House of Commons Hansard #67 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was hate.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
École Polytechnique de Montréal Members mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, commemorating the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre. They highlight the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence, noting a woman or girl is killed every 48 hours. Speakers discuss its disproportionate impact on Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, which the NDP calls an ongoing genocide, urging collective action to end violence and ensure safety for all. 4700 words, 45 minutes.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Members debate a Conservative motion for the Justice Committee to travel across Canada to hear testimony on Bill C-9. Conservatives argue the bill and a proposed amendment to remove the Criminal Code's religious exemption threaten religious freedom and accuse Liberals of obstructing committee work. The Bloc supports removing the exemption, citing public consensus against incitement to hatred. Liberals accuse Conservatives of filibustering to delay hate crime and bail reform legislation, and spreading misinformation. 26200 words, 3 hours.
Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1 Second reading of Bill C-15. The bill implements budget provisions, drawing criticism from opposition parties. The Bloc Québécois rejects it due to insufficient support for Quebec’s demands, increased fossil fuel subsidies, and environmental backsliding. Conservatives denounce the bill for failing to address the affordability crisis, soaring food prices, and record national debt. They also criticize government spending and the impact of taxes on families, seniors, and key economic sectors. Liberals defend the budget's investments in social programs and the economy. 22800 words, 3 hours.
Criminal Code Second reading of Bill C-246. The bill would mandate consecutive sentencing for those convicted of sexual offences. The sponsor argues it would strengthen the justice system and ensure each crime and victim receives full recognition, as current practices allow multiple sentences to be served concurrently. While the Bloc Québécois supports sending the bill to committee, the Liberals argue it is unconstitutional and overly rigid, preferring their own legislative reforms that aim to address similar issues. 7500 words, 1 hour.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Speaker, I just want to reassure my Conservative colleagues. The Bloc Québécois is not on a mission against people of faith or people who preach. The Bloc Québécois is on a mission—
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
I will ask the member to wait a moment while the member puts on his earpiece.
The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Speaker, I just want to reassure my colleagues: The Bloc Québécois is not on a mission against people of faith, believers or those who represent different religions. That is not the case at all. The Bloc Québécois wants to remove a provision of the Criminal Code that makes it possible to incite hatred under the guise of religion.
Take, for example, Mr. Charkaoui. Unless I am mistaken, the members who rise the most in the House to support the Jewish community are my Conservative colleagues. The Jewish community in Quebec was extremely concerned about what he did, but criminal charges have not even been brought against him. Many people are saying it is because of the religious exemption in the Criminal Code. Quebec's Jewish community supports the Bloc Québécois in its efforts. There is a general consensus in Quebec to support the Bloc Québécois's mission to remove this provision from the Criminal Code.
What does my colleague have to say to the Quebec National Assembly, which unanimously supports the Bloc Québécois's position on this issue and is calling for the removal of the religious exemption from the Criminal Code?
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Madam Speaker, the member clearly did not listen to my speech. The issue is not the religious exemption itself. It is the legal threshold that prosecutors must look at when presented with a case: Is there a reasonable prospect of a conviction? Is it in the public interest? As I indicated, the words of that radical Islamist were disgusting, absolutely abhorrent, but they do not meet the threshold of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. They have absolutely nothing to do with section 319. That was the heart of my speech.
If there is a lawyer within his caucus, perhaps that lawyer can do a little bit of research for the member, because the member needs to realize that for several decades that particular defence has been seldom used. It has had no success whatsoever, because of the existence of the current criminal provisions that deal with incitement to hatred.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Madam Speaker, that was a great speech. I am part of the Christian community. Many Christians across Canada are concerned about threats posed to the very Bible itself.
Do Christians need to be concerned about this legislation? Does it really threaten the Bible and free speech in Canada?
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Madam Speaker, they should be very afraid. Every faith leader should be very afraid about what the Liberal government, with the support of the Bloc Québécois, wishes to do. As I indicated, religious freedom is under attack at the hands of the Liberal government. They absolutely need to speak out loud and clear.
Those members of religious organizations across this country in Liberal-held ridings, in Bloc ridings, need to reach out to their members to express very clearly that they do not support this attack on religious freedom.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I am disappointed in the Conservative Party, and in particular the member, who has been involved in the judicial system, for planting fear in the minds of Canadians. That is all the Conservative Party of Canada is doing today. It is shameful.
The member knows full well that this is not an infringement on the freedom of religion. If he had an ounce of integrity, he would indicate very clearly that pastors, preachers and imams have nothing to fear—
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The comments made were clearly unparliamentary. I do not think I need to explain why.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
That was a question; it was not an accusation. The hon. member would perhaps wish to reword his question.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, I can appreciate why they are a little sensitive to the truth. At the end of the day, this has no infringement on the freedom of religion.
The member knows that. Why will he not say that?
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Madam Speaker, that particular member just spews hatred and spews disgust. He impugns the integrity of every one of my Conservative colleagues. I am so disgusted in that particular framing of the question and the content of that question that I am not even going to respond. It is just not worthy of it.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, there are a couple of issues I would like to bring to the attention of the House and the individuals who are following this debate.
People should be concerned about two different things. First is the subject matter itself. If I had enough time, I would go through some of the things provided to me. I usually do not like to reference things provided to me in written format, but I might end up doing that just to provide some assurances to people who are following the debate. This is in regard to the subject matter itself.
I have another area of concern, which is the way the Conservative Party of Canada continues to be a destructive force on the floor of the House of Commons, because it does a great disservice to Canadians. Canadians should be aware of that.
First, very briefly, I will deal with the subject matter. Back in the 1970s, Canada adopted the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To the best of my knowledge, all members of the House support the charter. It was Pierre Elliott Trudeau who brought it in, and I remember witnessing, from my own home, the signing of that particular document. It is one of the reasons I took an interest in politics.
Canadians are very proud of the Charter of Rights. I believe it has made Canada a leader throughout the world in terms of our fundamental principles, such as democracy and the rule of law. The Charter of Rights provides a high level of comfort on a wide variety of issues.
The Charter of Rights, which any Canadian can acquire a copy of, reads, under “Fundamental Freedoms”:
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion;
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
An hon. member
Hear, hear!
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, even the Conservative member applauds it, and justifiably so. The Charter of Rights trumps all the legislation we might want to pass. That is why we often ask if the legislation is charter-proof or if someone has actually done their homework and found out if it is charter-compliant. Otherwise, the Supreme Court of Canada will say that we messed up and we need to make a change.
The Harper regime was really good at that. It passed criminal laws that constantly were in contradiction of the Charter of Rights. As a direct result, the Supreme Court of Canada dictated that we needed to make changes. Look at even some of the private members' legislation.
My first recommendation, for those individuals who are concerned about the propaganda and the misinformation that floods out of the Conservative caucus, is to take a look at the Charter of Rights. Any legislation that passes has to be in compliance with the Charter of Rights, and the critic is very much aware of that.
The Conservatives try to give this false impression that if someone is a pastor, a priest or an imam and talks about something in the Bible or in the Quran, they will go to jail—
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
An hon. member
That's exactly what they said.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
No, that is not what it says.
Madam Speaker, that just goes to show that the Conservatives are drinking too much of that blue kool-aid.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
I will interrupt the hon. parliamentary secretary.
We heard a speech just before this, and people were listening. Now I would ask the hon. members to listen to the parliamentary secretary until it is time for questions and comments.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
Order.
The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, I can appreciate that members are really sensitive on this. After all, they just heard a speech of garbage, with all sorts of misinformation. I would suggest—
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
An hon. member
Oh, oh!
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Whoa, whoa, the prosecutor is getting a little aggressive, Madam Speaker.
Instruction to Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
Members are getting very excited about this. Can we be respectful of one another?