House of Commons Hansard #316 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.
Opposition Motion—Federal Intrusions in the Exclusive Jurisdictions of Quebec and the Provinces 45300 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Respect for the Authority of the Chair 1600 words, 10 minutes.
Criminal Code Report stage of Bill S-224. 8300 words, 1 hour.
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25 38400 words, 4 hours.
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, what I can note is that the Canada Border Services Agency needs these investments to resolve the auto theft situation. With an investment of $28 million—
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Madam Chair, how many maximum sentences will the minister be able to hand out to car thieves in order to reduce the number of auto thefts in the coming years?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, I have another figure for the member opposite. Since our investments in Ontario and Quebec, we have announced the recovery of more than 600 stolen vehicles this year.
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Madam Chair, does the minister honestly believe that simply recovering stolen cars and not arresting the criminals will stop auto theft?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, I believe that with tougher prison sentences and changes to the bail system, we are going to eliminate or limit the—
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Madam Chair, the measure is completely useless because there has never been a case where a criminal was arrested and received a maximum sentence for car theft. How can the minister try to make people believe that his proposal will change anything about auto theft?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, it is rather strange because the position of the party opposite is to impose more penalties. We are targeting organized crime and violent crime. That is what we will continue to do.
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, when was the last time the minister visited bail court?
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Parkdale—High Park Ontario
Liberal
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Madam Chair, I am seized with the fact that bail court has been an issue with respect to the need for reform—
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Same question. When was the last time you went to bail court?
The Deputy Chair NDP Carol Hughes
The hon. member has to address questions and comments through the Chair, not directly to the minister.
The hon. minister.
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, I visit courthouses regularly in my functions as minister.
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, during those visits to the courthouses, when was the last time the minister spent the day in bail court?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, the important thing for me as minister is ensure that bail reform is being undertaken. That is—
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, how about he just confirms that the answer is zero?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, the member opposite is clearly not listening. I indicated that I go to courthouses around the country.
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, how far is the closest courthouse to Parliament Hill?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, the important piece about bail is ensuring that we are making bail changes to ensure that serious violent repeat offenders—
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, I have the same question. How far is the nearest courthouse to Parliament Hill?
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Madam Chair, I believe the nearest courthouse to Parliament Hill is the one on Elgin, opposite the Lord Elgin.
Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, has he attempted to visit that courthouse, which is 950 metres away, to observe bail hearings?