House of Commons Hansard #32 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was reform.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Opposition Motion—Passage of Bill C-242 Members debate the Conservative's proposed "Jail Not Bail Act" (Bill C-242) for criminal justice reform. Conservatives argue that violent crime is up 55% due to Liberal "catch and release" policies, advocating for immediate passage to prioritize public safety. Liberals state they are developing significant bail reform for this fall, emphasizing comprehensive, constitutionally compliant changes, and addressing root causes of crime. The Bloc Québécois expresses concern for victims and supports measures to crack down on criminal organizations, but cautions against rushing the bill and infringing on fundamental rights. 53300 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
The EconomyOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I know members want question period to finish as close to three o'clock as possible, but if we keep having interruptions, that will not be possible.
The hon. Minister of Jobs and Families, from the top, please.
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, I will rephrase it in a way that does not insult the member, since she feels so insulted.
People who are grocery shoppers know that there is not GST on food in this country, so it is misleading for the member opposite to pose a question like that in a way that could confuse Canadians.
What I can say is that we have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. I know that the bill is seeking the approval of the House, and I hope the Conservatives are not going to vote against the support that Canadians need at this time.
Kelly DeRidder Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, the Liberals voted against our motion to lower hidden food taxes for Canadians. They voted to keep taxing food with their industrial carbon tax on fertilizer and farm equipment, and with inflation tax from increasing spending. These Liberal policies mean families are paying more at the grocery store. Pork was up 37.2% in March alone.
When will the Liberal government finally stop its hidden grocery taxes and provide real relief to Canadians?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, let us just debate on facts. This is what the House of Commons is about.
Indeed, there is no GST on food at the grocery store. That being said, we also cut taxes for the middle class for 22 million people across the country. We also cut taxes for first-time homebuyers across the country, and we cut the carbon tax.
We know that things are sometimes difficult across the country. We will be there for people. That is why we have a strong social safety net, have done a lot when it comes to dental care and pharma care and will continue to enhance that social safety net.
Tamara Kronis Conservative Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Liberal government wastes means higher taxes hidden in Canadian grocery bills.
The Prime Minister has not even spared our morning coffee. Since he took office, the price of coffee is up 23%, and sugar is up 20%. Liberals refuse to scrap the industrial carbon tax, the packaging tax and the fuel standard tax. The sweet things in life should not come at a bitter price.
When will the Liberals finally axe their hidden taxes on food?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, all the experts will tell us that the answer to food insecurity is income security. First and foremost, what does that mean? It means good jobs for Canadians, but it also means a stronger social safety net to help support people in their times of need.
Both of them require a strong economy in Canada. That is why our government is focused on making generational investments in housing, defence and infrastructure so we can build the strongest economy in the G7. That is how we will ensure that families can feed themselves for generations to come.
Giovanna Mingarelli Liberal Prescott—Russell—Cumberland, ON
Mr. Speaker, small businesses in my riding of Prescott—Russell—Cumberland are the heart and soul of my community and the key to building the strongest economy in the G7, but with the current trade situation with the United States, small businesses are facing unique challenges.
Can the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State for Small Business share what our government is doing to support small businesses?
Rechie Valdez LiberalMinister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Mr. Speaker, our government understands that small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy, and that is why we launched the buy Canadian policy that will strengthen supply chains and create more opportunities for small businesses. We made it easier for them to access BDC loans so they can compete, grow and reach new markets. We are also stepping up to support small businesses, especially those hit by the U.S. tariffs, through the $5-billion strategic response fund.
These measures will protect and strengthen Canadian businesses as we build the strongest economy in the G7.
Richard Bragdon Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said Canadians should judge him by grocery prices. Across Canada, rural families are feeling the pain at the checkout, including in New Brunswick, where groceries are up 23%, far outpacing inflation, yet yesterday the Liberals voted against the Conservative motion to make food more affordable. Instead, they doubled down on their hidden taxes, like the industrial carbon tax, their fuel standards and their packaging tax, policies that hit rural Canadians hard.
When will the Liberals finally stop their hidden tax on food and give Canadians a break at the grocery store?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, Tobique—Mactaquac is home to McCain Foods, one of the great Canadian food companies. Whether people are from Johnville, Bristol, Hartland or Woodstock, they have a lot of sense and they know this: There is no tax on food at the grocery store. The member knows it, and Conservatives know it.
People have big common sense in the Saint John River Valley. We will keep talking to them and doing stuff for them.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime posted on X, “On behalf of the Government of Canada I am announcing that on the advice of our officials, we have deemed the group Kneecap ineligible to enter our country.”
Can the minister advise whether the parliamentary secretary was authorized to make this announcement? If yes, who authorized it? Was it the minister, department officials or the Prime Minister's Office? If no one authorized it, can the minister advise what follow-up action will be taken to address this serious misrepresentation of authority? Canadians deserve to know.
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, persons seeking to come to Canada must meet eligibility and admissibility requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Each case is assessed individually. Entry into Canada may be refused for a number of reasons. An individual whose electronic travel application has been declined can reapply by doing an eTA and addressing the reasons it has been refused.
IRCC cannot comment on individual cases.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am following up with the hon. minister. The story has made a lot of waves in media. It does not seem at all clear that there is evidence that the band Kneecap was deemed ineligible by the department.
Since the minister cannot discuss any individual case, can she please confirm whether any authorized entity within the Canadian government refused entry to the Irish band Kneecap or whether it was just one rogue MP?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, as I said, each case is assessed individually. Anyone wishing to enter Canada must meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. A person whose application for an electronic travel authorization has been refused may reapply after explaining the reasons. We cannot comment on individual cases.
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Thursday question, when we ask for the government's agenda for the upcoming week.
During the election, the Prime Minister made a lot of promises. He said that he was going to fix Liberal bail. Specifically, he was going to fix the mess that Justin Trudeau, as well as the vast majority of the Liberals, created by passing Bill C-5 and Bill C-75.
Would the House leader inform the House if the Liberals will finally bring in legislation, in the upcoming week, to fix the disaster they have created in the bail system in this country?
During the election, the Prime Minister promised that, by July 21 of this year, months ago, he would have a deal with Trump regarding our trade deal with the United States. Over the last number of weeks, we have reports that we have the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7. We have the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7. The jobs crisis is worsening in this country. We have seen the announcements from Imperial Oil of 900 job losses in Calgary. We have had the Kap Paper announcement here in Ontario, as well as GM's announcement that it is going to discontinue production of some of its models in Canada and move those jobs to the United States.
Will the House leader finally update the House as to whether the Prime Minister will fulfill his commitment to get a deal with the United States in the coming week?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, it is funny that those questions did not make the top 40 of the ones they wanted to ask today. Of course, the Prime Minister and ministers are in regular contact with our friends and neighbours in the United States. We will be advocating for Canadian workers and Canadian jobs.
In terms of criminal justice legislation, the member well knows that, right now, he could stand up and ask for unanimous consent on a very tough border bill that would help the government get tough on crime. This week, we had the chance to vote on Bill C-9 and move it through the legislative process.
The member need not fret. Legislation is going to be coming fast and furious, and the Conservatives will have a decision to make whether they want to support constitutional bail reform concocted with provinces and territories, victims associations and all manner of other stakeholders, or will they keep grandstanding in the way that they do? In the meantime, we have a very interesting week coming up.
Today, we are concluding debate on the Conservative Party's opposition day motion. Tomorrow, we will resume second reading debate of Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts.
Next Monday, we will consider second reading of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. We will continue with this debate on Wednesday. On Tuesday, we will commence second reading debate of Bill C-10, the commissioner for modern treaty implementation act. Thursday, October 9, shall be an allotted day.
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
The hon. member called on me to stand in the House and call for unanimous consent to pass all stages of a bill that would fix the bail system in this country, the Liberal bail system that has been broken by the caucus across the way.
I ask for unanimous consent to pass, at all stages, Bill—
Business of the HouseOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
That is not a point of order, that is a question for question period.
The House resumed consideration of the motion.
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the people of Richmond Hill South, and Canadians across the country, are demanding safe streets. They want criminals behind bars, not behind the wheel of a stolen car. They want kids playing safely in parks, not dodging gunfire from illegally smuggled guns, which the Liberals let across the border at record levels. They want seniors to be free to walk their neighbourhoods, not locked indoors by fear of a crime wave unleashed by the Liberals.
The Conservative's jail not bail act delivers what the pro-crime Liberals never will: justice for victims, protection for families and safety for communities. The Liberals gave us crime and chaos. Conservatives will bring home safe streets and secure borders. I, along with the rest of my Conservative colleagues, will be voting to scrap Liberal bail.
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have committed to strict measures against violent offenders, yet they continue to fuel violent crime by refusing to repeal Bill C-75. The bill is forcing judges to release offenders at the earliest possible opportunity and under the least onerous conditions. Violent criminals have been emboldened and are taking advantage of their new freedom to terrorize Canadians because of it.
If the Liberal government were to support our motion, the jail not bail act, today, would Richmond Hill once again be a far safer place to live and raise families?
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, yes, Richmond Hill would be one of the safest communities across the country to live, raise a family, play and work. The Liberals can just admit that they have failed over the last 10 years with their Liberal soft-on-crime policies and their weak bail policies, and join us in supporting the Conservatives' jail not bail act to, finally, scrap Liberal bail.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, my colleague's speech comes at a time when we are preparing to study a report on crimes against women. These crimes obviously leave their mark. When victims came to testify before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, they said that regulating the use of the Jordan decision could make a real difference.
The Bloc Québécois previously introduced Bill C-392 to regulate the use of the Jordan decision. Of course, it is always preferable for a trial to be held as quickly as possible. However, we want to ensure that the Jordan decision cannot be invoked for certain crimes, such as sexual offences, murders, kidnappings, firearms offences and terrorism. Survivors and victims are asking us to do this.
What does my colleague think?
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is simple. After 10 years of Liberal pro-crime laws, violent crime is up 55%, gun crime has more than doubled, extortion is up 330%, homicides are up 29% and sexual assaults are up 76%. Auto thefts are at levels never seen before. There is one simple solution, which is to scrap Liberal bail.
Opposition Motion—Passage of Bill C-242Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, it is always a concern when Conservatives stand up to intentionally, or maybe, sometimes, unintentionally, mislead.
For example—