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Public Safety October 29th, 2020
Madam Speaker, one minute is not very much time to talk about the serious issues raised by the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
At the request of the Nova Scotia government, the RCMP was sent to help protect people and maintain law and order. That is what everyone should expect here. We need to de-escalate the situation. That is vital. The RCMP will play a role in that.
Public Safety October 29th, 2020
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to see you even through the use of technology. I also want to thank the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands whom I am pleased to see again.
As usual, she is raising very important questions. I very much appreciated the information she provided on the injunctions and the disproportionate share that is granted to the corporations. It is an interesting element that I will look into. It is true that systemic racism is not limited to the actions of the RCMP. It is much more widespread than that. It is institutional. We acknowledge it, we condemn it and we are working to resolve it.
I also want to thank her for allowing me to say a few words about the situation in Nova Scotia. This situation happened in the wake of the implementation of livelihood fishing by the Sipekne'katik nation. I will begin by saying a few words about the criminal acts that were committed during the dispute between the first nation and the commercial fishers.
Our government clearly condemns the racism, violence and crimes committed during this conflict. We implore all those involved to support constructive efforts for peaceful de-escalation and dialogue. Moreover, all of this is taking place while we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government remains committed to reconciliation and the development of a new and improved relationship with indigenous peoples, one based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and collaboration.
While the RCMP has faced complex issues this year, it continues to work to build meaningful, lasting relationships with indigenous peoples. It would be a shame to let the criminal acts committed in this conflict undermine these efforts. Any lasting resolution to this dispute must be based on the recognition of the legitimate Mi'kmaq treaty rights.
This means that the threats, racism, violence and intimidation must stop. The primary role of any police force is to protect the public and enforce the laws, including the Criminal Code of Canada. All Canadians enjoy the fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and demonstration. They should be able to exercise those freedoms safely.
However, resorting to violence and putting lives in danger to protest a situation is totally unacceptable. The people responsible for these crimes must be held to account. The RCMP takes its role of ensuring public safety very seriously and has been on site since the start of the conflict. At the same time, the governments, namely the federal government and the government of Nova Scotia, are trying to make the parties reach a lasting solution based on the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Mi'kmaq and the treaties.
Charges have been laid and multiple investigations are under way into crimes against persons, in particular the violent assault of Chief Michael Sack. The police is also investigating crimes against property, such as the fire at the lobster pound on October 19. This is a sad episode in our collective history.
To further increase the capacity of the RCMP, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness approved a request put forward by the Attorney General of Nova Scotia to increase, as needed, the number of RCMP members under contract present in Nova Scotia so they can keep the peace as is their duty. To say that the RCMP police presence in the region is unusually high would be an understatement. It will continue to be high as long as necessary. The increased and enhanced presence of the RCMP includes officers in uniform ensuring greater visibility of law enforcement and carrying out random patrols in communities.
In addition to officers in uniform there are more strategic tactical operations officers from several authorities. Furthermore, RCMP officers patrol the waters in the region depending on the needs and the RCMP emergency response team has a vessel for immediate deployment if necessary.
Office of the Correctional Investigator October 27th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the annual report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator for 2019-20, as required under section 192 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Small Business Week October 22nd, 2020
Mr. Speaker, Small Business Week ends on Saturday, October 24, but I would like to take a moment to highlight the ingenuity and resilience of entrepreneurs across the country and especially those in my riding from Chemin Sainte-Foy to Chemin Saint-Louis, from Boulevard Laurier to Boulevard De la Chaudière, from Route Jean-Gauvin to Rue du Campanile, from Avenue Myrand to Avenue Maguire. A special shout out to Pizza Mag, which I may be supporting a little too much for my own good.
I was proud to see our government support SMEs through what is doubtless the toughest time they have ever faced, the toughest time we have ever faced. Our government has stepped up at every turn with the wage subsidy, the emergency account, the GST deferral and rent assistance. This is going to take more than government action though. Solidarity matters now more than ever. We must stand together. The holidays are around the corner, and we need to do whatever we can to support our local businesses so they survive the pandemic. As an added benefit, doing so will help us all adopt better buying habits.
Public Safety October 9th, 2020
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
Stronger gun controls, especially for assault weapons, are particularly important to the Liberal Party of Canada. That is why we brought in a ban on military-style assault weapons, which have no place in our society. That is also why we have invested in the RCMP and our law enforcement agencies.
Although the Conservatives may talk tough, they spent a decade cutting budgets to the RCMP and our intelligence services, which work together to combat gun violence. We will continue to do that work.
Public Safety February 28th, 2020
Madam Speaker, first, I want to offer my sympathies to the family and friends of the victim.
While I cannot comment on this specific case, I can tell the House that we trust law enforcement and prosecutors to apply the law to its full extent. We have invested significant resources in law enforcement and intelligence agencies in this country over the last four years and will continue to do so.
Privacy February 28th, 2020
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for her question. I agree that this is a worrisome issue.
We must always strive to balance privacy against, in the case of the RCMP, which was also involved with Clearview, the duty to protect Canadians. That is why the RCMP will be working with the Privacy Commissioner to make sure it finds that balance.
As for my colleague's broader question, I will note that the privacy commissioners of Quebec, British Columbia and Canada will be examining this issue.
The Economy February 28th, 2020
Madam Speaker, I share the public's concern and impatience for finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict. That has been our goal from the start. Our priority is dialogue, which is what the provincial premiers also asked for when they met the Prime Minister last week.
There is now just one remaining rail blockade in Canada. Two days ago, rail traffic resumed on the Belleville rail line, which is critical to Canada's economy and the shipping of propane to Quebec and eastern Canada.
The Economy February 28th, 2020
Madam Speaker, our government is working on a peaceful resolution to the conflict. There has been progress in the past week. There is now one blockade remaining on a Canadian railway near Montreal. We are working very hard. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is currently in British Columbia, where she met with the hereditary chiefs to discuss a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Trains are once again running in the Belleville area on a line that is crucial to the Canadian economy. We have made progress.
The Economy February 21st, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Obviously, this is a very worrisome situation from the standpoint of the Canadian economy, and our government is working on it.
It is worth noting that there have been positive and encouraging new developments. Take, for example, the decision that the RCMP in British Columbia made yesterday to withdraw from Wet'suwet'en territory. We can also see that the provinces and the federal government are working together. The first ministers have agreed on an approach, and that is to give dialogue a chance, with the understanding that this cannot go on indefinitely because of the impact it is having on the Canadian economy, as the member so rightly pointed out.