Debates of Oct. 7th, 2026

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Dominique O'Rourke, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, recent global events have shown that Canadians cannot take secure supply chains for granted. In my riding of Guelph, we know all too well that food security is national security and that Canada's producers are an essential part of our food sovereignty and our national sovereignty. That is why investments in infrastructure that moves Canadian food from farm to market are so important.

Can the minister explain how the $1 billion food-link fund will strengthen Canada's domestic food system, support Canadian producers and ensure that we are less vulnerable to global disruptions?

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, food security is national security. I thank the member for all her hard work in her riding.

We have an ambitious $3.2-billion national food security strategy in play, the largest and, further, most invested in AFC's history. We have just announced a $1-billion food link. We are investing in transportation, we are investing in storage and we are investing in distribution and market connections to strengthen the food supply chains to support our farmers and make them more sustainable and prosperous for years to come. This means more choice, more Canada and more control.

Justice

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Shane Ertmoed took the life of Heather Aspin-Thomas, an innocent 10-year-old girl, for sexual gratification. He should never see the light of day, according to counsel for Heather's mom. Those are not my words.

Victims are tired of hearing that the parole board is independent. They want to know whether the Liberals will repeal the laws that the independent parole board enforces that allow someone such as Shane Ertmoed to leave jail to take cooking classes that Heather will never get to take.

I will look directly at the Prime Minister, who appears to be talking to somebody else. Will he commit—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I think we should maybe try to keep it a little less personal. The member may conclude, but I hope he does not do that again.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I will look directly at the Prime Minister and ask this: Will he commit to repealing Liberal parole so our children can remain safe?

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

Mr. Speaker, the case that the member refers to is a horrible case, and my sympathies go out to the family.

As mentioned previously in the House, we are reviewing the act, and we are open to changes. However, I must remind all people viewing, and especially the Conservatives, that the act that currently exists to oversee these procedures was created by a Conservative government. The Corrections and Conditional Release Act is a Conservative act.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, wait until the Liberals find out who has been in charge the last 11 years. Imagine that.

Right now, we do not know whether Shane Ertmoed is out figuring out the difference between a béchamel sauce and a Béarnaise sauce, while Heather's family has to serve a psychological life sentence. The government gives empty words.

I will ask this for a third time: If the Prime Minister believes in the answer his minister just gave, will he rise in the House and agree to a meeting with Heather's family, yes or no?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that we were in power this spring when we passed six pieces of criminal justice legislation on things such as hate, bail and safe spaces. Where was the member? Every time the roll was called, he sat in his place and opposed the law-and-order agenda of the new government in Canada.

We are the anti-crime party. We are the people taking the measures. The member should get up and support them.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Darren Scott Ray raped, tortured and murdered a 14-year-old boy, Darren Pepin, in Scarborough. He strangled this child to death and dumped his body in the garbage room of his apartment building. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Today, many of Darren's young former classmates, who now call Oshawa and Durham region home, are in the very community where this killer was granted a 72-hour unescorted temporary absence.

When will the government fix broken Liberal parole and finally put victims and public safety first?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, my thoughts are with Darren, his family and his community.

I will just assure my colleague opposite that we are working with victims, survivor groups and those representing families in order to strengthen our parole process. This is an issue, as I have indicated in the past, that requires collaboration among all the parties. This is not to be politicized.

It is important that we work together toward strengthening victims' rights. That is exactly what we did with Bill C-16 that passed this spring. It is the same thing we did with Bill C-14 on sentencing and bail reform.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is an out-of-touch response from the minister. This is not an isolated case. This year alone, Canadians have watched multiple pedophile child killers who have received life sentences get unescorted temporary absences from prison, including two in B.C. within 10 days of each other. Darren Scott Ray received a 72-hour unescorted temporary absence in Oshawa and has been promised two more.

Will the government finally act and fix broken Liberal parole—and it is broken Liberal parole because they voted against our bill that would have changed it—and ensure that pedophile child killers serving life sentences stay where they belong behind bars?

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

Mr. Speaker, as mentioned before, we are open to reforms and are currently undergoing a review process. However, I must remind everyone that this is a Conservative act that we are undertaking a process to improve. Our government, for the last 18 months, has been reforming the Criminal Code of Canada to modernize it and to make sure that criminals stay behind bars.

Correctional Service of Canada

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were shocked to learn that, under the Liberals, federal prisons are handing out paper straws for inmates to snort cocaine with. That is right; there are taxpayer-funded paper straws behind prison walls. The Liberals are literally helping inmates do dangerous drugs, which will make them even more dangerous when they come out of jail. I know they have no use for paper—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It is getting a bit loud. I could not hear the hon. member.

The hon. member for Oxford may continue.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I know the Liberals are looking for a new use for their paper straws, but this is insane.

Will the member end this today?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned by the distribution of these items in federal penitentiaries. Correctional Service Canada is an independent agency and follows its own established guidelines and frameworks. I have been made aware that, following discussions with employees and labour partners, Correctional Service Canada has decided to pause the implementation of these additional measures.

Our government will always work to protect Canadians and correctional staff and combat the flow of illicit drugs, including in federal penitentiaries.

Justice

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, first the minister approves it, then he gets caught and now he says they have paused it. Under the Liberals, convicted child killers are getting released for cooking classes, and now we have these guys handing out paper straws to prisoners to snort coke. The system is a complete joke. Our streets, our parks and our downtown areas are being destroyed by drugs and disorder. There should be zero tolerance for illegal drugs in our streets and in prison.

Will the minister stand up today and finally end it completely, yes or no?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I believe I have answered this question, but let me just address the second issue that came up.

I want to take a moment to remember Heather Thomas, who was 10 years old when she was killed. My thoughts are with the family of the loved one.

I understand that the Parole Board has decided to postpone the decision that my friend opposite is referring to.

Our government is committed to strengthening our criminal justice system and protecting victims' rights. That is what we will continue to do. We are looking for collaboration from the other side in order to make constructive criminal justice reforms.

Mental Health and Addictions

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the government is serious about strengthening protections, maybe it should actually do it.

Waterloo region had 70 overdoses in four days. This is not just a public health issue. This is a humanitarian crisis. Our Conservative plan will keep communities safe.

How many more lives need to be lost? How many more families torn apart before this government finally reacts? When will this government reverse course, admit that its policies are failures and start focusing on recovery, rehabilitation and treatment?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question because the issue of addiction is very important.

I can tell her that I am working closely with all the provinces and territories—including her own province, Ontario—to ensure we provide the best possible support to people in distress. The provinces obviously have a say in the matter, and I am ready to work with them.

Correctional Service of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, federal corrections officers face assaults, makeshift weapons and drug overdoses on a daily basis, yet since October 1, patrol posts and other essential resources have been cut, endangering the safety and even the lives of penitentiary staff.

The Minister of Public Safety visited Donnacona Institution and, rather than meeting with officers who are risking their lives, he chose to ask inmates if they were comfortable.

Will this Liberal minister understand that his responsibility is also to protect the people who work in our prisons before coddling violent criminals?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where this member is contriving these allegations, but let me be very clear. At every single correctional facility I visit, and I have visited a number of them, we have the union as part of our tours. I very much engage with, and I am very grateful for, the frontline staff who put their lives on the front lines each and every day to protect Canadians. I will continue to work with the union as well as those who are serving on the front lines in order to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not think the minister visits the same places I do.

I have been to Donnacona twice. My colleagues have visited the prisons in La Macaza and Drummond. We have seen what is going on in federal prisons, and it is a total disaster. For the past 10 years, ever since this government introduced their changes, working in these facilities is nothing short of hell. Prisoners have all the rights and face no consequences since Bill C-83 came into force. Now, there are cuts to frontline resources, patrols and officers in key areas. It is not working.

Has the minister visited the same prisons as I have, yes or no?