SoVote

Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ)

Jun/1/22 5:44:59 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-5

Mr. Speaker, mandatory minimum sentences have their pros and cons. In any case, I am not against abolishing them. However, there are problems associated with them that must be resolved. They include problems with education, illegal arms trafficking, social issues, and the need for hospitalization and diagnosis. It is time that the government provided health transfers, if only to address the health aspect, so that youth could be monitored from early childhood to prevent them from ending up in jail or other bad situations. This would also ensure better social support. When will this happen?

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Context: House Hansard - 79 - Jun/1/22

Mr. Rhéal Fortin (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Jun/1/22 6:17:01 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-5

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague with regard to diversion measures. We really are on the same wavelength, as I was saying earlier. That being said, I think we disagree about minimum sentences. I would like to know what my colleague thinks about doing away with the minimum sentences the government is proposing in response to the spike in shootings in Montreal. Does he think that doing away with minimum sentences will send a reassuring message to the public? If not, what does my colleague propose? The Bloc Québécois is proposing creating a registry of criminal organizations, setting up a joint task force to combat firearms trafficking, and increasing security at the border. What does he think about those suggestions and what does he propose?

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Context: House Hansard - 79 - Jun/1/22

Mr. Randall Garrison

Jun/1/22 6:17:51 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-5

Mr. Speaker, I enjoy working with the member on the justice committee. Of course I support all those measures he is talking about. The law on mandatory minimums is not the solution to everything, but it is a solution to systemic racism and it is a partial solution to the opioid crisis. Do we need more measures to interdict the illegal importation of guns into our communities? Absolutely, I support those kinds of things, but the reason that this does not create public confidence is that some people are putting forward the myth that somehow eliminating mandatory minimum sentences makes our communities more dangerous. It does precisely the opposite.

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Context: House Hansard - 79 - Jun/1/22

Mr. Pat Kelly

Jun/1/22 6:33:03 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-5

Mr. Speaker, the member launches straight into an attack on the previous Conservative government while ignoring that almost all of the mandatory floor sentences being repealed in this bill were not passed under the Harper government. They came from earlier governments. Successive governments, Conservative and Liberal, with different prime ministers, have, over a very long period of time, created these minimums. Most of them predate the Harper government. It was disappointing to hear her use this as an opportunity just to make a dig at the previous government, when this is something that has been ongoing for many years. The hon. member disagrees that there should be mandatory minimum sentences. I can agree with her. I can agree with many people who have spoken about the futility, and the blunt instrument that prison can be, but for the most serious crimes there needs to be a floor.

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