Jennifer O'Connell

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada’s commitment in the 2019 national strategy to combat human trafficking to establish a federal advisory committee of victims and survivors remains pending. A range of preparatory work was commenced and advice was provided in an effort to launch and formally establish a federal advisory committee since its announcement in 2019.

In reference to the details on memorandums or briefing notes provided to the Minister of Public Safety or his office, two dockets were provided to the Minister of Public Safety or his office between 2020 and 2023. The first is PS-032565, from November 2020. This memorandum to the minister, signed by the deputy minister, is entitled “Establishment of a Human Trafficking Survivors Advisory Committee”. The contents recommended the establishment of a survivor advisory committee, along with proposed terms of reference and list of those who may be interested in participating. The second is PS-036368, from June 2022. This memorandum to the minister, signed by the deputy minister, is entitled “E-binder – PS-036368 – Establishment of a Human Trafficking Survivors Advisory Committee”. The contents are classified secret.

[The Economy, November 1st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, time and time again, we hear in the House Conservatives speaking up for vulnerable people, but what do they say when they are in committee? We can listen to this: The member for Peterborough—Kawartha said, “Guess what happens when you don't have a house? You go commit crime because you're in poverty.” It is shameful that, as we stand to lift Canadians up, Conservatives use vulnerable people as props and then demonize them and blame them for crime in this country. It is truly shameful, and Canadians should see through their rhetoric.

[Public Safety, October 31st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we believe that in this country everyone deserves to be safe where they go to school and where they pray. Safety in our communities is of utmost importance. This is why we have provided more funding to help religious institutions and places of worship right across this country put in place additional measures to help keep them safe. We are deeply committed to this. This is not something the Conservatives own because we are investing in our communities to keep all places of worship safe.

[Public Services and Procurement, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again we see the Conservatives completely misleading Canadians. It was under the Conservative government that these contracts first began with these principled employees. They talk about getting out of the way, but they were the ones who oversaw a procurement process that had these same individuals receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts.

We have put in place, through the CBSA, a number of measures to ensure that our procurement process is robust, and we will continue to work to make sure that there is transparency in our system, something Conservatives failed to do.

[Public Services and Procurement, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said time and time again, we expect our procurement process to be followed with the rules and regulations put in place. The CBSA has already initiated a number of measures to build a more robust system.

I would ask the member opposite how far back he would like to go in terms of these contracts. In just five years under the Conservative government, those two principled employees he speaks of had at least 13 contracts. Would he like that money back as well?

[Firearms, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, what Conservatives will not tell us is that, under the Conservative government, there were cuts to CBSA that have allowed more illegal weapons to cross our borders. Conservative provincial governments have cut and slashed police budgets, which has led to a reduction of police on our streets.

While Conservative governments create cuts, we invest in our police services, invest in our borders and get guns out of our streets.

[Firearms, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, if Conservatives are so concerned about illegal guns entering the country through our borders, then why did they cut 1,100 jobs at CBSA and over $100 million of that budget?

Let me also quote what the former president for public safety workers had to say. He said, “What the government made us to believe here about the budget cuts not having an impact on direct service provided to our community is wrong.” He also said the cuts threatened Canada's public safety and national security. Why should we trust a record like that?

[Public Safety, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we hear Conservative hypocrisy. They think the way to keep our streets safe is by putting more guns in the hands of criminals. They think reducing workers at the CBSA to inspect illegal imports of guns is going to keep communities safe. Conservatives are all about cuts, including cuts to police forces and cuts to inspections at our border, and they want to ensure that handguns are legal again. We know, and Canadians know, that keeping our communities safe is done by banning illegal handguns.

[Public Safety, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as Conservatives like quotes, let me quote their record on the issue. When Conservatives were in power, they cut $143 million from CBSA. That was 1,100 CBSA employees. What did the former president for public safety workers say at the time? He said, “more weapons, illegal drugs and child pornography will pass through our borders, not to mention terrorists and sexual predators and hardened criminals.” That is the Conservative record.

[Public Safety, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, this is really concerning. All Canadians should be aware that what Conservatives are proposing to make our streets safer is to put more guns on the streets. We have banned handguns and assault weapons that were designed for the battlefield, and Conservatives want to make those guns legal again. We know that investing in crime prevention and in our border to prevent illegal guns from coming into our country, as well as banning handguns, are the solutions to make our communities safe.