Debates of May 23rd, 2024

Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Chair, when was the last time the minister attended a sentencing?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I attend courthouses around the country frequently in my capacity as minister, and I am invited to such courthouses.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Chair, I ask the same question.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I give the same response.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Chair, when was the last time the minister attended a sentencing?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I attend courthouses frequently in my capacity as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Chair, as the top legal official in this country, as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, does the minister not think he should attend a sentencing just once in a while?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I attend courthouses frequently. I do not attend active litigation, because my presence could be deemed a potential influencing factor on the litigation that is proceeding.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, does the minister believe extortion is a problem in Canada, yes or no?

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

Madam Chair, extortion is on the rise in Canada, and it needs to be addressed.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, the minister admits it is a problem. How many times was extortion mentioned in budget 2024? I would like just the number.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, with respect to my previous response to the member, who spent a long time in the Crown courts, I would indicate that—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, how many times is extortion mentioned in budget 2024? I would like just the number.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, my presence could be deemed to be potentially influencing the process, which is why I do not—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, it was mentioned zero times. Why?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I have indicated that extortion is an issue that needs to be addressed in Canada.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, has extortion gotten worse since 2015, yes or no?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, the rise in extortion, largely due to organized criminality, has seen a recent increase.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, the minister said it is recent. How many extortion cases were there in 2021? I would like just the number.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, there were 7,671 charges completed for extortion—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Chair, in 2021, how many extortion cases were there? I want just the number.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I have a statistic for the period from 2012 to 2021—