Debates of Feb. 10th, 2026

Opposition Motion—Serious crimes and refugee claims

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

Mr. Speaker, the member and the entire Liberal government talk really tough on crime, particularly on extortion, when the national average is over 330%, and in B.C. alone, it is over 500%.

If the Liberals were truly genuine in their words about being tough on crime, why did they gut the mandatory minimum penalty in Bill C-5? Why did they not bring back a reverse onus in Bill C-14 or even bring back the mandatory minimum penalty in Bill C-16?

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the member talked about how we talk tough, but we are doing more than just talking tough. What we are seeing here is a war of words.

Quite frankly, we have made major additions, not only with bringing back mandatory minimum sentences but also with everything from Bill C-12 to Bill C-2, the borders act. We can talk about strengthening something, but we need the Conservatives to stop blocking what we are doing here in this House and come along to make these changes.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member has been a very strong advocate in regard to the entire crime package that the Prime Minister and government have been trying to get passed, but the Conservatives continue to obstruct and try to prevent it from passing.

The member talked a great deal about extortion. I agree with him that extortion is a very serious issue. Bill C-2, lawful access, and Bill C-14, bail reform, are two pieces of legislation that would go a long way in dealing with some of the extortion we are witnessing in Canada.

Could the member express his thoughts on the Conservative Party's continuing to prevent those important pieces of legislation from passing?

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I talked about how criminals adapt fast and how we have to stay ahead.

Many of the measures we have introduced, many of which the member just indicated, build upon things that we have done, things like Bill C-70, the foreign interference act. It has many measures that will help us deal with the issues around extortion.

We need to move quickly on all of the measures that have been introduced in this House over the past few months to continue not only to adapt to what the criminals are doing but also to move ahead of them and make these changes quickly. We need the Conservatives to join us.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will ask the question again.

The member talked about bringing mandatory minimum penalties back in Bill C-16, but that does not happen at all. In fact, there are no mandatory minimum penalties brought in for specific offences in Bill C-16. What the government did was bring in a safety valve.

Again, if the member is that serious about extortion, why did he vote in favour of removing the mandatory minimum penalty for extortion when he voted in favour of Bill C-5?

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Mr. Speaker, whether the member likes it or not, Bill C-16 reinstates mandatory minimum sentences.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

I have already answered the question.

Mr. Speaker, the member needs to read the legislation and join us. Let us make these changes quickly. I know members across the way from British Columbia want this to happen very quickly.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that the Conservative Party has not even read the legislation.

Bill C-16 actually does reinstate mandatory minimums, maybe not in every area that he can imagine, but it does reinstate them.

Could my colleague provide his thoughts on how important it is that the Conservatives truly understand what they are filibustering? They are denying Canadians the opportunity to see good legislation pass.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I heard from the member across—

[Some hon. members]

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[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Order. I am trying to listen to the member for Richmond East—Steveston.

The hon. member can continue for 30 seconds or less.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from many members across the way who claim that it would allow house arrest for serious crimes, such as extortion. This is simply incorrect.

Conditional sentences or sentence orders are never available when the sentence is two years or more, which is typically the case. We also maintain mandatory jail time for extortion involving restricted or illegal firearms, as well as extortion connected to criminal organizations. It is clear. It is right there.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I hope you can give me a bit of latitude. This is my first opportunity to rise since the passing of Kirsty Duncan, and I want to offer my condolences to her family. Very few people in this place have fought as hard as Kirsty for the most vulnerable in their community and across the country. The Olympics are going on, and the women's team is playing right now. I know she would be glued to that, because there was also no one who fought harder for safety in sport in this country than she did, so my condolences go to her family.

I am here to speak today on the Conservative opposition day motion. It is really telling that, for a party that claims to want to have an impact on law and order and to be tough on crime, the only thing it has brought to the table is a non-binding motion of Parliament. The Conservatives have had opportunities since the start of this Parliament to act on legislation, to act on things that matter and act on a piece of legislation, while mayors, police chiefs and constituents have begged them to stop their obstructionist tactics.

Whether it is Bill C-2—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member from Manitoba is going to sit there and heckle, and the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman is just going to heckle. He has nothing to add. He has been part of this obstruction from the start. He has been here for 10 years, but he has brought nothing to the table in terms of this problem, except yelling, screaming and pounding his desk on a non-binding motion. He has an opportunity. He is still yelling.

He has an opportunity to go to his leader's office. His leader sent a letter to the Prime Minister saying he's ready to co-operate. These are words on paper. Yes, on one of the pieces of legislation, the Conservatives have moved forward. On Bill C-14, we have seen some movement. After months of holding it back, after months of filibuster, we have finally seen some movement on that. My understanding is it finally passed committee after, again, mayors and chiefs of police begged the Conservatives to let these pieces of legislation through.

We still see a lot of work ahead of us. We can look at Bill C-2. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police stated that Bill C-2 is “a timely and necessary step as part of a sustained commitment to modern laws, modern tools, and modern collaboration.” This will give law enforcement the tools they need to dismantle and prosecute increasingly sophisticated organized crime networks threatening our communities.

Again, the chiefs of police are calling for action, and what do the members have on the other side? They have a non-binding motion, a non-binding resolution. Where are they in their committees? When are they saying to their leaders, “We need action on this. Our chiefs of police, our police associations are demanding action on this. They are demanding action on lawful access.” They will get up and say that terrorism and child exploitation are problems, but they have concerns with the bill. They will not examine it in committee. They will fight it here. They will go back to their constituents and say they supported a non-binding motion. Where are they? They say this is their issue. They talk about it time after time.

I would like to believe the Conservatives have some legitimacy in this space, but where are they? If these bills are so terrible, why are they not getting them to the committee to amend them and make them better in their minds? They are just leaving them here on the floor of the House of Commons. They are not speaking to the Conservative members of their caucus in the Senate to make sure the bills are expedited.

Premier after premier is screaming to get these pieces of legislation passed, whether it is Bill C-2, Bill C-8 or Bill C-9 on combatting hate. The Conservatives are just fundraising off their obstruction of Bill C-12, Bill C-14 and Bill C-16. We even heard the member wanting more mandatory minimums. At the same time, he is obstructing Bill C-16. It is unbelievable, but again, they have a non-binding motion. That is their solution. I am sure that when they meet with chiefs of police and with mayors, they are going to say, “Well, we have this piece of paper.” When they are asked why they would not support other legislation that we have been calling for, they will have no answer. They have had no answer here.

The only thing the Conservatives do have, which I am sure they have not mentioned, is that crime is actually down, but who are they going to blame? They have a non-binding motion to blame immigrants and refugees for the problem. At the same time, they are clutching at their pearls.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, how dare the member say that? He should probably read the Conservatives' own motion. I am sure none of them have gotten up to say that crime is down the last couple of years, but they are going to ramp up the fear. We have said from the start—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations is the biggest hypocrite of them all as he stands there yelling at the top of his lungs and not listening. This is nothing new for him; it goes back to the last Parliament, where he sat in committee and obstructed.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, even now he is trying to obstruct my speech and trying to shout me down, but I will keep going if it is all right with the hon. member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, who still keeps going. Perhaps you should have a review of the Standing Orders. It is not his turn to speak.

Again, all the member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations has is a non-binding motion. Perhaps that it is why he is mad at me; he wants to tell his leader to pass consequential legislation, the consequential legislation that is before us. I am sure that he, as the justice critic, meets with police chiefs and police associations, because he talks about it in this place. He is hearing from those associations, “Pass the legislation.”

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, at the same time, why does the member come forward with this, because he is yelling at me right now that he has a non-binding motion? I am sure he is going to go to the chief of police in Brantford and say that he has a non-binding motion. Is that going to reduce crime? That is all he has.

It is truly unfortunate that a party that used to fight for law and order is silent.

[Some hon. members]

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