Arif Virani

[Public Safety, November 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of points of clarification.

First of all, bail reform was asked for 18 months ago. We delivered bail reform. Subsequently, we asked provinces, including the member opposite's province, to provide us with data and information. In fact, the province of Manitoba has supplied us with that information. They are working diligently to improve the number of police officers and the number of Crowns, to think about how JPs are trained and to ensure detention facilities are available to receive individuals.

We are not seeing that across the country. We are certainly not seeing that in the province of Ontario. That is where the complementary piece of the administration of justice at the provincial level needs to happen.

[Public Safety, November 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I reject that out of hand. What I would say on this side of the House is that we are working to ease tensions in our communities. We are looking at the statistics on hate crimes and seeking to address them.

What is the proof positive? When I announced Bill C-63 in the chamber, who was standing by my side? It was people from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Why is that? They know that a Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue attack does not happen unless people are radicalized online. Radicalization online is causing anti-Semitism. It is what we will combat through the bill and through every measure on this side of the House.

[Public Safety, November 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians in the House and all Canadians around the country detest and render unacceptable what we saw on the streets of Montreal. That kind of violence, unlawful behaviour and anti-Semitism is unacceptable and will never be countenanced.

While we are talking about the fight against anti-Semitism, I will put it to the member that there is legislation on the floor of the chamber that would, with respect to the ban on willful promotion of anti-Semitism, accentuate the penalties, taking them from two to five years.

Will the member support the bill? It is called Bill C-63 and it targets online radicalisation, which is the root cause of what we are seeing.

[Public Safety, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, concerns about community safety are concerns that touch all of us in every community. What I would say with respect to combatting gun violence in our communities right around this country is that we should look at the Liberal record. What we have done is that we have put a ban on assault rifles. What we have done is that we have put a freeze on handguns. Most importantly, we are investing in our borders to interdict the traffic of arms between different countries, particularly on our southern border. That is important for keeping Canadians safe. That was in place of investments that had been cut by the previous government.

That is the Liberal record. I hope that the Conservatives will get behind basic community safety.

[Public Safety, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, just to point out the facts, with the investments we have just made and the fact that we targeted border services, what we have seen in Quebec is a 41% decrease in auto thefts. What the member opposite said is important because it touches on the administration of justice at the provincial level by the Government of Quebec.

Are there enough police officers? Are there enough justices of the peace with adequate legal training? Is there enough space in prisons?

These would be good questions to ask Mr. Legault.

[Taxation, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we are starting off the new year on the right foot. Today we announced that we are giving all Canadians a tax break by exempting the GST and HST on things Canadians care about so that they can buy essentials, such as groceries, snacks and kids' clothing, tax-free. We are also introducing the working Canadians rebate, which will put $250 directly back into the pockets of working Canadians, 18 million-plus working Canadians.

The question for this chamber is this: Will the members opposite have the courage to stand up to their leader, to free themselves from this gag order he has imposed upon them and to come out in favour of the tax break?

[Taxation, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to hear the member opposite talking about Christmas, because that is what we should be talking about: having a festive season. His leader, unfortunately, was talking about trickery. I thought he was still stuck in Halloween mode.

Here we are talking about the festive season and what we are going to do to make it better for Canadians. We are going to ensure that the toys they buy their children are GST-free. We are going to ensure that the Christmas tree they put up in their home to gather around is also tax-free. That is something I think every member of the chamber should get behind.

However, to date we have no idea whether Conservatives will actually support an affordability measure that helps Canadians for Christmas. Will they?

[Taxation, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today is a tremendous day in the House of Commons. Why is it? It is because we are giving a tax break to Canadians so they can buy essential things like groceries, snacks, kids' clothing, kids' boots and diapers, all tax-free. It means the same, starting on December 14, for buying beer or wine to enjoy with one's friends or family. Going to a restaurant and grabbing some takeout will also be tax-free for the holidays.

The best question that the Conservative member can ask his leader is whether this time he will be unmuzzled and unleashed to actually vote for an affordability measure in the chamber.

[Interpretation Act, November 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

I move:

That, notwithstanding any standing order, special order, or usual practice of the House, Bill S-13, An Act to amend the Interpretation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, be disposed of as follows:

(a) the bill be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights immediately after the adoption of this order;

(b) a minister be ordered to appear before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to the bill for one hour, no later than Friday, November 29, 2024, and, immediately after, the bill shall be deemed considered and reported without amendment; and

(c) at the opening of the next sitting day following the minister’s appearance at the committee, the bill shall be deemed concurred in without amendment at report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.

[Public Safety, November 18th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the incident this morning in Toronto is a concern for all of us in the House, all of us who believe in prioritizing public safety and community safety. What is concerning, and what people need to understand, is that calls for bail reform echoed in this chamber 18 months ago. We responded, tabled legislation, and, with the co-operation of all parties, we got it passed. The ball now goes to the province's court.

What we need to ensure, regarding this very person who should have been detained, is whether the Crown contested that bail. Did the Crown decide to appeal the bail if the bail decision was made in error? Was there enough space in detention facilities run by the province to hold that person in detention? These are important questions. We need answers.