Questions on the Order Paper  With regard to top secret security clearances provided by the government: how many employees or representatives of registered political parties currently have top secret security clearances, in total and broken down by party?

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  With regard to the event named "Symposium: Building a Safe and Respectful Digital World" hosted at the Governor General's residence on April 11, 2024: (a) what were the costs associated with the event, in total and broken down by type of expenditure; (b) was this event initiated by the Governor General and her staff or officials, or by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and his staff or officials; (c) on what dates did organizational or planning meetings take place in preparation for the event, and who was in attendance at each meeting; (d) were any government bills or initiatives highlighted during the event, and, if so, which ones; and (e) what specific action, if any, was taken by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to ensure that the event did not put the Governor General in a partisan situation, and to stop any government legislation, initiatives or talking points from being promoted at the event?

Stronger Sentences for Safer Streets Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-394, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (importing, exporting and producing certain substances). Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the stronger sentences for safer streets act. Drug overdoses kill 22 Canadians per day, and 82% of those deaths involve fentanyl.

Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Act (David and Joyce Milgaard's Law)  Mr. Speaker, it is hard to know where to begin. He compares the new system to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom requires, with regard to applicants for a wrongful conviction, for the commission to consider that there is a real possibility that a wrongful conviction occurred.

Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Act (David and Joyce Milgaard's Law)  Mr. Speaker, the bill, as amended from committee, is now a significant departure from what was presented by the minister's predecessor, former minister Lametti, on the miscarriage of justice bill. Originally, when the bill was presented by former minister Lametti, he noted: It is important to note that the miscarriage of justice review process is not an alternative to the justice system, nor is it another level of appeal.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I will answer the question. Sexual assaults are up 71% since 2015, when the Liberals took government, nine years ago. It is beyond ironic that the minister questions why Conservatives on this side would not support their agenda. Of course we do not support their agenda.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I notice once again that I have given the minister a lot of opportunities, and he has not answered any of my questions directly. He knows the answer to this one, and he is not going to give it, so I will have to give it on his behalf. The Victoria Police Department statement says, “Bill C-75, which came into effect nationally in 2019, legislated a 'principle of restraint' that requires police to release an accused person at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be able to participate this evening in this important debate. I want to state at the outset that I will be splitting my time for the last five minutes with the member for Thornhill. I am going to start off with an easy question for the minister, just to get things started.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, 2015 is important, because you are going to hear the number 2015 quite a bit. I will note, minister, that when you were first appointed, one of the things you said in your new role was that for Canadians it was empirically unlikely that Canada was becoming less safe.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is tremendously unfortunate that before even being briefed, the minister was telling Canadians that it was all in their heads that we were experiencing a crisis in our justice system, but it is not all in Canadians' heads. The statistics tell us that violent crime has gone up tremendously.

Business of Supply  Actually, Mr. Speaker, what the minister said was that his role was to tell Canadians that it was empirically unlikely that Canada is becoming less safe. In fact, violent crime is up 39%. Now that he has been briefed, could the minister tell us how much, according to Statistics Canada, gang-related homicides have gone up since 2015, only nine years ago?

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, just the opposite is true. Every step the government has taken in the last nine years has made the situation worse. Can the minister tell Canadians tonight how much violent gun crime, according to Statistics Canada, has gone up since 2015?

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, if it was not so serious, it would be laughable. The minister is talking about steps his government has taken, but I will answer the question. Violent gun crime is up 101% since 2015 alone, when the Liberals took office. We are hearing from the minister about what he is doing, but, unfortunately, the statistics tell us that everything they are doing, every step of the way, has been to make Canadians less safe.

Vehicle Theft  Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's soft-on-crime agenda has led to a crime wave of motor vehicle theft, and Canadians are paying the cost. The cost of insurance claims for auto theft has skyrocketed to $1.5 billion, smashing the previous record. Not only are Canadians having their vehicles stolen, but they are also facing higher insurance premiums, thanks to the Liberal government's refusal to crack down on auto theft.

Protection against Extortion Act  Madam Speaker, after listening to my colleague's remarks, there is no doubt in my mind or in Canadians' minds why crime is absolutely out of control after nine years of the Liberal-NDP government. Liberals simply do not get it. They talk about resources for police; I will share one story we heard recently.