Debates of Sept. 16th, 2024

Justice

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 30, Quebec will move forward on behalf of patients and their families and implement its own legislation to regulate advance requests for medical assistance in dying.

Six professional associations are calling on the federal government to harmonize the Criminal Code with Quebec's legislation. The Collège des médecins du Québec said, and I quote, “We deplore the fact that Ottawa has not yet amended the Criminal Code to authorize this well-established procedure, which has consensus in Quebec.”

Will the Minister of Justice listen to patients, doctors and the science and amend the Criminal Code?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have listened to what Quebec has to say. This is a very sensitive topic and we need time to consider not only the legal implications of these remarks, but also to engage in a national dialogue. The dialogue is not limited to my provincial and territorial counterparts. It extends to the entire country because it will have consequences. My discussions with my hon. colleague opposite will continue.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since February 2023, the Minister of Justice has been repeating that he is consulting the provinces, that he is reflecting carefully and that advance requests are complicated. Meanwhile, 83% of Canadians and 87% of Quebeckers support this option.

While the minister dithers, Quebec has passed a law. Patients are waiting for this to be implemented, and doctors want to practise with peace of mind. Does the minister understand that there is a difference between studying an issue thoroughly and dragging his feet while people suffer?

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

Mr. Speaker, medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal and complex choice. I have tremendous respect for the work that Quebec has done on advance requests.

Canada has a single Criminal Code, and for good reason. Canadians deserve consistent standards and clarity about what is criminal. There is no quick way to safely allow an exception for Quebec on this issue. The conversation does not end there. We are committed to working with Quebec to determine the next steps.

Carbon Pricing

[Don Stewart, Conservative, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up. Costs are up. Crime is up. Time is up. Just last week, we heard that a million people in Ontario were accessing food banks. Meanwhile, the NDP leader supports the Prime Minister, keeps him in power and supports his crushing carbon tax increases.

I just finished a successful by-election campaign. Why will the NDP-Liberals not let Canadians decide about the carbon tax and call a carbon tax election now?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome my new colleague to this place. It is important, of course, to always be open and transparent with Canadians. What we hear is someone else who knows how to repeat three-word slogans as well as be able to deliver for the media. What the members opposite are doing is trying to evade what they actually plan to deliver for Canadians. I hope that the member opposite can be more honest and transparent with Canadians moving forward.

Public Safety

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up. Costs are up. Crime is up, and now time is up. Canadians are feeling more unsafe than ever. Violent crime is up 50%. Sex assaults are up 75%. Car thefts are up 46%, and shockingly, violent gun crime is up over 100%.

Will the Liberals finally join Conservatives in protecting Canadians and demanding jail, not bail, for repeat violent offenders?

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

Mr. Speaker, my fundamental job is to keep Canadians safe. Here is what we have been doing in the last 12 months. We have increased—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Colleagues, I would appreciate being able to hear the hon. member's response.

The hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada from the top, please.

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

Mr. Speaker, my fundamental job is to keep Canadians safe. Here is what I have been doing in the last 12 months. I have proposed new offences for money laundering that Conservatives voted against. I have increased the penalties for violent carjackings that Conservatives voted against. I and my colleague the Minister of Public Safety have put forward $160 million to aid the CBSA and law enforcement in detecting and stopping car thefts. Car thefts are down 17% over the last six months compared to last year.

There is still more work to do. We are going to continue to do that work. While the Conservatives shout slogans, we are going to keep Canadians safe.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the simple fact is that criminals have nothing to fear under the NDP-Liberal legislation. Bill C-48 has done nothing to stop the crime in our communities. Instead of listening to premiers and law enforcement, who have called for bail reform, the justice minister pretends that C-48 is a success. It is an abject failure.

When will the minister stop protecting criminals and start standing up for victims by reversing their catch-and-release policies?

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

Mr. Speaker, I spent the summer listening to victims. What they talked to me about was intelligent policies and approaches to crime. What we did is pass in the chamber, thankfully with unanimous support, bail reform.

The job is now in the provinces to ensure that that bail reform bears fruit. What am I talking about? The people who decide bail decisions are justices of the peace and primarily provincial court judges appointed at the provincial level. The people who appeal bail decisions, such as my colleague in his former capacity, are provincial crown attorneys who are under the direction of provincial premiers and provincial attorneys general. When there is not enough jail space to keep people in jail who do not deserve bail, that is a provincial responsibility.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, on this day 50 years ago, 32 women across Canada took an oath to become the RCMP's first female officers. They became known as Troop 17. Today we celebrate them and all women who have taken the oath since who selflessly serve in the RCMP to keep Canadians safe.

Can the Minister of Public Safety update the House on the efforts made to encourage more women to follow in their footsteps and join the RCMP?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, 32 brave women took the oath to become the first female RCMP officers. Despite facing challenges and discrimination throughout their careers, the women of Troop 17 persevered and have inspired thousands of women to proudly serve in the RCMP. Today, more than one-fifth of the RCMP regular members are women, and the RCMP continues its effort to recruit even more women to join the force.

I know all colleagues will join me in celebrating the women of Troop 17 and all those who proudly serve in the RCMP today.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up. Costs are up. Crimes are up. Time is up. Now foreign access to northern cod is up. With the backing of the six Liberal Newfoundland and Labrador MPs, the government broke its promise to allocate the first 115,000 tonnes of northern cod to the inshore harvesters, and it caved to NAFO pressure to allow foreign countries back in with 5% of the northern cod quota.

Does the minister work for foreign nations, or does she work for Canadians?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the cultural, economic and historical importance of cod to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. That is why, after a 30-year shutdown, I announced the end of the northern cod moratorium. This modern fishery will generate significant benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador while supporting good-paying jobs.

Our government is committed to managing a sustainable, prosperous fishery that benefits all generations, present and future.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up. Costs are up. Crimes are up, and time is up for the atrocious Liberal fisheries minister. She has failed to protect one of Atlantic Canada's most important industries, the lobster fishery. In my riding, there are no DFO enforcement officers along the Canada-U.S. border. Poachers from Maine are illegally fishing lobsters in our waters. They are stealing Canada's natural resources.

Sixty New Brunswick fishing boats held a peaceful protest Saturday, calling on the minister to enforce the law and protect Canadian sovereignty. Will she do her job, or will the Prime Minister fire her?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, our fishery officers have a very difficult job and they do it every day. The opposition keeps repeating ad nauseam that there is no enforcement happening on the water, but that claim is utterly false and frankly irresponsible. The work is being done—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for New Brunswick Southwest had the opportunity to ask his question. I am going to ask him to please hold his comments and let the minister respond to his question. I am certain he will have an opportunity to ask questions again on the same issue.

The hon. Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague that while he might have a loud voice, I have one too.

We are deploying the additional staff and resources needed to protect our oceans and resources.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes, costs and crime are up. Fisheries officers are refusing to patrol the Maritimes because the Liberals will not let them enforce the law. Poachers are attacking with shotguns and knives. Meanwhile, Liberal fisheries minister number six lives in denial, refusing to listen to the union. There are 20,000 pounds of lobster being poached a day through the Saulnierville wharf alone. Americans are fishing in Canadian waters.

Will the Prime Minister listen to fishermen for a change and call an election so Conservatives can fix the fishery?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to listen to the English interpretation of what I am about to say in French. The claims currently being made here in the House are completely untrue. Fishery officers are doing their job.

We, on this side of the House, are not putting on a show. This issue is too important. It is a matter of maritime security.

I really want to reassure the public. The things being said are irresponsible. We are going to keep on doing our job the right way, as we should.

Health

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this summer, I was pleased to join the Minister of Health to sign two new health care agreements with British Columbia. These agreements will enhance wages for personal support workers and improve accessibility and affordability to medication across B.C. Canadians believe in our health care system, and we must continue to build up a health care system for all generations.

Could the Minister of Health please share with us how these agreements will support health care in B.C.?