House of Commons Hansard #97 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-9.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Jail Not Bail Act Second reading of Bill C-242. The bill, C-242, proposes amending the Criminal Code to tighten the bail system. Conservatives argue it prioritizes public safety by removing the principle of restraint to combat crime. Conversely, Liberal and Bloc members oppose the legislation, arguing it is duplicative of Bill C-14, potentially unconstitutional, and ignores the operational realities of provincial resources. 7300 words, 45 minutes.
Combatting Hate Act Report stage of Bill C-9. The bill aims to combat hate crimes by reforming the Criminal Code. Conservatives, led by Larry Brock, oppose removing a long-standing religious defence, arguing it threatens free speech and religious expression. Conversely, Government members maintain the legislation is necessary to address rising hate while upholding legal protections. The Bloc Québécois supports removing the exemption, contending that religion should not provide a shield to publicly promote hatred against identifiable groups. 40700 words, 6 hours in 3 segments: 1 2 3.
Amendments to Bill C-8 Kevin Lamoureux raises a point of order questioning whether three Conservative amendments to Bill C-8 exceed the bill's scope, while other members debate the procedural validity of challenging committee rulings at this stage. 500 words.
Adjournment Debate - Industry Greg McLean accuses the government of complicity in the failed Lion Electric venture, demanding transparency on Export Development Canada's financial liability. Andrew Scheer and Arpan Khanna criticize Liberal carbon taxes and economic policies for rising food and fertilizer costs. Wade Grant defends government programs and investments, citing overall economic resilience. 3900 words, 25 minutes.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Liberals to take off their rose-coloured glasses. It is their taxes, their bureaucracy and their anti-energy laws that are suffocating our businesses. The result is that Canada leads the G7 in food inflation and in household debt.
When will the Liberals get rid of their taxes and their red tape so that Canadian businesses can breathe again and Canadians can finally get back to work?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative colleagues seem to be living on a desert island. The reality is that Canada and every other G7 country are facing a trade war.
On this side of the House, we have put forward an ambitious plan to make Canada's economy the strongest in the G7. As I said earlier, contrary to what my colleague said, Canada is in an enviable position in the G7.
We are investing in our businesses, we are investing in our workers and we are investing to make Canada the most resilient economy in the G7.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, I heard my colleague say that we are in the best position in the G7.
Since January 1, our economy has shed 100,000 jobs. Today alone, that figure has risen by another 1,000. We have the highest food inflation rates and the only declining economy in the G7. We have a very high unemployment rate and the highest level of household debt. That is because of the Liberals. Canadians are worried and they are struggling.
When will the Liberals take action by scrapping excessive taxes and red tape so that Canadians can finally live better lives?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, he spoke about action. Taking action means setting up the Major Projects Office and moving construction projects forward, in places like Contrecoeur or Montreal, for example. Last week, I was in Montreal to announce $459 million in loans to Nouveau Monde Graphite to support 1,300 jobs in Saint-Michel-des-Saints. That is what action looks like.
Action means uniting the Canadian economy to generate economic benefits and boost productivity across the country. Action on affordability means cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. While this government is taking action, MPs on the other side continue their stonewalling day in, day out, which is unfortunate.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, on March 12, in Montreal, 55-year-old Chong Woo Kim was stabbed to death in his own convenience store in broad daylight by Xavier Gellatly, an individual with a years-long record of violent behaviour and serious mental health issues. As far back as 2016, authorities began issuing warnings that he might kill someone if he were released. Despite that, he was released without adequate supervision after serving his sentence.
In the Eustachio Gallese case from a few years ago, the risk assessment conducted by the Parole Board of Canada was called into question.
Warnings were issued in both cases. Why were they ignored?
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, let me first extend my condolences to the families who were impacted by this heinous act and let me also assure my colleagues that this was a decision of the independent Parole Board. With the bills that are before the House today, we would strengthen bail, we would strengthen sentencing, we would strengthen the rights of victims and we would work with all parties to ensure the increased safety and security of all Canadians.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, at my request here in the House, the public safety committee established a special subcommittee in 2017 to study the case of Eustachio Gallese, who killed Marylène Levesque in Quebec City after being released without proper supervision. Now, years later, we have the same issue, specifically that an individual who should not be out on the street, someone who should not be walking around freely, killed a man in his own convenience store in Montreal.
Apart from saying that it will continue working on this issue, why has the government done nothing in the past seven or eight years?
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, once again, let me express my condolences to those who were impacted by this heinous act, but let me also assure Canadians that we are working to strengthen bail laws, strengthen sentencing and strengthen victims' rights, as well as to ensure that those who are impacted by violence are supported through the number of bills that we have.
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve to live in communities that are safe, secure and free from gun violence. Our government made a clear commitment to remove assault-style firearms from our communities.
Firearms like the AR-15, that are designed to kill people, have no place in Canada.
With the March 31 deadline for submitting claims approaching, can the government provide an update on the assault-style firearms compensation program?
Nathalie Provost LiberalSecretary of State (Nature)
Mr. Speaker, the assault-style firearms compensation program is a success. Over 51,000 firearms have already been declared, and gun owners will have eight days to submit their declaration. Instead of spreading disinformation, the members of the opposition should help their constituents get the compensation they are entitled to while they still can.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, the last decade of Liberal government has been absolutely devastating for the Canadian auto industry. We have seen auto production go from two million vehicles a year down to 1.2 million, and even worse, this year we have seen auto exports decline by 55%. This is devastating for auto workers. Plants have closed. Many have lost their livelihoods.
The Liberal plan for the auto sector seems to be “managed decline”. Instead of managed decline, why do they not join us and get tariff-free access to the United States by supporting the Conservative renewed auto pact?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of things in there that do not make sense. First and foremost, every time we invest in the auto sector, the Conservatives talk about it and put it down. What I mean by that is that we have a new auto plan and they are too late. What I mean by that is that they think that we should basically wait for Washington to change its mind or go back to the 1960s with the auto pact. We have a plan. We will protect workers, and we will attract investments.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, I do not know what is more troubling: the fact that she does not recognize that a decline from two million vehicles a year to 1.2 million is devastating or the fact that she talks about her plan, which includes exporting vehicles to Europe. More vehicles were stolen in Canada last year, including two of the justice minister's, than were exported to Europe.
We have a plan to get tariff-free access to the United States. It would boost auto production. It is supported by Unifor. Local 222 said, “Finally a common sense plan” to restore auto production.
Why do they not get on board and stop with this managed decline?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, what they have is not even a plan. It is an auto pitch, because the reality is that they did not even consult Unifor, the very workers affected by the plant closures. Unifor has said that their ideas will permanently threaten the future of Brampton and Ingersoll plants, which does not make sense.
There is good news in the auto sector. The investment by Toyota and the production at Toyota and Honda is up. We are opening new battery facilities with 3,000 new jobs and we will make sure that the biggest investment by Toyota—
Automotive IndustryOral Questions
Rhonda Kirkland Conservative Oshawa, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week I was privileged to walk the line at the Oshawa GM assembly plant, speaking with auto workers directly. I could see first-hand the pride, skill and dedication that built Oshawa's auto industry. They are the ones paying the price for the Liberal government's inaction. Uncertainty is making it harder for them to plan their futures and count on stable livelihoods.
We need to protect their jobs and grow Canada's auto industry. Will the Liberals finally stand up for Oshawa and all auto workers and support our Conservative plan for a tariff-free auto pact?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for Oshawa auto workers and my colleagues, but the reality is that she should talk to her colleague from Bowmanville—Oshawa North, who went to Washington and talked down Canadians, saying that we were having a “hissy fit” regarding the trade war and not defending the auto workers or the investment that this government is making in them.
We have an auto plan. It is a good one. She should also talk to Unifor because the union, which represents the workers in Oshawa, is against their plan.
Rhonda Kirkland Conservative Oshawa, ON
Mr. Speaker, it would be awfully nice if we saw the Liberal government do something.
I know first-hand that Unifor members love our Conservative auto strategy. Maybe it is time that they spoke with folks on the assembly line.
Since 2015, auto production in Canada has been cut in half. It is down another 7.8% under the Liberal Prime Minister. At a time when unjustified American tariffs threaten our sector, the Liberals have failed to table a plan that would persuade Americans to remove tariffs on Canadian goods.
Will they support our Conservative plan to double auto production through a tariff-free auto pact?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I do not know what workers that member was speaking with, but it sure was not the president of Unifor Local 200, who said, “The problem is that he went ahead and did not consult with Unifor, and it was very, very frustrating to see the things that he put in place knowing we would be in big trouble”. The president, John D'Agnolo, went on to say that he is “ecstatic” over the auto measures, which are “so important to our community” when he was referring to the Liberal plan. He said, “It's important as time goes by and the market starts to turn...we...give Canadians the option”.
That is what the federal government has done with this policy.
If she wants to know what workers think, she should talk to the union.
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised 1,000 new police officers in their last election campaign. Let us talk about a broken promise. Just today, we learned that not only have they not hired those 1,000 officers, they are down 3,400 police officers. That means we are down over 4,000 police officers from what they told us we would have in the last election.
At a time when crime is skyrocketing, how can Canadians feel safe when these Liberals cannot even hire police officers?
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. As part of the platform last year, we committed to hiring 1,000 new CBSA officers as well as 1,000 new RCMP personnel, and we have already started on that process. We had the first cohort of CBSA officers who graduated from Rigaud. The member opposite was in fact invited to the graduation.
We will be rolling out the first cohort of RCMP personnel over the next coming weeks as the new fiscal year begins.
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Mr. Speaker, he talks about the new cohort that is being hired. Is that part of the 1,000 who were promised, or the 3,400 we lost? The Liberals cannot distinguish between the two. Let us look at the stats. Violent crime is up 55%: failure. Sexual assault is up 76%: failure. Gun crime is up 130%: failure. Extortion is up 330%: failure. The only thing that is going down is the number of police officers in Canada.
Why can these Liberals not get their act together and hire the police they promised?
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the facts. There are 1,000 new CBSA officers, 1,000 new RCMP personnel, $1.3 billion for border security and Bill C-12, the strong borders act. We have Bill C-14, which would strengthen bail as well as sentencing. We have Bill C-16, which would strengthen victims' rights.
That is the record of this government. We are going to be making sure that every Canadian feels safe in their community. That is the work that this government has been doing since April 28 of last year.
Dane Lloyd Conservative Parkland, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals talk about hiring 1,000 new RCMP officers. They cannot even keep up with losses. The Liberals are failing to recruit, train and retain the police we need to protect our communities. In rural Canada, which I represent, police are stretched to the breaking point. They cannot keep up with the wave of violent crime that the Liberals have unleashed. The Auditor General has now reported that under the Liberals' watch, the RCMP is short 3,400 officers, and the gap is continuing to grow.
The Liberal Prime Minister and his party made big promises to Canadians. They promised 1,000 new officers, but they are yet again failing to deliver any results. It is time for these Liberals to stop promising and start delivering. Why will they not?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting, when we dig into the plans that each of the parties put forward, to identify what their priorities really are. The Conservatives are criticizing us for failing to deliver on 1,000 new RCMP officers, which the minister said are going to be graduating over the next number of weeks. What is fascinating is that the number of RCMP officers the Conservatives committed to hiring during the last electoral campaign is zero.
We are supporting the front line not only with making new hires but also by giving law enforcement the tools they have asked for to keep our communities safe. The Conservatives have opposed us at every turn. Despite their opposition, we are going to work with the law enforcement that will keep communities safe.
