Ken Hardie

[Criminal Code, November 30th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I wonder whether the hon. member would like to be a bit more granular. I am looking at the crime severity index, and it seems that the communities that are really suffering the most with the lift, particularly in violent crimes, are medium-sized and small cities that are more in the rural areas. Therefore, I am wondering whether he could offer an explanation as to what might be going on there that causes this lift, especially in violent crime. That is the first thing.

The second thing is that I would like him to comment on a situation that I have commented on quite often in British Columbia, where the police cannot lay charges; they have to be approved by a provincial Crown counsel. Provincial Crown counsels will not lay charges unless they are almost 100% sure they are going to get a conviction. I do not know whether that is the situation in other provinces, but I would not mind the hon. member's reflection on that.

[Committees of the House, November 29th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth interim report of the Special Committee on the Canada-People's Republic of China Relationship, entitled “The Chinese Communist Party's Overseas Police Service Stations”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[Lowering Prices for Canadians Act, November 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, it is refreshing to see somebody stand up and talk about the cost of living and not blame it all on the price on pollution. However, one would think that, if all these grocery stores are making so much money, there would be an unholy competition to drop prices to get more customers into the store and get more market share.

I am wondering if the hon. member has thought about doing the deeper dive and going to the producers of the food. We have seen shrinkflation, and we have seen a lot of things happening a layer below the grocery stores. I am wondering if he has thoughts about that aspect.

[Conservative Party of Canada, October 31st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, last week in members' statements and question period, there were 179 statements that were not accurate or factual. We could put this down to political hyperbole on the part of the Conservatives, but link it to other things the Conservatives have been doing, and we get a very dark picture. Since they named their latest leader, Conservatives have consistently worked to tear down Canada's democratic institutions, government agencies and the CBC; to dis our economy; to attack our courts; and to disrespect the Speaker as well.

The phrase “everything is broken” promotes distrust. The Conservatives feed the public a steady diet of anger and doubt. Is this a set-up to create citizens' willingness to elect a strongman who would take away some of their freedoms in exchange for an illusionary sense of protection? Is this the Conservative leader's agenda? If so, it is risky and reckless. If not, then he should follow the advice from Cicero: “When [some] speak ill of thee, live so that [none] would believe them.”

[Conservative Party of Canada, October 31st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, last week in members' statements and question period, Conservatives made 179 statements they knew were not accurate or factual. We can put this down to political hyperbole, but link it to other things Conservatives have been doing, and a dark picture emerges. Since they named their latest leader, Conservatives have consistently worked to tear down Canada's democratic institutions, government agencies, the CBC—

[National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act, October 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this legislation is to protect Canadian interests here at home by not allowing foreign companies to come in and buy things, buy up companies and resources, that are strategically important to us.

One thing the pandemic also taught us was that relying on foreign supplies of certain things that are very strategically important to Canada turned out to be a very threatening situation for us. There were things that were withheld from Canada that we would ordinarily depend on other countries to provide.

I am wondering if the hon. member could talk about some companion legislation or work that needs to be done to re-home, re-shore, re-friend the source of things that are important to Canada that actually do not get manufactured in Canada right now?

[Canadian Aviation Regulations, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her encouragement to take up this issue.

Education is a very important thing, but without needlessly scaring people. This is a scary proposition. The fact is that Canadian airports are by and large extremely safe. Those of us who fly have made many trips back and forth without incident, and we will all touch wood so that will continue.

This is an opportunity to draw out an old saying: Being a firefighter is the best job in the world until there is a fire; then it is one the worst jobs in the world. I think Canadians will appreciate this and certainly understand what we are talking about and what we are asking our fire services to do to meet standards. As one of my colleagues said, people expect this to happen, and if it is not happening, we have to move it in that direction.

[Canadian Aviation Regulations, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, if it was that simple, it would have been done 25 years ago, but it was not. It has been lingering for a very long time.

We are all experienced in the ways of committees and certainly in the ways of Parliament. However, Parliament only has so much bandwidth, as do committees, and sometimes we need to take the initiative to bring something to the foreground that we believe has been neglected for too long. This is one of them. This is one mechanism, and hopefully a very good one, to bring this to the attention of the government and then kick-start the kinds of changes that are needed.

[Canadian Aviation Regulations, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I would be prepared to pay for that gentleman. I think it is important. I like him, and I want him to get here safe and sound. However, the fact is that this is another part of the how.

We have a really good fix on what needs to happen. To the earlier question from my colleague across the way, there will be opportunities to really delve into this. “Who should pay?” is always going to be a question and “How much?” too, because that will change depending on the size of the airport and the number of passengers going through. However, if we all agree that it should happen, then how it happens becomes a step that will not be that hard to take.

[Canadian Aviation Regulations, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, definitely I think so. I think this is a first step. This is a catalyst that could get that kind of discussion taken up at the transport committee, which would have an opportunity to dig into the details. This is what we need to accomplish, in my view. The “how” part is definitely necessarily a focus of conversation among the members of the House who are charged with delving deeper into the issue.