Sean Fraser

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 22nd, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, if anyone would question the government's commitment to gender-based violence, I would invite them to read the text of Bill C-16, the largest suite of reforms to advance more serious penalties to combat gender-based violence, which is matched with an announcement today to put $50 million more in the hands of organizations that are working to combat gender-based violence in our communities.

As I continue to be heckled talking about an issue such as gender-based violence, I will not be distracted. I will do the work.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 22nd, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is disingenuous to call into question the commitment of any member of any party when it comes to dealing with heinous crimes such as sexual assault. For my part, we have advanced legislation that advances stiffer penalties—

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 22nd, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, being accused of breaking the justice system for advancing more serious penalties for serious crimes is something that clearly defies logic.

The member is correct about one thing. She has been here for a minute. I have great respect for my colleagues, but during her time here, she sat in cabinet for a full two years after the Supreme Court of Canada demonstrated that courts may consider immigration consequences to ensure that there is a fit penalty. Despite sitting at the cabinet table, she took precisely zero action to address this problem. She only raises it now.

We believe that serious and violent criminals should face serious penalties. We will not just say that on the floor of the House of Commons. We will advance legislation to make it so.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 22nd, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, it is completely disingenuous for any member of this House to suggest that members of another party care more about criminals than they do about public safety. The Conservatives have tried that before, and Canadians saw them out of office as a result.

We take crime very seriously. The kinds of very serious crimes that have been committed will be subjected to harsher sentences as a result of the legislation we are moving forward in Parliament.

The member is a new member. He may not be aware that in 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada made a decision indicating that this could be the case. For two years, the Conservatives remained in power and chose to do nothing about this issue.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 22nd, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that serious crimes need to be met with serious penalties. I am pleased to inform the hon. member that the case law in Canada makes sure that judges may not completely distort a sentence so that it would not be fit for the crime committed.

It is essential that as we ensure we have more serious penalties, particularly for the most violent offenders, we also allow our court system to operate independently. I am proud to live in a country that is governed by the rule of law. I hope the same is true for all members of this House.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 21st, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, when violent criminals are convicted of serious crimes, they must face serious penalties. That includes, in the immigration system, the risk of deportation after a conviction for a serious crime has taken place. There is not a rule, as some have suggested in this chamber, that requires judges to give lighter sentences for people based on their immigration status. We need to ensure that the justice system operates with integrity, and that includes the ability of the court to consider all the facts that are before the court when making a decision as to an appropriate sentence.

Members can rest assured that we support serious penalties for violent offences in all circumstances.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, April 21st, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, it is important that when people commit serious crimes, they face serious penalties. That is why we are moving forward with some of the most serious reforms, when it comes to Canada's criminal laws, in generations. As the member knows, there is no rule that requires judges to reduce penalties for people based on their immigration status.

We want to ensure that courts have the ability to make judgments that consider all the facts of a given case and that when serious crimes are committed, serious penalties will result.

[Justice, April 20th, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my friend, but I have to clarify something. Obviously the federal government does not have the authority to alter provincial powers under the Constitution. It is strange, honestly. We will uphold the Constitution and respect provincial jurisdictions at the same time. My comments were made in the context of the bill that is currently before the Senate and that concerns the federal government's powers only. That is all.

[Taxation, April 16th, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, there are two competing visions for the Canadian economy being put forward in this House. On the Conservative side, members want the tired approach of cutting taxes for the wealthy and hoping everybody else works things out. On this side of the House, we want to build a strong economy that works for everybody.

We have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7, we are leading the world in foreign direct investment per capita and wages are outpacing inflation. We are using this economic growth to support families, with more than $1,800 coming through the groceries and essentials benefit, programs that have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and continued support to make sure working people can get ahead. That is the Canada I believe in.

[Public Safety, April 15th, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Honoré-Mercier for his question. Crime is moving online and is becoming increasingly organized and sophisticated. Criminals are using the digital environment to exploit children and to engage in extortion and human trafficking. Bill C-22, an act respecting lawful access, gives police officers the tools to investigate, disrupt organized crime and protect our communities. Our police officers across Quebec and Canada are calling for these tools. We are listening to them.

I urge all of Parliament to support this bill, which is so important for our country.