moved for leave to introduce Bill C-220, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (immigration status in sentencing).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce this urgently needed bill, which seeks to remove the consideration of immigration status in sentencing and would end the two-tier practice of judges issuing more lenient sentences to non-citizens convicted of serious crime. Becoming a citizen or staying in Canada is a privilege, not a right, for non-citizens, and this bill seeks to uphold the will of Parliament and the initial spirit of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
I would like to thank Sean Phelan, Andrew Evans and my whole team, as well as my colleague who is seconding this bill. I hope that all colleagues in the House will support it.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)