Debates of May 23rd, 2024

Department of Justice—Main Estimates, 2024-25

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I notice once again that I have given the minister a lot of opportunities, and he has not answered any of my questions directly.

He knows the answer to this one, and he is not going to give it, so I will have to give it on his behalf. The Victoria Police Department statement says, “Bill C-75, which came into effect nationally in 2019, legislated a 'principle of restraint' that requires police to release an accused person at the earliest possible opportunity”.

The police laid the blame for this individual being released three times in a row to revictimize Canadians squarely at the feet of the minister. A woman was injured in the process of one of the thefts.

On the issue of the Liberals' draconian Bill C-63, which Margaret Atwood has described as “Orwellian”, has he completed a charter statement for this bill that clearly threatens the rights of Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, I find this line of questioning quite fascinating, given that the main charter issue that is at issue in Bill C-63 deals with very sensitive issues about the protection of freedom of speech, which is protected under section 2(b).

What I will do is always maintain my oath under the Constitution to uphold the Constitution and people's charter rights. This individual works under a leader who has brandished the idea of using the notwithstanding clause to deprive people of their charter rights. Section 2(b) is subject to the notwithstanding clause.

If we are talking about who is actually committed to protecting people's freedoms, including freedom of speech, people on that side of the House should be looking at themselves in the mirror.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, how many cars were stolen in Canada in 2015?

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

Mr. Speaker, what I can indicate is that auto theft is on the rise in Canada right now.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister know the number of cars stolen in 2015?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that auto theft is on the rise in Canada as we speak.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will give him one more opportunity. Does he know the number of cars stolen in 2015? It is not a difficult question.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that car theft is on the rise in Canada. That is why we are taking aggressive steps to address it, including in the fall economic statement, including in the budget and including in the national action plan to deal with auto theft, which was announced on Monday.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for those watching at home who see that the minister does not want to answer questions, I will answer it for him. It is 78,849. Now, does the minister know how many cars were stolen in 2022?

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

Mr. Speaker, the number I am being provided with from officials is 105,673.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, he does have answers to these questions.

Can the minister tell us what percentage increase in car theft has taken place between 2015 and 2022?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member for Thornhill has a calculator and can do that calculation.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will ask the minister again for a non-condescending answer.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that car thefts have gone up, and the number of car thefts in Canada in 2022 is 105,673 vehicles.

If the member is committed to combatting auto theft, what I would put to her is that she should get behind the fall economic statement and budget 2024, which deal with auto theft initiatives.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is 34.1%, and I am sure the Minister of Justice also can find a calculator.

Can he tell us the percentage increase in car thefts from 2015 to 2022 in the province of Ontario, his province and mine?

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the number of car thefts is up in various provinces around the country. I do not have the statistics for Ontario.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is 122.5% in Ontario. How about just in Toronto?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am in contact with law enforcement in Toronto, including the TPS, and they have advised me that car thefts are up. I do not have the specific quantum. What I can reflect to the member opposite is that we are taking aggressive steps to deal with car theft in Toronto and throughout the country.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if he was in contact with law enforcement or if he read the newspaper, then he would know that it is 300%.

How many cars have been stolen from the Minister of Justice?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have never had my personal car stolen.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is very clever. How many cars were stolen from the former minister of justice before the current minister?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the previous minister's car, which was provided to him in his capacity as minister, was taken from him twice.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been three times since 2019. Does the minister not agree that car theft is a problem?

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

Mr. Speaker, if the member for Thornhill was listening, I had indicated that car theft is on the rise. Car theft is a serious problem. I have said that at the microphone many times, and we have taken significant steps to address it.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, will the minister answer a question about why he would not support mandatory minimum sentences for those who repeat stealing cars in Ontario, all over Canada and in Toronto?