House of Commons Hansard #22 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-2.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Act First reading of Bill C-219. The bill, titled the Sergei Magnitsky international anti-corruption and human rights act, strengthens Canada's sanctions regime, amends acts to combat transnational repression, and revokes broadcasting licences from sanctioned regimes and those committing genocide. 600 words.
Charitable Organizations Members present petitions opposing finance committee recommendations to revoke charitable status for pro-life organizations and remove "advancement of religion" as a charitable purpose, citing concerns about free speech and religious freedom. 500 words.
Strong Borders Act Second reading of Bill C-2. The bill aims to strengthen border security, combat organized crime, fentanyl trafficking, and auto theft, and protect the immigration system. It proposes expanding law enforcement powers, including accessing private information and inspecting mail, and limiting cash transactions. Liberals defend these measures as necessary and Charter-compliant. Conservatives and NDP/Green members criticize the bill as government overreach, an attack on civil liberties, and for lacking essential bail reform. The Bloc cautiously supports it, emphasizing the need for more border staff and fair asylum seeker distribution. 56200 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Commissioner of LobbyingRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It is my duty, pursuant to subsection 94(2) of the Access to Information Act and subsection 72(2) of the Privacy Act, to lay upon the table the reports of the Commissioner of Lobbying on the administration of these acts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), these reports are deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the three following reports from the Standing Committee on International Trade: the first report, in relation to the motion adopted on Monday, June 16, entitled “Measures Relating to the Canadian Border Services Agency's Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) System”; the second report, entitled “Selected United States and European Union Trade-Related Measures: Some Impacts on Canada's Fishing Sector”; and the third report, entitled “Canada’s Supply Chains and Expanded International Trade: Challenges and Measures”.
Patrick Weiler Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans entitled “Challenges to the Sustainability of the Yukon Salmon Stocks”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Mr. Speaker, as vice-chair of the fisheries committee, FOPO, I would like to point out that, as stated in this report, there has been mismanagement of the Yukon River salmon stocks. The result is that indigenous and non-indigenous harvesters can no longer harvest. This affects the livelihoods in communities and food security. The government has failed to deliver on the diplomacy needed to comanage with U.S. partners, and Canadians are suffering because of this.
Bill C-219 Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights ActRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-219, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Special Economic Measures Act and the Broadcasting Act.
Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour to table this bill. I want to thank the member for Northumberland—Clarke for seconding the bill. In the last Parliament, he introduced the international human rights act, Bill C-281.
Despite the long title just read, the bill has a short title, the Sergei Magnitsky international anti-corruption and human rights act. Sergei Magnitsky, to remind everybody in the House, was a Russian freedom fighter who stood up against corruption. He stood up against the dictator Vladimir Putin and tried to expose how kleptocrats were embezzling millions and millions of dollars from private investors. Magnitsky was tortured in prison and died of his injuries. He was murdered by those kleptocrats in 2009. The person he was working for, Bill Browder, is actually here in Ottawa today to help launch this private member's bill.
We have to remember that gross human rights violators always start off as corrupt officials who enrich themselves. This type of kleptocracy has to end. That is why we are encouraging the government, in the bill, to continue on, to establish with our allies the international anti-corruption court at The Hague.
In the bill, we would do a number of things to strengthen our sanctions regime. One is to require the Minister of Foreign Affairs to report to the House on an annual basis what steps the government is taking to fight and advance human rights internationally and to include the names and the status of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience across the world. We would also amend, as the Speaker mentioned, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Sergei Magnitsky Law, which I introduced in the chamber and which was passed in the House and the chamber with Senator Raynell Andreychuk at the time, back in 2018.
As well, Bill C-219 would change SEMA to define transnational repression and sanction foreign nationals who do it right here in Canada against Canadian citizens and permanent residents. We would immediately ban immediate family members of those who are put on the sanctions list from travel in Canada. We would make sure that the government must table in Parliament, every time it adds somebody to the sanctions list, who they are and what foreign nationals and entities they are. We would ask the RCMP and FINTRAC to report back to the minister on how they are going to enforce and regulate the sanctions regime and administrate that. We would allow parliamentary committees to actually make recommendations to the minister on who should be added to the sanctions list; the minister would have to report in 30 days on whether they will add them.
Finally, Bill C-219 would amend the Broadcasting Act to revoke licences for broadcasting companies and media companies from around the world that are from regimes that either the House or the Senate has recognized as committing genocide, or that have been already sanctioned by the government through the economic sanctions regime that we have, to ensure that they are not using our broadcast airwaves.
We would also change the name of SEMA to the “Sergei Magnitsky global sanctions act”. This would make sure that when we are sanctioning in Parliament or by the government, we are consistent with our allies and that whenever we stand up for human rights, it is synonymous with Sergei Magnitsky. With the passing of the legislation, I would look forward to working with all colleagues to prevent Canada from being a safe haven for gross human rights violators and corrupt foreign officials.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Bill C-219 Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights ActRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I was being very respectful in terms of the length of time that the member spoke in introducing his bill. However, members should be reminded that in introducing a private member's bill, the speech should be relatively short, concise and to the point.
Bill C-219 Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights ActRoutine Proceedings
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions amongst the parties and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion:
That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House, at the conclusion of Oral Questions on Wednesday, September 17, 2025:
(a) the House observe a moment of silence for the late Honourable Ken Dryden, that afterwards, a member of each of the recognized parties, a member of the New Democratic Party, and a member of the Green Party, each be permitted to make a statement for no more than five minutes to pay tribute;
(b) the House observe a moment of silence for the late Honourable John McCallum, that afterwards, a member of each of the recognized parties, a member of the New Democratic Party, and a member of the Green Party, each be permitted to make a statement for no more than five minutes to pay tribute;
(c) the House observe a moment of silence for the late Honourable Gail Shea, that afterwards, a member of the Conservative Party, a member of each of the other recognized parties, a member of the New Democratic Party, and a member of the Green Party each be permitted to make a statement for not more than five minutes to pay tribute; and
(d) the time taken for these proceedings shall be added to the time provided for Government Orders.
Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.
There being no dissenting voice, it is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
(Motion agreed to)
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Mr. Speaker, I rise for the 60th time on behalf of the people of Swan River, presenting petitions on the alarming increase of violent crime, which threatens safety and well-being across the region. The petitioners are seeking a resolution to the devastating impacts of the soft-on-crime policies that the Liberals have enacted, such as Bill C-5 and Bill C-75.
Bill C-5 repealed mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes, and Bill C-75 forces judges to apply a principle of restraint, releasing repeat violent offenders right back onto our streets. The petitioners are concerned that since 2015, violent crime has increased by 55% and firearm crime is up 130%. They want to see an end to the Liberals' catch-and-release policies, which are devastating their community.
This is why the people of Swan River are demanding jail, not bail, for repeat violent offenders. I support the good people of Swan River.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise on behalf of constituents in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford to table a petition regarding nicotine pouches. The Government of Canada has banned the sale of nicotine pouches from convenience stores, from gas stations and online, and it will allow pharmacies to sell the product only behind the counter. Small businesses, including convenience stores, have a proven track record of responsibly selling age-restricted products, including nicotine pouches.
The petitioners are asking for the government to repeal this overburdensome regulation and to keep the process and sale of these products as they were before.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition from Canadians deeply concerned about the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The petitioners note that, under common article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, Canada must respect international humanitarian law. They highlight that article 59 of the fourth Geneva Convention requires occupying powers to allow impartial humanitarian relief and that Canada's international assistance accountability act mandates that our aid uphold human rights to international legal standards. The petitioners state that Israel's current policies violate these obligations.
The petitioners therefore call on the Government of Canada to reject militarized aid models, restore access for UN agencies and NGOs such as UNRWA and the World Food Programme, permit safe entry for Canadian health care and humanitarian workers and ensure that all Canadian aid is delivered through internationally recognized, neutral and independent channels.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to take the floor on an issue of concern. In every one of the community meetings I held since we last met in this place in June, I heard from constituents desperately concerned about the lack of primary health care providers and family doctors, and I know that while this is of particular concern in Saanich—Gulf Islands, it is a concern everywhere.
The petitioners call for the federal government, the House of Commons, to work with all provinces and territories to come up with a full and fair solution to Canada's family doctor shortage, premised on the importance of the Canada Health Act, that is universal and single-payer.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of Canadians alarmed by the House of Commons finance committee's recommendations in its pre-budget report: recommendation 429, which proposes revoking the charitable status of pro-life organizations; and recommendation 430, which proposes removing “advancement of religion” as a recognized charitable purpose under the Income Tax Act.
I have received from houses of worship across this country so much concern, reflected in this petition, that these recommendations are fundamentally anti-free speech and anti-religious freedom. The petitioners, and I on their behalf, advocate for the complete protection of charitable status regardless of these ideological litmus tests.
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on the charitable status of religious organizations and those that are pro-life, and on the Liberal and NDP proposal to revoke that charitable status.
Petitioners lament that some members opposite are so blinded by their animus towards charitable organizations that they would seek to undermine the good works that these groups do for the most vulnerable Canadians. Moreover, petitioners lament that members opposite seem not to care for the fundamental freedoms protected in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms: the freedoms of belief and religion. Therefore, the petitioners call on the government and all parliamentarians to fundamentally reject these recommendations to revoke charitable status, to not include them in the upcoming budget and to strongly affirm the value of these charitable organizations to Canadians across the country.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, I delayed standing up because I know other members have petitions as well, and I have more than one to table today.
First of all, I would like to begin by tabling another petition similar to that tabled by colleagues in response to this very concerning recommendation from the Liberal-dominated finance committee in the previous Parliament.
Notwithstanding his protestations, the member for Winnipeg North can observe in this report, as petitioners say, recommendations 429 and 430. Recommendation 429 proposes applying a political values test to charitable status determination and revoking the charitable status of organizations that take a position on abortion that is different from that taken by the government. Recommendation 430 of that same report, endorsed by the Liberal-dominated committee, calls for the removal of “advancement of religion” as a charitable tax purpose. That would effectively strip charitable status from all houses of worship, regardless of religion.
Petitioners further note that stripping charitable status from these organizations would result in a revocation tax, which would force them to hand over all of their property. That is an extremely draconian proposal from the Liberal-dominated finance committee.
Petitioners note that religious charities in Canada provide vital services for society, including food banks, care for seniors, newcomer support, youth programs and mental health outreach, all of which is rooted in their faith tradition, and that singling out or excluding faith charities from the charitable sector based on religious belief undermines the diversity and pluralism foundational to Canadian society.
Petitioners ask the government to reject these recommendations and refrain from including them in the next federal budget, which we will see eventually, I suppose, and to affirm the charitable status of faith-based organizations whose work flows from sincerely held beliefs and whose contributions serve the common good in Canada.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
The second petition is in support of the people of Lebanon.
Petitioners note that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that started on October 8, 2023, has had terrible consequences for the Lebanese people. They further note that Hezbollah is a terrorist Iranian regime proxy that acts to serve the regime's ideology against the interests of the people of Lebanon. The people of Lebanon want a complete end to colonial oppression by the Iranian regime.
Petitioners, therefore, call on the government to seek the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, the end of Iranian aid to Hezbollah and the restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty with all of its territories governed by an elected sovereign Lebanese government.
I do note that significant progress has been made toward this end since the collection of signatures for this petition. While there has been ongoing work to secure Lebanon from the influence of this terrorist organization, I feel that, notwithstanding some of the change in circumstances, it is still important to table that petition.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, I want to propose a petition brought to me by constituents that deals with Senate reform. Petitioners are concerned about unequal representation in the Senate. In particular, they are concerned about the fact that there are some provinces in this country with lower populations that have more representation in the Senate relative to provinces such as mine, which have a much lower number of senators than their population would suggest they should. This is obviously an artifact of a certain history, but we should move forward and affirm a concept of Canada where regions are treated equally and not facing discrimination on the basis of historical circumstances.
Petitioners in this case are proposing the establishment of equal representation for each province in the Senate. I look forward to hearing the government's response to that proposal.
Senate ReformPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I have four more, but I'm happy to end earlier.
Senate ReformPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, my succinctness is one of my best qualities, as members of office have said.
Senate ReformPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I must interrupt the hon. member.
The hon. member for Shefford is rising on a point of order.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, the interpretation cut out, but it magically came back just as I rose, so everything is fine now.
Senate ReformPetitionsRoutine Proceedings