Debates of Oct. 2nd, 2025

Opposition Motion—Passage of Bill C-242

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am a proud representative of Mississauga—Lakeshore, and I will be sharing my time with the member for Calgary Signal Hill.

As I rise to debate the opposition motion before us, I want to talk particularly about its narrative and the appropriate steps moving forward. My community, like many communities, is concerned. We have a number of town halls. We have talk groups. We have ongoing discussions with Peel police. We understand the dilemmas that are before us, and we recognize the concerns our neighbours face. They are concerned about guns, home invasions and auto thefts. These things have become an issue of concern across the country. However, there is also a blame game that seems to be going on. Oftentimes, it deflects responsibility. We are all responsible for ensuring that our communities are safe, at the federal level, at the provincial level and at the municipal level, and even with some of the organizations and associations that are engaged. It is appropriate for us to have this ongoing debate and discussion. I welcome the fact that it is a non-partisan issue.

There is organized crime. We have been in meetings with the RCMP, border security, international agencies and the police to ensure that organized crime is addressed. Organized criminals are perpetrating some of these criminal acts; they are engaging with our young people, who are victimized themselves by being sourced in order to do these criminal acts. This is why, just last month, we introduced Bill C-9, the combatting hate act, to address hate-motivated offences. This legislation successfully passed second reading yesterday, and it is now moving to committee for detailed study and consideration.

Over the summer, the Minister of Justice engaged in consultations with provincial and territorial counterparts, law enforcement agencies, police chiefs and associations to ensure that any reforms are practical, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of Canadians. This is how responsible reform happens, through careful study, collaboration and expert guidance.

Meanwhile, the Conservative leader, who was preoccupied with keeping his job, has torqued the rhetoric, which is very partisan in its nature. While seeking his parachute return to the House after being resoundingly rejected by his constituents, he has now been more concerned for himself than for the public safety measures we are talking about. lnstead of focusing on measures that truly improve public safety, he continues to advance reckless, politically motivated proposals, prioritizing appearances over solutions that actually protect Canadians.

Canadians deserve more than slogans and political theatre. They deserve government that listens, engages with experts and acts decisively to make communities safer. That is exactly what this government is doing, through legislation that addresses urgent issues while respecting the principles of justice and fairness. This is why the federal government has taken important steps to reform the bail system in recent years. ln 2023, former Bill C-48 made meaningful changes to strengthen the bail system in response to concerns about efficiency and repeat offences.

For example, Bill C-48 created a reverse onus to target serious repeat offending involving weapons, and it expanded the list of firearms that trigger a reverse onus at bail. It also broadened the reverse onus targeting repeat offenders in cases of intimate partner violence. These changes made it more difficult for accused persons to obtain bail when they are charged with serious repeat offences.

All of us want to keep criminals in jail. All of us—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Absolutely, I do. Mr. Speaker, I take offence to the very nature of that notion. The fact that individuals are suggesting any member of this Parliament would prefer not to put a criminal in jail is offensive in its own right. There are laws that are in place. There are laws that have been in place all along. We have to enforce the law. These changes were not the result of partisan initiatives. They were reflected by broad collaboration with provinces, territories, law enforcement and legal experts. Every step was guided by data, by evidence, by consultation with those working on the front lines of criminal justice.

Despite these reforms, we understand that Canadians remain concerned about repeat offences and violent offences. This is why the government will introduce legislation this fall to further strengthen bail and sentencing provisions in the Criminal Code.

The federal government has committed to establishing reverse onuses for a range of serious crimes, including violent and organized crime-related auto theft, home invasions, human trafficking and human smuggling, to make bail more onerous to obtain in these circumstances. There is also a commitment to amending the Criminal Code to direct courts to give primary considerations to the principles of denunciation and deterrence when determining a fit sentence for anyone who has numerous convictions for auto thefts or home invasions. Further commitments include expanding the possibility of consecutive sentences in violent or organized crime-related auto theft cases.

These are concrete measures aimed at addressing repeat and violent offending throughout the criminal justice process. They represent an approach that is strategic, evidence-based and evidence driven, and focused on protecting public safety without sacrificing the rights and fairness that are the foundational aspects of our judicial system.

We also know that reform cannot happen in isolation. The operation of the bail system is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial and territorial governments, as I have already stated. While the federal government sets the legal framework, the provinces and territories manage the day-to-day operations, including court and jail administration. Strengthening the law at the federal level must therefore be complemented by effective enforcement resources and oversight at the provincial level, and without this coordination, even the best legislation would not achieve meaningful change.

Data and evidence also play a crucial role. Provinces and territories collect the data necessary to evaluate how bail laws are functioning, identify gaps and implement improvements. Better data always allows government to track outcomes, assess risks and ensure that measures designed to protect public safety are actually working. That is why our government continues to work closely with partners across the country to improve data collection, transparency and reporting in the criminal justice system.

Public safety is built through careful policy, strong partnerships and sustained action. It is not achieved through slogans and partisan posturing. It is built when governments work together to address the root causes of crime, including poverty, trauma, mental health issues and housing insecurity, as well as individuals not being given the support they need to rebuild their lives. Canadians deserve a bail system that protects communities while respecting rights, as well as sentencing systems that hold offenders accountable while promoting rehabilitation.

This government is delivering on that promise. We are not acting in haste or based on politics; we are consulting with experts, collaborating with provincial counterparts and building laws that work in practice. We are introducing legislation to ensure that repeat offenders face appropriate consequences, that courts have the tools to protect public safety and that the justice system functions efficiently and fairly for all Canadians.

In conclusion, Canadians expect a government that acts responsibly, listens to experts and delivers results. That is what we are doing with our justice reform agenda. We have introduced Bill C-9 to fight hate crime; we strengthened the bail system through Bill C-48, and we are preparing additional measures this fall to further address repeat and violent offences. That is not about political games or empty slogans; it is about real action, public safety and justice, and that is exactly the approach Canadians elected this government to take.

Laws exist, and we need to enforce them.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives on this side will not be taking lessons from this failed Ontario Liberal finance minister. It seems to me that he is suggesting criminals' rights should continue to be greater than victims' rights and that repeat violent offenders have the right to be back on our streets, terrorizing Canadians.

Is that right?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting. The Charter of Rights protects the very individual asking that question. The judicial system is there to protect individuals. If someone is a criminal, and they have committed a violent crime, they have to face the consequences by law, but the right is there to protect the victims too. We will always fight to have a fair judicial system and to ensure that criminals go to jail and stay in jail.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I want my colleague to expand on an issue. During the last federal election, our Prime Minister understood what Canadians were saying at the doors; Liberal candidates throughout the country raised concerns and issues related to the need for bail reform. Now we have a Prime Minister who has made a commitment to bring forward that bail reform, and this is something that will be reflective of what Canadians were asking for in the form of an election platform.

Can the member provide his thoughts on that issue?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it was important that the leader of the Liberal Party, as all of us did during the election, recognized some of the concerns that our constituents have with crime, but make no mistake that they had concerns with crime for many years prior, even during the time the Conservatives were in power. Our leader took the time and had the consideration to listen, make commitments and put forward in our platform what we should do going forward. This is unlike opposition members, who are only using slogans and fearmongering when there is an opportunity to work collaboratively with all levels of government and authorities to ensure real safety for our public.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to pick up on the question that was just asked.

The Liberals have been talking a lot about this bail reform promised by the Minister of Justice. I have colleagues on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women who have spoken to me about it. We were told that it would happen this fall and that the Standing Committee on the Status of Women should not take on too much because we should wait for this reform.

How does all this fit in with what we in the Bloc Québécois believe, namely that initiatives must be consistent to strengthen the mechanisms aimed at coordinating the justice system with public safety? I am thinking of repeat offenders or people who commit serious firearm offences, sexual assault or crimes against women.

How will all of that be coordinated?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is another great question. We need a coordinated effort. We need to ensure that the federal government and provincial jurisdictions, which act on the law and are supposed to enforce laws, deal with matters like court delays, the collection of bail data, the funding and resources necessary, and even the justice platform by the BQ.

We will continue to work in collaboration with the provincial level of judicial authority to ensure we enable those courts to act and put criminals in jail.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member is a failed Ontario Liberal finance minister. He failed so miserably that his own PM will not even put him in cabinet. He failed Ontario financially, and now he wants to keep criminals on the streets.

Will he support the jail not bail act and not fail on this?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there we go. The member opposite is making a personal attack over the fact that I balanced the books in Ontario, which did not happen under the Conservatives in the last go-around.

We will continue to fight for Canadians. We will continue to fight for public safety. I will not be addressing rhetoric like that. It only causes concern and enables the heightening of people's hate, which is what the very law we are trying to put forward is for.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise, as it always is, in this House to speak on behalf of the citizens of Calgary Signal Hill. Striking a balance between competing interests is the work of this House of Commons. It is a job that is frequently challenging, but it is the responsibility that we have undertaken and it is what we owe Canadians.

Today, in our criminal justice system, the consideration of the protection of the public has taken a back seat to the interests of offenders. We are talking about striking a balance in our justice system, and right now, the scales of justice are out of balance and must be corrected.

The reason the Conservative Party has brought forward Bill C-242 is to help government members. Clearly, they are busy thinking about things, but they are not doing things, and Canadians require action. At this point in time, crime statistics are up throughout our country, from province to province, and we have to do something.

In August, just two months ago, I attended a meeting in Calgary with senior members of the Calgary Police Service. At that time, a superintendent described a circumstance that had occurred in Calgary in July that illustrates well the problem we have and the problem we must fix. The superintendent described a crime wave that took place in Calgary through the month of July that was identified by the police service. They responded, they put a task force together and they commenced making arrests.

A group of youths and young adults were committing home break-ins. However, very frighteningly to the police, who traditionally see criminals break into homes for the purpose of theft and focusing on times when homes are not occupied, this brazen group had been breaking into homes at night, with no consideration for whether the homes were occupied. Indeed, they seemed to prefer to break into homes that were occupied.

An individual was caught red-handed, as the expression goes, in a home at night with the residents of the home there. He was arrested, taken before a justice of the peace and released. This might not be much of a surprise or shock; the individual's criminal history and record may have been considered at that time. However, the same individual was arrested by the Calgary Police Service within a matter of days of his first arrest and released. Again, he was in a home unlawfully at night, with the residents of that home present. For a second time, this individual was taken before a justice of the peace and released. That might begin to shock the senses, but the fact is that this same individual was arrested for a third time within one week, again at night in a residence with the residents of that home present. He was taken before a justice of the peace for a third time and, yes, released a third time.

This is a system that is broken. We must make changes, and there is no point in waiting. The work has been done. The Conservative Party has done that work in co-operation with the House, and the members opposite should take note.

I wish to note the comments of some individuals with respect to incidences like the one I described, as related to me by the Calgary Police Service.

This is from Scott Weller, a home invasion victim:

As someone who knows firsthand the trauma of a violent home invasion, I believe strongly in the need for Jail not Bail. My family was attacked in what should have been the safety of our own home. The idea that violent offenders could be released back onto our streets is terrifying—not just for us, but for every Canadian family. That night changed how we live and forced us to secure our home in ways I never imagined necessary. This will have a lasting impact on our family and our sense of safety. This legislation recognizes that public safety must come first. It sends a clear message that violent crime has real consequences, and that the rights of victims and families come before the rights of criminals.

Here is a second comment on Conservative Bill C-242: “The Jail Not Bail Act is therefore more than legislation—it is an essential corrective—a lifeline capable of disrupting the revolving door of abuse and saving innocent lives.” That is from Cait Alexander of End Violence Everywhere.

Lastly, this is from Michelle Mollineaux, board member of Mend Canada, an indigenous-led organization in our country: “This is the kind of common-sense legislation Canadians have been demanding: a framework that rebalances our bail system to prioritize public safety while still upholding the Charter right to bail.”

These quotations highlight exactly the circumstances on our streets, exactly what this problem is and exactly what the Conservative common-sense legislation would do to sort this matter out.

In my own city of Calgary, over the last 10 years, we have seen a 66% increase in violent crime. We have seen a 33% increase in sexual assaults, a 326% increase in firearms crime and a 342% increase in extortion. With crime rates up and criminals being arrested but released, we have a problem in our justice system. There is a hole here that must be fixed, and Conservative Bill C-242 would plug that hole.

Our constituents expect us to act responsibly. Waiting around until the Liberal Party addresses this issue and brings legislation before the House is not responsible. I will say again to my friends opposite that the work has been done. They can take the rest of the day off. We are set to go.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member could provide his thoughts on the other jurisdictional responsibilities the provinces, territories and even municipalities have with regard to the need for bail reform. It is a shared responsibility, and I am interested to know if he feels that there is any obligation on other levels of government to take action, given that the current Prime Minister has made a commitment to bring forward bail reform legislation.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about the Canadian Criminal Code. It is federal legislation. It is the responsibility of the House to fix the problems that have existed since Liberal bail reform caused these problems.

It is time to scrap Liberal bail and bring in a responsible balancing of the rights of society. The protection of our communities needs to be given greater consideration by our courts.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, we are talking about an important and serious subject that warrants important and serious debate. Right now, the opposition motion that the Conservative Party is proposing is more of a gag order on a bill that affects people's rights. That is what my question for my colleague is about.

The Conservatives' bill should be debated and studied in committee with the seriousness it deserves. Should we not do that instead of trying to impose a gag order and fast-track a bill on such an important issue?

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we know what the statistics are, we know what the problem is and we know what the solution is. The Conservative Party has proposed it. I would note that our bill has been endorsed by the Canadian Police Association and the countless victims advocacy groups, mayors and police departments that have been on the front lines of the battle against violent crime.

I made reference to attending a meeting with senior officers from the Calgary Police Service. It is disheartening to see the look in their eyes when they are defeated in the performance of their job to protect the public by weak legislation that makes their efforts irrelevant.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just recently, a 22-year-old and a 16-year-old in Cambridge violently attacked police and security officers, punching them, kicking them and pushing them to the ground. One was later caught possessing crack cocaine. The offenders are already back on the streets, released on bail. Crime is on the rise because there are no longer consequences to bad acts.

My colleague is an accomplished lawyer who has been practising for a long time. He remembers what it was like under Stephen Harper. Can he elaborate on what it means for criminals to face real consequences?

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, undoubtedly, the prior regime in place before the Liberals broke Canada's bail system was one in which the rights of the public were considered in assessing the suitability for release of someone charged with a criminal offence. Of course we are talking about a very particular stage in our criminal justice process, a point in time when a person is charged but has not been tried and has not been found guilty.

However, when we consider past criminal behaviour as an aspect of the probability of reoffending, that consideration and the protection of the public must be part of the overall consideration our courts give to the option of bail or any other form of release. Under the Harper government, we had the balance better struck. Those are the days we need to return to.

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the chamber to support Conservative Bill C-242, the jail not bail act.

I will be sharing my time with my colleague, the member for Richmond Hill South.

Canadians are tired of waking up to headlines that read like crime thrillers except that they are real and are happening in our neighbourhoods. In Brampton, families do not feel safe anymore. Crime is no longer the exception but is becoming the norm. Residents and communities are being impacted every day, with violent home invasions, daylight shootings, carjackings, sexual assaults and repeat offenders walking free. This is the result of Liberal catch-and-release justice and a broken bail system that puts criminals ahead of victims and communities. It is why I rise today in support of Bill C-242, the jail not bail act, a Conservative solution to restore law and order and to protect innocent Canadians.

Let me share the statistics under the Liberal catch-and-release system. Homicides are up 29%, violent crime is up by 55%, sexual assaults have increased by 76%, extortion has surged by 330%, auto thefts are up by 25%, hate crimes are up by 258% and firearms crimes are up by 130%. These are not just numbers; these are real people, victims whose lives have been shattered by repeat violent offenders who should never have been released.

In Markham, a 54-year-old man was left seriously injured in a violent home invasion. One of the suspects was already out on bail despite facing charges for robbery with a firearm and attempted murder. In Toronto, a woman was stabbed in broad daylight by a man who had been released on bail just days earlier. In Vancouver, organized crime rings are recruiting youth to commit car thefts and armed robberies, knowing they will be released within hours. In my community of Brampton, a home invasion resulted in the death of a young Canadian. In one of the most heartbreaking cases, Bailey McCourt was murdered by her ex-husband just hours after he was released on bail following an assault conviction.

We are witnessing an exponential rise in crime across the country, but nowhere is it more evident than in my hometown of Brampton. In the Peel region, police recently made the largest drug bust in its history. Shockingly, six of the nine accused were already out on bail. In another major operation, targeting an extortion ring, half of the people arrested were also on judicial release. Just weeks ago in Brampton, a violent home invasion ended with a father's being shot for doing nothing more than defending his home and family. This is the result of the Liberals' Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, which introduced the so-called principle of restraint, a policy that prioritizes release even when the accused has a violent history or is likely to reoffend.

Police officers, victims and legal experts have all said the same thing: The bail system is broken, and now is the time to fix it. The solution is jail, not bail, restoring safety and trust back on our streets, in our homes and in our lives. Bill C-242, the jail not bail act, is a common-sense Conservative solution that would put public safety first and restore trust in our justice system. Judges and police would have to prioritize protecting the public, not just the rights of the accused, when deciding on bail.

The bill would take away automatic bail for violent offenders. If someone is charged with a major violent offence, like attempted murder, sexual assault, kidnapping or armed robbery, they would not be released automatically. If they have already been convicted of a major offence in the last 10 years and are charged again while out on bail, the bill proposes that they must be detained.

The bill would allow only judges to decide bail for repeat offenders. Police officers can now release someone charged with a major offence. Only a superior court judge would be able to make that decision. It would also remove criminals as sureties. People convicted of a serious crime in the last 10 years would not be able to act as a surety; there would be no more criminals vouching for criminals.

The bill proposes stronger rules for non-citizens. Non-citizens and non-permanent residents would hand over their passport before being released, reducing flight risk.

The bill would offer better risk assessment. The law would change the standard from “substantial likelihood” to “reasonably foreseeable”, making it easier to detain someone who poses a threat. Judges would also consider the accused's criminal history, including past failures to comply with bail. It would ask for an annual transparency report. The minister of justice would have to publish a yearly report on bail reforms, bail outcomes, repetition and disparities so Canadians would know what is working and what is not.

Conservatives are taking the lead. While the Liberals stall and spin, Conservatives are acting. We are calling on the House to immediately pass Bill C-242. We are ready to support extended sittings to get this done because Canadians deserve safe streets, a justice system they can depend on to protect them, and no more headlines about violent criminals walking free.

Before I end, I have a message for Brampton residents, which is that they should stay strong. We all know that injustice has risen in our community for far too long; that is why, as their member of Parliament, I, alongside the Conservative Party, will work tirelessly to make our streets safer. I will stop at nothing to ensure that the residents of Brampton will once again feel safe and protected in the community and in their own home.

The choice is clear. Canadians are tired of excuses. We can continue down the Liberal path of hug-a-thug justice, where innocent, law-abiding Canadians live in fear, or we can stand up for the victims, restore law and order and put violent criminals where they belong: behind bars. Let us pass the jail not bail act. Let us protect Canadians. Let us bring safety back to our streets.

[Wade Chang, Liberal, Burnaby Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that it is the Criminal Code that we are talking about today, but can the member opposite elaborate on whether or not the Province of Ontario has enough resources to manage increased detention or stricter bail conditions?

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I keep saying that we have to provide safety and should not be using excuses, whether it is the federal, provincial or municipal government. We need to work toward safety and to protect Canadians from violent criminals, who are creating problems in Canadians' lives every single day. These are the excuses that the Liberal government is making: that the Ontario government or any other provincial government is not able to sustain the criminals. However, we have to make sure that victims come first, and then criminals.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, given the scale and severity of the criminal activity covered under Project Road King, which spanned organized auto theft, international drug trafficking and firearms, could the member explain why 27 of the 30 individuals charged were released rather than held in custody?

What does this say about our current approach to incarceration for serious and organized crime? Are there gaps in our system that need to be addressed to ensure public safety is our priority?

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have to prioritize safety. We know violent offenders keep repeating crimes in our communities, societies and neighbourhoods. We have to ensure, every step of the way, that each Canadian has the right to live without fear and without having to face any sort of criminal situation.

Auto thefts are increasing, violent crime is up, and house invasions are up. We have to protect Canadians. The jail not bail act would protect Canadians from these crimes every day.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-2 is legislation that we have had before us for quite a while. In fact, we have had over 18 hours of debate on it.

We have a Prime Minister who has made a commitment to substantial bail reform. That bail reform is going to be coming soon to the House of Commons. Can we anticipate that the Conservatives will do what they are doing on Bill C-2 by having a filibuster as opposed to allowing it to go to a standing committee where Canadians can have more input?

My specific question to the member is this: Does he support quick passage of legislation dealing with bail reform this fall?

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the government has not given us any concrete evidence or produced any bill that would help to protect Canadians from crime.

The Liberals keep asking for my support. They need to know that first they have to present something to us which we can analyze. We know that we want to protect Canadians. We want to help them in their everyday lives, but members opposite keep asking questions. Having a “do nothing” approach is not going to go anywhere. We have to work hard to provide safety whenever we have a bill in front of us.

We are presenting Bill C-242. It is the best jail not bail act. I ask members to please accept it so that we can move forward and provide safety for Canadians.