Debates of June 5th, 2025

Strong Borders Act

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the member hardly spoke about anything that is in this bill. I think he is awaiting the forthcoming justice bill that we will introduce. I believe he could use this speech at that time, because the justice bill will include many of these measures.

I do want to talk about some things that we can constructively work on. One thing is that this bill exists because there were gaps. These gaps also existed under previous Conservative governments. Under previous Conservative governments, there was no limit on how much cash could be spent on goods in this country. There were not these provisions. There were the same immigration rules. This bill exists because this new Liberal government is getting tough on crime and recognizes that we need to fill the gaps in order to keep Canadians safe.

Would the member agree?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely laughable whenever my colleagues and I hear about this brand new Liberal government. The member who just asked me the question has been here since 2015. She is not new, and 90% of that bench is all old. It is being controlled by the same Liberal operation that has been in existence since 2015. When are they finally going to start to reflect, look at themselves in the mirror and say, “We have failed Canadians. We have let them down. We failed to protect our borders. We have let repeat violent offenders in and out of the criminal justice system,” and blame themselves?

Shame on them for blaming Stephen Harper and the past Conservative government, which actually cared about victims over the rights of criminals.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my colleague, who is very critical of the bill.

One of the things he talks about is the importance of cracking down on fentanyl trafficking. What we see in the bill is that the Canada Post Corporation Act will now allow people who work for Canada Post to open not only parcels, but also letters, when they have reasonable grounds to suspect that something is not right.

I would like to know what my colleague thinks about that. Does he see this as a potentially useful way to more effectively crack down on trafficking, particularly fentanyl trafficking?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I know some members on the Liberal bench are tired of hearing this, but it is important to frame the response—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Waterloo loves to chime in, and maybe she will get the opportunity to ask me a question, but perhaps she can show me the courtesy of actually letting me respond to the question without being chirped and interrupted.

In my previous capacity, not only was I a prosecutor, but I was a defence counsel. I will fight with every last breath for the charter rights and freedoms of every Canadian. What I find very concerning is that there ought not to be a choice, as the government has framed in Bill C-2, between the protection of civil liberties and law enforcement.

I am sure I am going to hear a question about how all the police associations are in favour of Bill C-2. Of course they are. They have been pleading and begging for some legislative relief from the government for 10 years, so it is one small step—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Questions and comments.

The honourable member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member on his excellent work on this.

One of the things I noticed while talking to people in my riding and in other places during the election was how frustrating it is for people who work in law enforcement when they see the failures on crime of the Liberal government. There are people who go out and work hard every day, risking their lives to try to keep the rest of us safe. When they catch someone involved in crime, very often they are released on bail, even if it is a repeat violent offender.

I wonder if the member can share a little about how the approach the Liberals have taken is impacting law enforcement and what the response has been to the actions of the government by those who work on the front lines.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as the shadow critic for justice and the Attorney General, which is a position that I have had for almost a year now, I have had the opportunity to travel right across this great country. I have spoken with local law enforcement. I have spoken with presidents of police associations. I have spoken with chiefs. I have spoken with provincial and territorial attorneys general. They are all unanimous in their frustration with the Liberal government. The Liberal government promised them real, substantive bail reform and was so proud when Bill C-48 was passed into law, which was nothing more than a band-aid on a serious issue. People are frustrated. They are demoralized. They want more relief, which the government refuses to give.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I regret that the member feels that he is being chirped. I was actually just participating in the comments that were being shared.

Where I am coming from is that the legislation, at least in the riding of Waterloo, is not a monolith of voices. People are interested in the legislation.

Today we heard speeches from colleagues from the Conservative Party, as well as from the Bloc, suggesting that the legislation did have some validity. Amendments could be considered, but there was value to the legislation; it just is not exactly in the way that some members would like to see it. I recognize that there is more work to do, but I would like to ask whether the member thinks there is merit to the legislation. If police associations are asking for it and we are providing it, is there merit to the legislation? Should we try to make it better?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, now you see the—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Order.

The hon. member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations has the floor.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in my response to the last question, law enforcement has long asked for a number of legislative reforms. What Bill C-2 would do is move the needle ever so slightly by expanding the search powers that police officers have when they are investigating sophisticated, transnational, organized crime entities like the fentanyl traffickers I talked about, but still at the expense of civil liberties.

The government still has not produced a charter statement, which is astonishing. Defence lawyers are laughing; they are going to be smiling all the way to the bank as they launch charter challenge after—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The member for Courtenay—Alberni has time for a 30-second question.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard that the government has announced a fentanyl czar, and it has had an auto theft summit. I am not saying those are not important, but the Liberals still have not named a czar to help support people living with addiction. They still have not announced a plan on how they are going to create treatment-on-demand. They still have not had a summit on the toxic drug crisis, despite the loss of over 50,000 Canadians.

Does my colleague agree that those also need to be a priority when it comes to this discussion?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, where is the minister for addictions? We had one in the 44th Parliament, but it is clearly not a priority for the Prime Minister and his so-called new government.

As I indicated in my speech, there is a national fentanyl crisis. People are dying every day. There is blood on the hands of all Liberal members for showing such disrespect to the people struggling with these addiction matters. There needs to be adequate representation at a national level.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague is deeply concerned about the issue of firearms.

Bill C-2 talks about giving more power to the Coast Guard to document and observe situations and share that information with the authorities. Does my colleague think this is a good tool for combatting illegal gun trafficking?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I do believe that there is value in arming our Coast Guard with additional powers. I toured the port of Vancouver recently, and I was appalled to learn of the clever ways that criminals and organized crime are smuggling drugs and weapons across our border with basically zero ability for the Coast Guard and law enforcement—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Winnipeg West.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Richmond East—Steveston.

As I rise in the House today to deliver my maiden speech, I do so with deep humility and heartfelt gratitude. On April 28, the people of Winnipeg West honoured me by placing their trust in me once again and electing me to be their voice in this esteemed chamber. Having served from 2015 to 2019, returning to the chamber is more than just a homecoming; it is a renewed call to service. I am profoundly thankful to the constituents of Winnipeg West for entrusting me with the privilege of representing them, and for allowing me to champion their causes, advocate for them and bring attention to the pressing issues facing our community.

I would like to give special thanks to my wife, Sowmya. From my very first campaign in 2015 to my return in 2025, she has been my constant source of encouragement, strength and support, and, yes, I have already apologized for, once again, leaving her with the unfortunate duty of dealing with our cats' litter box.

As I reflect on the journey that brought me here, I must take a moment to recognize the extraordinary volunteers of Winnipeg West. Their dedication, passion and tireless efforts were the heartbeat of the campaign. As I juggled emergency department shifts alongside the campaign, it was our incredible volunteers who carried the torch and kept us moving forward. From door knocking with me in snowstorms to making countless phone calls, organizing events and spreading our message, they showed up day after day with purpose and resolve. The campaign simply would not have been possible without them, and I am endlessly grateful for their steadfast belief in our shared values and vision for a stronger, more inclusive Canada.

Having practised emergency medicine in Winnipeg for over 25 years, I have always believed that a fundamental duty of a society is for us to look out for one another. I had a personal experience that tells me what that means. In 2022, while visiting Vancouver, I suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while running in Stanley Park. I survived because complete strangers stepped in, performed CPR on me for 25 minutes and administered two shocks with a defibrillator before paramedics rushed me to St. Paul's Hospital, where I underwent emergency coronary bypass surgery. I was discharged a week later, and the total medical bill to me was zero dollars.

That experience reaffirmed something deeply meaningful: This is what Canada is all about, a country where people step up for each other and a place where our public institutions are there to care for those in need without asking whether they can pay. This is the Canada I believe in and the Canada I am committed to helping preserve.

Winnipeg West is a unique riding, a place where diversity, resilience and unity come together. What sets the community apart is its blend of urban vibrancy and rural character. While rooted in the west end of Winnipeg, our riding also stretches across municipalities like Headingley and Rosser, each with its own identity, history and contribution to the fabric of Manitoba.

From thriving suburban neighbourhoods to family-run farms and tight-knit rural communities, Winnipeg West represents a microcosm of the province itself: diverse, connected and grounded in shared values. Our riding of Winnipeg West is a true reflection of prairie pragmatism, a place where politics are not measured by headlines but by results. In my riding, people are less concerned with partisan politics and are more focused on real, tangible solutions that improve everyday life. Whether it is advocating for affordability measures, improved infrastructure in our municipalities or support for small businesses and the local agriculture sector, residents want action that makes a difference.

Our riding has long been a political battleground, not because it is divided but because its people are engaged, thoughtful and principled. There, people do not hesitate to ask the hard questions, challenge assumptions and expect their elected representatives to earn their trust every single day. This spirit of democratic engagement is not only a cornerstone of Winnipeg West; it is also a strength of our democracy, and it is a responsibility I carry with great humility and purpose.

In last week's Speech from the Throne, our government laid out a bold and unifying vision: to build one strong Canadian economy out of 13, and to position Canada as the strongest economy in the G7. At a time when we are facing significant generational challenges, including mounting economic pressures from our closest ally, the United States, our government remains focused on delivering real, tangible results for Canadians.

This means making life more affordable for Canadians by implementing targeted measures like the middle-class tax cut that puts more money back into the pockets of people in communities like Winnipeg West, tackling the housing crisis head-on by accelerating home construction at a pace this country has never seen before, and investing in critical infrastructure and nation-building projects that will drive long-term economic growth and unlock new opportunities for every generation of Canadians.

One of the key pillars of the plan is securing our borders, as to be truly strong, Canada must be secure. Border security is critical, not only to ensuring public safety but also to safeguarding our economic prosperity and national sovereignty. That is why, earlier this week, the Minister of Public Safety introduced Bill C-2, the strong borders act, a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Canada's border integrity and enhancing our capacity to respond to evolving security threats.

The strong borders act would build upon Canada's $1.3-billion border plan, the largest single investment in border security in Canadian history. Bill C-2 proposes important measures to modernize our border infrastructure, improve information sharing among Canadian agencies, preserve the integrity of our immigration and asylum systems, and prevent the unlawful movement of goods and people across our borders. It also addresses growing concerns about the illegal fentanyl trade, transnational organized crime, money laundering and terrorist financing, all of which pose serious risks to both our public health and national security. With the legislation, we would be reaffirming our commitment to a secure, resilient and sovereign Canada.

In my riding of Winnipeg West, home to the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, the proposed changes would have a direct and positive impact. The bill would help strengthen frontline operations and would ensure law enforcement agents are equipped with the right tools to secure our borders and carry out their duties more effectively, while ensuring accountability and transparency.

As I conclude my remarks today, I would be remiss not to acknowledge the devastating wildfires currently sweeping across Manitoba. This year's wildfire season has escalated with unprecedented speed and intensity, displacing thousands of families and putting many first nations communities at serious risk. With a provincial state of emergency now in effect, countless Manitobans have been forced from their home and are facing profound uncertainty and loss. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the crisis.

In response to urgent requests from the province, the federal government acted swiftly by deploying the Canadian Armed Forces to support evacuation efforts and ensure the safe relocation of residents. Multiple agencies and organizations are working around the clock in close coordination, to deliver critical aid and assistance on the ground. To support recovery efforts, the Government of Canada has also committed to matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross campaigns, offering Canadians a way to stand in solidarity with those who have lost so much.

Finally, I am thankful to all the brave heroes on the front lines: first responders, firefighters, volunteers, humanitarian workers and the local community leaders. Their courage, compassion and unwavering dedication are a source of strength for the entire community. In the face of hardship, they remind us what it means to be truly united.

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Madam Speaker, one has only to look at the member's Twitter feed to understand that he is a big fan of the most unpopular prime minister in recent memory, Justin Trudeau, and his policies on an unsecured border, a lack of safety on the streets, the carbon tax, etc.

How does the member for Winnipeg West feel, knowing that the Liberal Party had to walk away from his record as a former member of Parliament and from that of his mentor, Justin Trudeau, just to get re-elected in Parliament?

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Madam Speaker, I was very supportive of many of the policies that were undertaken by former prime minister Justin Trudeau. I am certain he saved countless lives in Canada through the pandemic and brought us through one of the fastest economic recoveries in the G7. I make no apologies for that. However, it is a new time and new challenges, and I am here to continue working on these challenges.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his election.

Canada prides itself on being a country that respects people's civil liberties, but the bill proposes sweeping powers for authorities. Can the member share with us how the bill will protect people's civil liberties while ensuring that arbitrary decision-making is not being done by the authorities through the bill?

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Madam Speaker, I share the hon. member's concern for the protection of civil liberties. These powers for increased surveillance are all under judicial oversight. Postal workers would not be opening mail. This would be done by the police with warrants. The changes to the immigration system would still be subject to review to make sure that people's fundamental civil liberties are protected.