Debates of Nov. 29th, 2024

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, let us talk about the Conservatives' record when it comes to the border. They slashed over a thousand jobs from the CBSA even when they were warned it would increase human trafficking, drugs and guns in this country. What else did they do? They cut 600 officers from the counterterrorism unit. Eventually, some had to be pulled from other departments within the RCMP because their mismanagement was so bad. It left officers off the line of duty for things like organized crime—

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

The hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills.

Public Safety

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, the government did not answer my earlier question on a very serious issue, so I will ask it again.

U.S. border patrol released alarming data. CBS Boston reports that 155 suspects on the terror watch-list were encountered on the southern U.S. border this year, but 361 suspects on the watch-list were arrested on the northern border, more than double the number. Now Canada is threatened with 25% tariffs because of illegal border crossings.

What is the government's plan to protect our borders, our trade and Canadians from terrorism?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, I will tell members our plan. Our plan is to invest in our border service agencies, unlike what the Conservatives did. They cut over 1,000 employees from the CBSA and have the nerve to try to lecture us about border management. They cut over 600 employees from the RCMP dealing with counterterrorism. What had to happen? Members had to be brought in from other departments within the RCMP just to make up for the mismanagement of border services and counterterrorism under the Conservatives. Our plan will be the—

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

The hon. member for Niagara Falls.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, everything is broken. For over a century, there was a consensus on the importance and value of immigration, yet that is being placed at risk by the government's incompetence. By December of next year, three million visas will expire, and individuals will need to obey the law and voluntarily leave Canada. The problem is there is no way to ensure that they will leave.

My question is simple: What is the Prime Minister's plan to enforce and ensure the rule of law so that people who need to leave Canada actually leave?

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Madam Speaker, immigration is key to growing our economy and strengthening our communities. Canadians want a robust and sustainable immigration system that sets Canada and all who come here up for success. The levels plan is doing just that. We are reducing the number of temporary and permanent resident visas to alleviate pressure on housing and infrastructure. These measures will achieve long-term growth and ensure a well-managed, sustainable immigration system.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Speaker, the hope that someone leaves Canada is not a plan. My own community has four international border crossings. Cross-border visitation and tourism have been a strength of our region, yet that is being placed at risk because of the government's incompetence. We have three million expiring visas in Canada by the end of December next year. Without a plan, many of those individuals may attempt to cross the border illegally into the United States.

Again, what is the government's plan so that people who need to leave Canada actually leave?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, talk about incompetence. How does the member, who represents a border town, talk to his constituents about the fact that the Conservatives slashed 600 RCMP employees from dealing with counterterrorism and had to pull those employees from other places, like dealing with organized crime? How does the member talk to his community about the fact that they cut over 1,000 CBSA agents during their time, which led to an increase of human trafficking, drugs and guns right in his community?

Seniors

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Madam Speaker, public money should never be used to buy votes. If the Liberals go ahead with their plan, sending $250 cheques to couples earning $300,000 a year while leaving out pensioners would be indefensible. Forty per cent of Quebec pensioners, more than 700,000 people, receive the guaranteed income supplement. The Liberals cannot expect us to believe that these people are ultrawealthy.

If the Liberals go ahead with this bad idea to hand out cheques, will they at least include low-income pensioners?

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens' Services]

Madam Speaker, one thing the Bloc Québécois cannot be faulted for is inconsistency. Yesterday, the Bloc Québécois voted against a measure to cut the GST. I would remind my colleague opposite that Bloc Québécois members also voted against lowering the retirement age from 67 to 65. They voted against the guaranteed income supplement for seniors. They voted against the 10% increase for seniors aged 75 and over. They have voted against every measure for seniors. They certainly are consistent.

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Madam Speaker, for months, the Liberals have been saying over and over that it would be too expensive to invest $3 billion to enhance old age security for seniors aged 65 to 74. They said that they did not have the money to support seniors. They do not have $3 billion for seniors, but they managed to find nearly $5 billion to send vote-buying cheques to people who earn $150,000 a year.

This is not a matter of money. It is a matter of priorities. Seniors are our priority.

Why is the Liberals' priority trying to buy their way back into office?

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens' Services]

Madam Speaker, I would invite my colleague to look her constituents in the eye and tell them where the Bloc Québécois was when our government lowered the age of retirement eligibility for seniors from 67 to 65. We set up a dental care program for Canadians for which over 972,000 Quebeckers are eligible. People in her riding are benefiting from that.

When she is out and about in her riding at Christmas, she should have to tell every constituent she meets that she voted against the GST cut, against seniors and against the dental plan.

Public Safety

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Madam Speaker, Canadians were shocked to see footage of a violent carjacker shooting at commuters. Of course, this individual was out on bail. The rate of violent crime in Canada has gone up 50% since the Prime Minister took office, and gun crime has gone up every year. According to a report just released by the Fraser Institute, Canada's rate of crime is 14% higher than it is in the United States.

When will the Prime Minister reverse his hug-a-thug policies?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, what we have seen in the last 24 hours in Toronto is completely unacceptable and terrifying to the people in the city that I call home. We need to take action strictly and strongly on exactly what is happening in Toronto.

The federal bail law is very clear. If someone is at serious risk of reoffending, they are not to be given bail. I am going to cite Premier Ford, because his reaction was correct. He said, “It's ridiculous. These JPs and these judges, they have to start keeping people in jail.... We need tough judges and tough JPs when it comes to crime. People are fed up with it.” That includes people in the House. Canadians are fed up with what we are seeing—

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

The hon. member for Fundy Royal.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Madam Speaker, this is ridiculous. These guys have been in government for nine years. What happened yesterday is a direct result of their policies. Auto theft is up 45% since 2015. In Toronto, it is up 328%. This is a direct result of the government's failure on bail and failure on crime. Gun crime is up 116% and homicides are up 28%.

When will the government step aside so Conservatives can crack down on crime and bring home safe streets for all Canadians?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, with respect to being tough on crime, the critical piece is the administration of justice at the level of the province. I am going to point out what Premier Ford just said. He talked about JPs and provincial court judges, both of whom he appoints. What is illustrated by the member from Nova Scotia is that in his very province, JPs, who decide things like bail, have to have legal training before they are appointed. That is an example of best practice in our federation. That is not the practice in Ontario.

If we are going to improve the quality of the justice being rendered, we need to ensure people like JPs, who are deciding things about serious risks of reoffending, have legal training in Ontario the way they do—

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

The hon. member for Sturgeon River—Parkland.

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

Madam Speaker, after nine years of crime, chaos and disorder, the legacy of the NDP-Liberal government's radical soft-on-crime policies is in tatters. The Prime Minister's hug-a-thug recklessness has caused violent crime to surge, and Canadians were shocked to see a violent armed carjacking on our streets.

It is time to put Canadians' safety first. When will the government admit its failure, crack down on violent repeat offenders who are spreading deadly drugs and violence in communities and, better yet, just get out of the way so Conservatives can get the job done?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, the people who decide to arrest an individual are police. The people who prosecute the bad guys are provincial Crowns. The people who render the decisions are provincially appointed JPs and provincial judges. The jails people run for people to be placed in when they are denied bail are provincial detention centres. All of that relates to the province.

The province needs to do its part and invest in resources for cops, Crowns, JPs and detention centres so we can keep Canadian cities safe.

Housing

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Madam Speaker, in my riding of Kitchener South—Hespeler, the housing accelerator fund is being praised by municipal partners, non-profit housing providers and my constituents who are seeking options for affordable and accessible housing. The fund will provide over $40 million to Kitchener to fast-track the construction of over 1,200 new homes over the next three years and more than 37,500 homes over the next decade. A few weeks ago, the Conservative leader announced his plan to cut this funding for Kitchener and communities across the country.

Can the minister explain the cost of Conservative cuts—

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

The hon. Minister of Housing.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking my hon. colleague for her advocacy, which helped secure $42.4 million for Kitchener to help the city build more homes quickly. The city is already moving on ambitious zoning reforms and changes to permitting processes that make it easier to build homes near transit, services and opportunities. It is exciting because it is moving forward with new projects, adding hundreds of social housing units for low-income families and taking part in an extraordinary initiative, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, to build 10,000 homes at half price in the region in which the city is located.

The Conservative Party plans to cut this essential program, which will only result in—

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

The hon. member for Portage—Lisgar.