financial security for hundreds of thousands of working-age Canadians with disabilities from coast to coast to coast.

I am pleased to say that yesterday Bill C-22 passed unanimously in the House. We look forward to seeing it move through the Senate.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, we know Canada has the great potential and talent to be a leader in new technology and innovation. Can the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry update this House on what our government is doing to improve Canada's competitiveness as an innovative nation?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, today was a great day for one of our Canadian champions. OpenText, one of the largest software companies in the world, made its debut on the NASDAQ today. Not only that, but for the first time in Canadian history, the bell of the NASDAQ was rung from Canada, from here in Ottawa.

I would say to all Canadians and all members that if they know people who are employees of OpenText, it is thanks to their talent, know-how and expertise that we can celebrate, so send them a letter, send them a text message or give them a phone call. They have made all Canadians proud today.

Public Safety

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Madam Speaker, after eight long years of the current government, crime has surged to a level not seen in decades. Not only are communities subjected to daily shootings and stabbings, but now they worry about random attacks in their subways. Rapists are let out on bail the same day the police take them down to the courthouse.

Public safety is not some graduate project for a criminologist; its implementation has deadly consequences if we do not get it right. Instead of creating repeat victims, why does the current government not listen to the provinces and deal with repeat offenders?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, as someone who lives close to the city of Toronto and uses the TTC, I am deeply concerned about the spike in violence on the TTC. The minister has spoken with Mayor Tory to express our support for him and the City of Toronto.

Our government has taken action on supporting law enforcement, on violence prevention and on mental health supports. Most recently, the minister was in Toronto to announce $12 million in support, along with the mayor, to address many of the social determinants that can lead to violence, through the building safer communities fund.

We will continue to work with the City of Toronto and all communities to keep communities safe.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Madam Speaker, in 2022, five Canadian police officers were killed in a deadly 37-day stretch. The president of the Police Association of Ontario has called this “unprecedented”. All the while, shootings continue in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Drugs, guns and contraband continue to flow across the border, and repeat offenders are out on bail, allowed to continue harming society unmitigated.

We know that the Prime Minister has been convicted of two ethics offences on separate occasions in the last eight years. Is that why the government is so afraid to deal with repeat offenders?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, I am proud of the record that we have on this side of the House when it comes to keeping communities safe. Whether that be investing in the border or replacing the money that was taken away by the Conservative government when it was in power, we are giving the tools to the Canada Border Services Agency to keep the borders safe to ensure that guns are not being smuggled across the border.

There is always more to do, and we will support law enforcement. We will support communities and we will do everything we can to ensure that Canadians are safe.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Speaker, after eight years with this Prime Minister, our cities are becoming less and less safe. The crime rate has increased by 32%. Murders committed by street gangs have almost doubled. This is all due to the soft-on-crime approach of this government, which has made it easier for violent criminals to be released on bail and has eliminated mandatory prison sentences for crimes committed with firearms.

When will this government take the violence in our streets seriously?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, my colleague has pointed out an extremely important problem that exists in Montreal, Quebec and across the country.

I would like to understand one thing. If my colleague is concerned about violence linked to firearms, why do the Conservatives systematically block measures that would make it easier to control firearms in Canada?

Our government introduced Bill C‑21 to put a stop to handgun sales across the country, but the Conservatives are against it.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Speaker, this government is acting as though there is no problem. However, Canadians have been dealing with the direct impacts of this government's bad policies for eight years. Nearly half of the shooting-related homicides in Toronto last year were committed by one or more individuals who were out on bail. The last thing people want is for this phenomenon to spread across the country. The bail system needs to be reformed.

Will this government have the courage to do that? If so, will it vote in favour of our motion?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to answer a second question about gun violence. I am surprised that the Conservatives are asking this question.

The rates of violence against women and children have been on the rise for many years.

Why are the Conservatives against better gun control measures in this country?

Democratic Institutions

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, yesterday Australia announced that it was removing the British monarchy from its banknotes. Charles III will be replaced by indigenous art. That is a modern and democratic example that Canada should follow. Banknotes are a subtle way for countries to present themselves to the world. Australia has chosen to honour its own culture and its own people. Canada continues to honour a foreign monarch and the authoritarian legacy he represents.

It is now 2023. Is it not time for change?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Madam Speaker, I took note of Australia's decision. It is definitely time to consider the future of the monarchy in Canada. People have very different opinions about this. The monarchy has served Canada very well to date. That said, it is always interesting to hear my colleague's position.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, I was talking about banknotes. I really think it is time for a change. Canada is going to have to replace its currency in any case. When the time comes to get new bills, does anyone really want to see King Charles on the banknotes?

It is not up to the Bloc Québécois to choose Canada's symbols, but we find it hard to believe that Canada cannot come up with something better after 150 years. Canada is a democratic country.

Why would Canada continue to choose a foreign monarch with a legacy of racism and violence against indigenous people, francophones and many other groups?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question.

As members know, in 2018, the Canadian government launched a contest to put a woman on Canadian currency for the first time in our history. I am very proud that Viola Desmond was chosen and is now featured on the $10 bill.

The government is currently considering options to replace the image on the $5 bill. We are always looking to revitalize our Canadian institutions.

The Economy

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Madam Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister, inflation is at record levels. Grocery prices were up 11% last year. The Liberals' tax hikes make things worse, and they are planning more of them. The wind chill in Ottawa today is -40°C, but this is not as cold as the government's heart.

The Liberals caused this problem. When will they cancel the tax hikes?