Debates of Oct. 2nd, 2025

Justice

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to reform his deeply flawed criminal justice system, but six months later, nothing has been done. He continues to release dangerous repeat offenders. I would remind members that, over the past 10 years, sexual assaults have increased by 76% under the Liberals' watch.

The Conservatives are proposing legislation that we can pass very quickly to protect Canadians: the jail not bail act.

Will the Liberals abandon their bail system? If not, they should get out of the way. We will take care of it.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that, in former Bill C-75, we strengthened Canada's response to intimate partner violence by defining the term “intimate partner” in the Criminal Code and creating a reverse onus for repeat offenders of intimate partner violence.

Canadians deserve a debate based on facts. If the Conservatives want to repeal a bill that makes it harder for perpetrators of intimate partner violence to get bail, they should be clear about that with Canadians.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is not the reality. Quebec has already had 14 suspected femicides so far this year. Recently, one of the victims was allegedly murdered by her partner, who has a long criminal record for domestic violence and who violated his conditions 16 times. Despite that, he was out of custody.

Since the Liberals came to power, violent crime has increased by 55%. Homicides are up 30% and sexual assaults are up 76%. How many women need to be raped and murdered, and how many young people need to be abused before the Liberals get the picture and change the law?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, before the hon. member asks about repealing Bill C-75, I strongly suggest that she take the time to read the whole thing first.

She does not seem to understand that this bill actually makes it harder for people charged with intimate partner violence to get bail. We are prepared to work in good faith with members of all parties to strengthen the bail system.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage her to read Patrick Lagacé's column in this morning's La Presse.

He speaks out against a justice system that protects dangerous repeat offenders with lengthy criminal records who are released back into society. Who is looking after the victims? Nobody is doing that in this government. The Liberals promised to act and to take down their ridiculous laws and yet nothing is being done.

Will they do something and pass our legislation that supports victims? If not, they should get out of the way so we can do it.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, we travelled around this summer meeting with Crown prosecutors and police associations to discuss the right way to implement bail reform. We do not wish to pass any old law and have it be challenged before the Supreme Court and possibly struck down.

On this side of the House, we take the time we need to do things right.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, Gullfam Hussain, a Pakistani national, was convicted in the United Kingdom for “Adult sexual activity with a female child family member 13 to 17—offender over 18—penetration”. Said differently, Hussain had incestuous sex with his underage niece and was placed on the U.K.'s sex offender registry. However, in 2023, the Liberals granted Hussain a visa to enter Canada.

Can the Liberals explain why they allowed a publicly listed incestuous child sex abuser into Canada?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians' trust in their immigration system is paramount. That is why we are constantly working to improve immigration security screening processes, particularly in response to new challenges and pressures.

We have the border bill, Bill C-2. I invite my colleagues to help us pass that bill, which will further strengthen our immigration system.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it seems the Liberals could not do a simple Google search on an incestuous child sex abuser. Nonetheless, the person who let this person into Canada is now, thanks to the Prime Minister, our justice minister. Instead of deporting Hussain, right now the Liberals are letting him gum up Canada's court system.

This is truly disgusting and is antithetical to what it means to be Canadian. The person who allowed this incestuous child sex abuser into Canada should be fired.

Why did the Prime Minister promote the then immigration minister, who allowed an incestuous child sex abuser into Canada, to the Minister of Justice?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a robust system of determining who is admissible and who is not admissible to Canada. I would like to confirm that the Canada Border Services Agency is working to remove the largest number of people in Canadian history. Over 20,000 people are targeted to be removed and are inadmissible to Canada. We are doing it as we speak.

We will continue to work with law enforcement and the CBSA to ensure our borders are safe and that those who are undesirable in Canada will not be permitted to come here.

Employment

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians he could handle Donald Trump. He promised he would quickly negotiate a win. For Canadian workers, it has been nothing but losses. We have the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7. Invista is closing its plant in Maitland and moving to Texas. That is 100 jobs gone. Kap Paper in Kapuskasing is shutting down. That is 350 jobs gone. In Oshawa, GM is shifting truck production south.

Hundreds of jobs are gone already and thousands more are at risk. When will the Prime Minister finally keep his promises, stop losing jobs and start standing up for Canadian workers?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, I stood with the building trades unions and the Prime Minister as we announced the first five projects that will be managed by the Major Projects Office coalition. This is good news for Canadians, because we are laser-focused on creating jobs and supporting the training that Canadians need to seize those opportunities. What do Canadians get from Conservatives? They get fearmongering, they get hate and they get Conservatives voting against their own interests over and over. We on this side will take care of Canadians' interests.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised he would have a deal with Trump by July 21. It is October, he has no deal and Canada is bleeding jobs. Imperial Oil is shutting down in Calgary. That is 900 jobs gone. Thousands of forestry jobs in B.C. are at risk because he has not gotten a softwood lumber deal done. He promised he would create middle-class jobs, but instead he has lost 86,000 jobs since he became Prime Minister.

When will the Prime Minister abandon his job-killing policies here at home, finally keep his promise to get a deal and save Canadian jobs?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, one thing we agree on with members of the opposition is that it is time for all hands on deck. That is what this Prime Minister has been saying ever since the election and before. This is a time for Canadians to pull together. In fact, the provinces and territories recognize that. They are investing in Canadian workers, they are investing in training and they are investing in major projects. Who is standing against Canadians? It is only one group, and that is the Conservative Party of Canada.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is saying a lot of things, but there is no action. He promised he would negotiate a win with the U.S. by July 21. It is now October, and Canada has the second-highest unemployment and the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7. This week in Oshawa, auto workers were told more jobs are moving to the United States.

It is clear the biggest threat to Canadian jobs is the Prime Minister's broken promises and failure to get a deal. Are Canadians losing their jobs because of his failed diplomacy abroad, his job-killing policies at home or both?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, this government never talks down our workers, never talks down our economy and never talks down our industries. We are there to create jobs while we are protecting a lot of jobs.

Of course, I hear everything that is happening in the auto sector. That is why we have been there for Honda, for Toyota, for Stellantis, for Ford and for GM. We have put a remission system in place to make sure that they protect jobs. Meanwhile, Canada will be the second-best country in the G20 for doing business, according to The Economic Intelligence Unit, and among the G7, Canada is ranked third with respect to ease of starting a business.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians that he would negotiate a win with Donald Trump by July 21. That was months ago, and Canadians are worse off than we were before. We have the fastest-shrinking economy and the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7. All the while, the Prime Minister has jetted around the globe. In Calgary, Imperial Oil is cutting 900 jobs. This is a direct result of 10 years of Liberal anti-energy law and policy.

Canadians are losing jobs. Is it because of the Prime Minister's failed jet-set diplomacy, or his job—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Minister of Industry.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, this government has a true plan to build one Canadian economy, and when it comes to building one economy, we have made sure that we will have important major national projects. We have announced them in the energy sector, including in LNG. Of course, the member should ask the Premier of Alberta what she thinks about that.

The other thing I would like to say is that GDP is actually growing; look at the last numbers in July. When we look at what is happening in the country, wages are increasing. Indeed, when we saw wages grow by 3.3% across the country—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Oakville West has the floor.

Foreign Affairs

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when I talk to my community in Oakville West, I hear a great deal of concern for the world around us.

For the last 80 years, the United Nations General Assembly has brought leaders from all backgrounds into one room to bridge political, social and economic divides. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs was there this past week and reaffirmed Canada's commitment to a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Can the minister share with the House how Canada is confronting the challenges our world is facing?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, last week at the United Nations, I reiterated Canada's commitment to multilateralism. At a time when countries are retreating towards protectionism, Canada will not retreat. We will continue to be a leader on the world stage, we will strengthen our defence and security, we will strengthen our economic resilience and we will enhance our commitment to core values.

With these three pillars of foreign policy, we will build Canada strong.

The Economy

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians. Liberal inflationary spending, the carbon tax, fuel standards and the plastics ban are all hidden taxes driving up the cost of groceries. Moms and dads are struggling to feed their kids, and food banks are seeing record usage. Still, the Liberals voted against our motion to axe all taxes on food. Nutritious food should not be a luxury.

When will the Liberals finally stop taxing food?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite maybe has not done her own grocery shopping for a while, because there is no GST tax on food. I will say this—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!