Debates of Oct. 21st, 2025

Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it will be important to look at that in committee. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security will be examining Bill C‑12 and the matter of border security. The issue of sentencing will be looked at by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. I encourage members to examine these serious and important issues in the most non-partisan way possible.

That being said, I would like to come back to the matter of indigenous police services. The Bloc Québécois is strongly in favour of a nation-to-nation dialogue. This gives me the opportunity to mention something that I did not cover in my speech: Organized crime and our lax border controls have a disproportionate effect on indigenous women. I have studied this issue at both the Standing Committee on the Status of Women and with the All Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

I would also like to draw the House's attention to two worthwhile security bills that have been introduced by the Bloc Québécois: the bill on organized crime introduced by the member for Rivière‑du‑Nord and the bill introduced this morning by my colleague from Saint‑Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton on the purchase of goods produced by victims of forced labour, a form of modern slavery, particularly the Uyghurs. The Bloc Québécois is taking a strong stance on these very important issues.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on her speech.

On reading the bill, we see that it includes some provisions related to asylum seekers. These provisions are similar to past requests made by the Bloc Québécois. When we made those requests, the government called us all sorts of names. Then, 10 years later, suddenly these solutions are applicable.

I would like to know how my colleague explains that.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the work that my colleague from Lac-Saint-Jean has done on this file. He always asks us to deal with this immigration issue meticulously and compassionately.

That being said, where were the Liberals and the Conservatives when the Bloc Québécois was talking about reviewing the safe third country agreement? Where are the Liberals and the Conservatives when the Bloc Québécois calls for a more even distribution of asylum seekers?

Right now, once again, Quebec is disproportionately affected by all this, and unfortunately, the federal government is not giving us the funds we need to support these people with dignity and humanity.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish the entire House a very happy Trafalgar Day, a day on which we remember the sacrifice and brave leadership of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who gave his life in defence against Bonapartist tyranny. In addition, I would be remiss if I did not mention that today the Royal Canadian Navy is celebrating Niobe Day; 115 years ago today marked the first day of a Canadian warship, the HMCS Niobe.

It is a privilege to rise today to speak to Bill C-12, the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act. We are discussing the bill here today instead of Liberal Bill C-2, because Bill C-2 was met with considerable opposition from members of the House and from civil society groups that made it clear that the legislation would not be able to move forward without significant revisions.

Therefore, today we are debating Bill C-12. Despite the sweeping powers the government proposed in Bill C-2, the Liberal government did not even bother to consult with the Privacy Commissioner about the impacts that the legislation would have on the privacy rights of Canadians. It is only because of the accountability provided by members of the opposition in the House that we were able to push that legislation back so we could focus on legislation that would at least try to repair the damage of the last 10 years of the Liberal government by introducing changes on the border.

The objectives of the bill, I will say for those constituents of mine who are watching at home, are several. They include but are not limited to creating an expedited pathway for the Minister of Health to add precursors chemicals used in the production of deadly drugs such as fentanyl as controlled substances under the Criminal Code.

Over the past few years, we have seen the devastation of the fentanyl overdose crisis in Canada. At the public safety committee, we have been hearing about some of the many gaps we have in this country, including testimony that has indicated that the non-resident import program is being used to smuggle precursor chemicals into Canada with less stringency at the border, which is creating a situation where Canada has become a major producer of fentanyl, which is being exported. We have heard recent stories of countries like New Zealand and Australia being the recipients of drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. Clearly this is not the reputation that a great country like Canada wants to have.

Another part of the legislation seeks to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to eliminate the designated countries of origin regime, which has been identified as a loophole. It would give the minister the powers to specify that required documents are needed to support a refugee claim. It would require the suspension of certain refugee protection proceedings if the claimant is not present in Canada, something I think should be common sense; somebody should be present in Canada if they are claiming refugee status here.

It seeks to change the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to increase the maximum monetary penalties for those charged under these acts. It also seeks to make certain changes to the Sex Offender Information Registration Act to allow for increased reporting of the offender's description, as well as changes to the circumstances and frequency of reporting. It would also allow for information previously collected to be disclosed if it can reasonably be expected to assist in the prevention or investigation of a crime of a sexual nature.

Once again, I think these things are long overdue. We probably need to go even further, but we are certainly not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater on this one. Even with the second attempt at the legislation, the Liberal bill still fails to address the key issue of bail reform. We know that catch-and-release is alive and well for people who traffic in fentanyl and use illegal firearms, using our porous border to victimize more and more Canadian families.

We know that the sentencing provisions that were passed by the Liberal government under Bill C-75 and Bill C-5 have made it so that there no mandatory prison times for the people who traffic fentanyl, and there are still no new mandatory prison times for gangsters who use illegal guns to commit crimes, despite the Liberal government's incessant campaign against law-abiding gun owners. We also know that house arrest is still being used extensively in cases relating to violent criminals. Once again, this is unacceptable.

That said, I think we can all agree that strengthening our border is critical, and that is why legislation is desperately needed in this area. After 10 years of reckless Liberal policies, our border is broken, and we need to fix it. The Liberals' soft-on-crime agenda has made Canada a destination for international organized criminals trafficking in drugs, weapons, people and stolen cars. Gangs are committing brutal crimes on our streets every day.

The public safety committee has looked at the issues in depth, and we have repeatedly heard it is the broken bail system that has contributed to the crisis. Organized criminals have chosen to make Canada their home because of our weak laws.

We also know the government's failed immigration policies have assisted in making Canada a destination for international organized crime. In the past, the government has removed visa requirements over the objections of law enforcement agencies, which stated that the removal of visas would increase the risk of organized crime's taking root in this country. The government moved forward with it anyway, and it is critical that the policies be reversed so we can once again make Canada the safest country in the world.

I want to be clear that nothing I am saying today is a criticism of our brave frontline law enforcement officers in the RCMP and the CBSA. We know they are doing their absolute best. We have heard from police associations in Ontario. I have heard from RCMP members in my riding, when I was out knocking on doors during the past election, for example, that they are arresting people and seeing them back out on the street mere hours after being arrested for drug offences. How demoralizing this is for our frontline officers.

We have heard from Mark Weber of the Customs and Immigration Union, the union that represents CBSA workers, that morale at the CBSA is at the lowest level he has ever seen. This is after 10 years of the Liberal government. We now see that the government keeps recycling its promises to keep hiring more border services officers, but it is clear much more needs to be done to strengthen our border and our security service.

Canada has the largest undefended border in the world, which is something we can all be very proud of as a country, but the lack of resources for the CBSA to fulfill its role has seen a rise in smuggling and human trafficking in this country and people coming to this country to pursue their criminal activities. It has skyrocketed over the past decade.

The CBSA has been sounding the alarm, but the government has not been listening. There is plenty of evidence to substantiate these points, but I will pick one specific example. At the immigration committee, IRCC officials stated that they believe there are hundreds if not thousands of violent criminals who are here illegally, violent criminals who are not citizens or permanent residents. They are temporary residents who are violent people, and officials have no idea where they are. When I asked the customs union employee, they said that there are only a couple hundred CBSA officers who are tasked with trying to track down the thousands of violent criminals who are at large in this country. This is unacceptable.

On the non-violent side, we know there are currently around 50,000 people who have come to Canada on student visas and whose visas have now run out. They are here illegally, and CBSA does not have the resources to reach out to these people or to remove these people who are now in this country illegally. Despite the shockingly high figures, as I said, there are something like only 300 CBSA officers who have been dedicated to this gargantuan task.

One of the reasons CBSA is suffering so much, as its union said, is that it is drowning in middle management. It is not getting the frontline officers it needs to do the job. This is endemic in everything the Liberal government has done for the last 10 years. Let us look at the great paradox, where we have a government where the bureaucracy has grown by 45% across the civil service yet there are fewer frontline workers in critical areas like the CBSA, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces than ever before. How does that make any sense? The government is padding middle management and upper management, to the detriment of frontline workers who are doing the dangerous jobs we need them to do to keep us safe.

Action is desperately needed, and the largest beneficiary of the government's failed immigration and criminal policies has been organized crime. Canada has become a low-risk, high-reward environment. Criminals choose the path of least resistance. The strict border controls put in place during the pandemic saw the Canadian market shift from being an importer of fentanyl to becoming a domestic producer. CSIS has found that synthetic drugs are increasingly being produced in Canada using precursor chemicals from China. This is what experts are saying. It is estimated that about 80% of the precursor chemicals that are being used in fentanyl—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a lot of talk has occurred today regarding the comments of the Leader of the Opposition when he referred to the RCMP as “despicable”. We have been asking some members of the Conservative Party about this today. Some have wanted to say something, like the member for Bow River who referred to the RCMP as having “management weaknesses”.

Others, on the other hand, have not really wanted to weigh in. The member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes had a lozenge in his throat when he was asked about it, and he therefore could not say anything.

I wonder if the member would like to weigh in as to whether or not he thinks that the leadership of the RCMP is despicable.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government tries to distract Canadians from the real failures that the government has created. It is despicable that the government has not given the resources to our frontline officers to do the job they are doing, and the Liberals are hiding so they can avoid accountability for the failures.

The CBSA union has said that morale is at the lowest level that it has ever been, and that is under 10 years of failed Liberal leadership. Conservatives will take no lessons from the Liberals on how to stand up for—

[The Acting Speaker, Rob Morrison]

The hon. member for Kenora—Kiiwetinoong has the floor.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member just spoke about the Liberals' failures. Of course, the Liberals have been in government now for 10 years, and what we have seen is that they have broken the bail system and that they failed to get frontline officers on the border and law enforcement the resources they need.

I am wondering whether the member wants to speak more on the pattern of failure of the Liberal government to keep Canadians safe.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his hard work for his constituents. We know that he is doing an excellent job in northern Ontario.

It is clear that the ideological bent of the government is not to empower our frontline officers to do their job. The government is one that is beholden to a woke ideology, wherein it passes bills like Bill C-75, which tells judges to let criminals out at the earliest convenience with the least number of restraints. It is clear that it is policies like this that are being called out by frontline police officers and by police associations, and that are causing the havoc and violence we are seeing on our streets. Our party stands behind our—

[The Acting Speaker, Rob Morrison]

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Shefford.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an important aspect of border security that I talked about in my speech is human resources. We need enough officers and workers so that border crossings are effective. To improve the situation, the Bloc Québécois suggested allowing the CBSA to patrol between border crossings.

Budget cuts at the CBSA are nothing new. When I was working as an assistant to the former member for Brome—Missisquoi, we were already talking about this key issue. At the time, it was the Conservatives who were making cuts that had major impacts on the operation of the border crossings.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we know that with the longest undefended border in the world, there is no way we could hire enough police officers or CBSA officers to man every inch of our border, and that is why we need to make investments in technology and equipment. However, when the government had the opportunity to hire Canadian workers and Canadian businesses, what did it do? It chose to hire Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. government, and it had to give a Transport Canada waiver because the helicopters were not safe to fly over Canadian skies.

Why are the Liberals choosing American companies over Canadian companies that do the job? We need to grow our made-in-Canada border security and not hire companies that have to get waivers because they are not safe to use in Canada.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is once again an honour to rise on behalf of the resilient residents of Oshawa. Those are the residents who I believe are among some of the hardest-working Canadians in the country, but they are concerned about their safety. They are concerned about their safety when they are in their neighbourhoods and walking downtown, and they are concerned about border safety and the drugs that are freely flowing in our country, not just through the border, but from the free drugs people are getting from the government, which are being resold. We will talk about that later.

Canadians have heard a lot of big promises from the Liberal government about keeping our country safe, protecting our borders and restoring confidence in our immigration system. There are all of these wonderful things, yet after 10 years of Liberal government, both our borders and our public safety have rarely been in a worse place.

The legislation before us today is Bill C-12, the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act, which the Liberals claim would fix the very problems they created. I am reminded of something I learned in my education, and that is something called narcissism. I bring this up because narcissists engage in what clinicians call “crisis creation” or “drama seeking”, which is to manufacture a situation. In my opinion, the Liberals have created the situations that allow them to dominate, control and be admired for saving others. They are keeping Canadians in constant trauma and creating, therefore, a trauma bond. The Liberal government constantly disappoints and then claims it is going to be the hero we can trust to come in to save the day from a crisis it created.

The bill is being sold as a solution, but Canadians have learned that, with this government, the title rarely matches the contents. Bill C-12 is a sequel to Bill C-2. Thankfully, Conservatives looked closer, and what we found were some sweeping data collection powers, warrantless search authorities and new threats to Canadian privacy. Therefore, through pressure, thankfully the Liberals have been forced to take Bill C-2 apart. Now we are left with Bill C-12, a slightly repackaged Bill C-2, but with many of the same problems.

In my job as an educational therapist for 20 years, we talked about breakdown points, and sometimes it seems very negative to talk about breakdown points when we are talking about families, children with learning disabilities and things like that, but in this scenario, I think breakdown points are very important because we cannot come to a conclusion or a solution unless we discover what the breakdown points are, so let us talk about that.

Canada's asylum system, once the envy of the world, is now buckling under the weight of Liberal mismanagement. A decade ago, the backlog was under 10,000 cases. Today, it is over a quarter of a million and growing. Legitimate refugees wait years while bogus claims clog the system. Failed claimants appeal for years, and more and more often remain in Canada indefinitely, collecting benefits that many Canadians themselves do not receive, so this is not compassion. This is the chaos creation I was speaking about.

It started when the government decided it was going to play politics with our borders. In 2017, Justin Trudeau's #WelcomeToCanada tweet encouraged tens of thousands of people to cross illegally from the United States to claim asylum, many after already having been rejected in that safe, democratic country. Since then, more than 100,000 people have entered Canada illegally. Most are still waiting in the system, many housed at taxpayers' expense, while the truly vulnerable, those fleeing real persecution, are left behind.

This is not fairness. It is, rather, failure.

A broken asylum system does not just strain compassion. It undermines public safety. We have seen the consequences at our borders and on our streets. Under the government, criminals slated for deportation have disappeared, illegal guns continue to cross our borders and the fentanyl crisis is devastating communities across the country, including in my own community of Oshawa. If we were to walk through downtown Oshawa, we would see the toll this crisis has taken: lives lost, families shattered, and neighbourhoods struggling under the weight of addiction and fear.

Our first responders, outreach workers and volunteers are doing their best, but they are overwhelmed. According to Health Canada, more than 49,000 Canadians have died from apparent opioid toxicity since 2016, an entire community worth of lives. From January to June 2024 alone, 79% of accidental opioid deaths involve fentanyl, nearly double the proportion from 2016. Six months ago, my nephew, Cody Kirkland, died from an accidental overdose. Fentanyl and its precursors are the reason for that.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would like to express my condolences to the hon. member on that tragic loss.

Stan LaPierre

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today I honour the late elder Stan LaPierre, whose radiant smile and gentle, wise spirit were gifts to all who knew him. His compassion knew no bounds. His love poured freely into the lives of others, especially through his tireless care and love for families of murdered and disappeared women, girls and gender-diverse people, as well as survivors of violence. I will always remember the light of his smile. It could brighten even the darkest of rooms.

Though I knew Stan only briefly, I am profoundly grateful for his kindness, teachings and love. His absence leaves a great void in our community, yet his legacy of humanity will continue to guide us.

The love of his beloved partner, elder Thelma Morrisseau, reflected deep respect, joy, and devotion. My heart is with her and her family during their time of grief.

Rest in power, dear Stan. His light shines on.

Special Olympics Canada

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, visiting Ottawa today are two incredible athletes, Ava Walsh and Gracie Ryckman, as well as coaches, staff and volunteers from Special Olympics Canada. For more than 50 years, the Special Olympics have shown us the power of inclusion, creating opportunities for Canadians with disabilities to build on their strengths, foster lifelong friendships and shine on and off the field.

Across the country, and in my riding of Toronto—St. Paul's, where the beating heart of the organization has a home, I have seen how these programs bring communities together. They remind us that sport is not only about competition but also about belonging, confidence and joy.

Gracie and Ava's determination and teamwork inspire us all. They embody what it means to lead with heart. On behalf of the House, I thank them for their dedication, and I thank everyone who makes the Special Olympics possible.

Public Safety

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, crime and chaos is out of control. Extortion has exploded into one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada, with threats against small business owners and innocent citizens. Just this weekend, in my riding of Edmonton Southeast, an innocent family had their house shot up after it was misidentified by gangsters. This is unacceptable. It is a direct result of the Liberal soft-on-crime agenda.

Canadians deserve to feel safe in their own homes. That is why Conservatives want to restore mandatory jail time and repeal the dangerous Liberal catch-and-release laws, Bill C-5 and Bill C-75.

To the innocent family whose home was shot at, that should not have happened. My fellow Conservatives and I will fight hard to stop the crime so that criminals like the ones who attacked them will face real consequences, not just a slap on the wrist.

Steve Butland

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to my friend Steve Butland, who served as a member of Parliament in the House from 1988 to 1993. Steve and I also served on city council from 2003 to 2015. He was a one-term mayor and did a fantastic job serving with great passion. He was a mentor to me and a partner in many initiatives. Together, we co-sponsored a motion declaring Sault Ste. Marie the alternative energy capital of North America.

I remember dearly a little story about Steve when he and I, as city councillors, visited the House of Commons while we were here for an AMO conference. We walked in the door and a guard remembered him fondly. A decade later, he remembered Steve's name and everything, such as what party he belonged to. It was quite amazing the impact that guy had on every kind of person, from all walks of life.

I send my condolences to Sharran; his daughters, Stefanie, Suzanne and Stacy; their husbands; and his grandchildren. Rest in peace, Steve.

Riding of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 19, 2015, the people of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles did me the great honour of electing me to the House of Commons.

Today, 10 years later, I am proud and thankful to rise to mark this important milestone; 10 years defending the interests of our families, our seniors, our young people and all those who contribute to the vitality of our riding every day.

I have had the privilege of working with organizations that embody our values of solidarity and commitment: the Knights of Columbus, the Patro de Charlesbourg, our seniors clubs, our sports associations and the organizations that support people living with various needs.

These dedicated men and women, who are often volunteers, remind us that the strength of a community depends on helping one another, on family and on shared responsibility. These are deeply rooted values in our riding that have guided me for the past decade.

I sincerely thank the people of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles for their renewed trust, and I continue to serve them with passion.

Women's History Month

[Claude Guay, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate women this month, I would like to take a moment to recognize an exceptional woman in my life: my wife, Carol Anne, who is celebrating her birthday this week. For over 35 years of marriage, Carol Anne has been my rock and my inspiration. She has been right by my side for every one of my adventures, including this new one in politics.

Her strength, kindness and compassion make her truly extraordinary. Everyone who meets her can feel her genuine warmth and uplifting energy.

I thank Carol Anne for her unwavering support, her patience and her love. She reminds me every day what truly matters: family, respect and kindness.

Happy birthday to an amazing woman. I am so grateful to share this journey with her.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, let us take the time to recognize all the women who inspire us, lift us up and make our communities stronger every single day.

Martin Brodhagen

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Martin Brodhagen, who died as a result of a tragic farm accident on the same land he tended for his entire life. He was a man of tremendous work ethic and immense resilience and had a good heart. Martin was devoted to his faith, his farm and his family.

He contributed to the community through Junior Farmers and 4-H, and he was the kind of person who would go out of his way to help his neighbours in their time of need. He enjoyed a good auction sale and a good joke.

He was a loving husband to Brenda and a caring father to his children, Amanda and Bryan, who were truly his pride and joy. Though Martin is gone, his legacy lives on through them, as they farm the land that meant so much to him.

Special Olympics Canada

[Madeleine Chenette, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that sport can transform lives, build confidence, create bonds and bring joy. Everyone deserves to experience that.

Across Canada, thousands of athletes benefit from programs supported by passionate Special Olympics Canada volunteers and coaches who promote strength, pride, honour, courage and friendship, values that inspire us all.

Today, let us join in celebrating the vibrant spirit of Canada's Special Olympics athletes from coast to coast to coast.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Leduc—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour one of the most incredible organizations in the history of sport. While others will no doubt pay tribute to our beloved Blue Jays this afternoon, I am here to celebrate the many Special Olympics athletes joining us in Ottawa today.

For six decades, the Special Olympics has changed the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities worldwide, including the over 40,000 Canadian athletes who participate today. One of those athletes is my own son Jaden, who radiates pure joy whenever he has a bowling ball in his hands. Another athlete is Damion, a multi-sport Special Olympian and athlete ambassador I met this morning. Damion is carrying the torch in a way that would make the legendary Joey Moss proud.

I also want to salute the incomparable Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics International, soon retiring after 47 years of tireless leadership in the organization.

As Special Olympics Canada prepares for the 2026 Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, I know colleagues from all sides of this House will join me in recognizing its invaluable contribution to our country.

30th Anniversary of La Petite Maison de Pointe-Calumet

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as you will see, community spirit runs deep in my riding.

This year, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of La Petite Maison de Pointe-Calumet, which was founded in 1995 by Diane Grenier. It has grown over the years thanks to the commitment of passionate people like current director Mélissa Corbeil and her hard-working team.

With more than 550 people receiving assistance and dozens of volunteers helping out, the organization provides support to families, children and seniors on a daily basis through projects such as the community garden, collective kitchens, food aid and educational kits that make learning about important issues fun for the whole family. At La Petite Maison de Pointe-Calumet, the expression “it takes a village to raise a child” takes on its full meaning.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois and my constituents, I invite the House to join me in wishing La Petite Maison de Pointe-Calumet a very happy anniversary. I want to thank all those who have been fostering hope and solidarity there for 30 years now. What they do makes all the difference.