House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 22% of the vote.
Justice October 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian public gave us a mandate to protect them against violent young offenders. That is something new. All the measures in this legislation that aims to protect Canadians will respect the rights of young offenders and of Quebeckers, and will also protect Canadian society against dangerous reoffenders. That is what we were asked to do and that is what we will do. We are asking for the support of the opposition.
Justice October 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain: Quebec knows what it is talking about, as does the rest of Canada. Perhaps all Canadians did not support us, but 70% of them definitely did not support the NDP. We are still targeting violent, repeat offenders. We are standing up for victims and ordinary people. We are asking the NDP to do the same.
Justice October 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, here is something new: Canadians gave us the mandate to protect people and keep our streets safe. This is really nothing new. It is a clear mandate. Clearly, Quebec has some concerns, particularly with regard to young offenders, but this bill targets violent and repeat young offenders. Why? Because they are a threat to ordinary people.
With regard to young offenders, clearly they may be incarcerated; however, young people age 18 and younger will not be put in adult prisons.
Justice October 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, in committee yesterday the crown prosecutor certainly expressed some concern about overload, but the prosecutors were in essence pleading for more resources to ensure that the mandate they carefully carry out to protect Canadian citizens is carried out, as is the intent of Bill C-10.
Certainly we will dedicate all the resources necessary to ensure that cities and communities are safe, because we will stand up for citizens and we will protect victims.
Safe Streets and Communities Act September 23rd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, Canadians gave our government a strong and clear mandate to continue making our streets and communities safer.
During the election, we committed to introducing and passing comprehensive legislation within the first 100 days of sitting in the new Parliament. We are delivering on this promise.
We talk the talk and we walk the walk. On this side of the House, the message to law-abiding Canadians is that we got their back.
The Economy September 23rd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we had the privilege of welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to the House.
He reminded us all of the importance of Canada's economic leadership.
To quote Prime Minister Cameron:
In the last few years, Canada has got every major decision right....
Your economic leadership has helped the Canadian economy to weather the global storms far better than many of your international competitors.
But there was also an important message: the global economy is fragile and the time has come for countries to face fiscal challenges.
This is also the message that Canada, through our Minister of Finance, gave at the G20 meeting today.
Europe must take decisive action to resolve the debt problem in countries like Greece. Canada's experience and success in implementing the economic action plan serve as an important example for the entire international community.
Safe Streets and Communities Act September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I do not have a perfect answer, but I do know that violent criminals who are in jail do not commit crimes against law-abiding citizens, and that is who we are standing up for.
Safe Streets and Communities Act September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, as I noted, oftentimes issues are identified at a very late stage and many of the entry points where issues of mental problems or perhaps difficulties in coherence are identified are in provincial areas such as schools, in social services and various ports of entry in provincial jurisdictions. Certainly there is work to be done between the federal government and the provincial jurisdictions to identify these issues early. I am sure that in the future we will be willing to work hand in hand with them.
Safe Streets and Communities Act September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, it is very simple. Once one is in jail, one certainly does not commit crimes. That is the way in which our streets and our citizens are protected.
There are two types of dissuasion. There is general dissuasion and there is specific dissuasion. Specific dissuasion is particularly important upon repeat offenders. The sentence is upped, it is made more severe each step of the way and there is no vacation when criminals are in jail. They are not committing crimes or stealing cars.
From the point of view of general deterrence as it relates the question of the issue of the drug bill, we have people flying from Seattle because they would rather be caught in Canada for a drug-related offence because there is no sentence. People who deal with drugs in Canada will go to jail. The people of Canada have spoken on that and that is what we are standing up for. We walk the walk and talk the talk.
Safe Streets and Communities Act September 21st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, that is certainly a very relevant question, which was canvassed at length by the Canadian Bar Association and on which it focused.
However, in our role as parliamentarians, we fix maximum sentences, we fix minimum sentences and we give guidance to the courts as to what is appropriate and which crimes are determined to be more heinous than perhaps others. We dictate the severity.
I do not remember the exact year, but not long ago Parliament abolished the death penalty. That was our call as well. Yes, there is a spectrum, but it is Parliament's call to give the courts guidance on where the crime fits with respect to the question of severity.