44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 8, 2022 02:00PM
- Jun/8/22 3:05:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to contradict my colleague, but my question was not on Bill C‑21. As my colleague noted, the gunshots we hear in the streets of Montreal may not always result in deaths, but there is always a victim, and that is the public's sense of safety. Gun culture is taking hold in Montreal, as is gang culture.
The solution to the problem of illegal guns requires helping police forces deal with the gang problem. Bill C‑21 is not a bad bill, but it does not offer any solutions to address the shootings. When will the minister realize that to deal with criminal organizations we need to start by having a registry of those criminal organizations?
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- Jun/8/22 3:06:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has already done a number of practical things, such as establishing a $350‑million fund to provide resources to our police forces.
With all due respect to my colleague, Bill C‑21 contains tangible measures to target organized crime, including by increasing criminal sanctions and giving new oversight powers to eliminate and prevent gun violence.
We will work with the Bloc and every member to get this bill passed. It is very important. It is essential for protecting our communities.
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- Jun/8/22 3:07:12 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, a 12-year-old girl found herself right in the middle of a shooting in Montreal. She was traumatized, of course. This is happening in our streets in Quebec.
Instead of tackling the problems of street gangs and illegal arms trafficking, this Liberal government is doing the opposite with its Bill C‑5. It is eliminating mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes.
How can this government be so disconnected from reality that it is doing the opposite of what is obviously common sense?
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- Jun/8/22 3:07:47 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, serious offences will always be punished in a serious manner.
The situation that my colleague just described is not a situation targeted by Bill C‑5. This bill addresses situations that are not a threat to public safety. Bill C‑5 seeks to address the overrepresentation of Black and indigenous people in the justice system.
That is precisely what we are doing.
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- Jun/8/22 3:08:29 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we believe that serious and violent firearms offences warrant a mandatory sentence.
We stand on the side of victims. It is disappointing to see this government openly siding with criminals. It is even letting them serve their sentence at home for such crimes as armed robbery and extortion with a firearm. Those are quite serious crimes.
Why is this government being so soft on crime with Bill C-5?
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- Jun/8/22 3:09:00 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to watch the opposition continue to support Harper's tough-on-crime policy, which was a total failure.
What we are doing is continuing to punish serious offences in a serious way. What we are doing is taking a different approach when public safety is not threatened or at risk in order to help communities and victims.
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- Jun/8/22 3:09:42 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, let us hear what Stephan Fogaing, a member of Montreal's Black community, has to say about Bill C‑5: “In short, when the federal government contemplates doing away with some of the minimum sentences in the Criminal Code, we can only wonder whether they are more interested in protecting criminals than the public and victims of crime.”
Given what these people had to say, is the Prime Minister interested in listening to them, or does he prefer to protect criminals over victims?
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- Jun/8/22 3:10:15 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Harper's tough-on-crime policy was a complete failure. We have managed to fill our prisons with indigenous people and Black people. We have prevented the system from working properly, because minimum sentences slow down the justice system.
Around the globe, and especially in the United States, where the Conservatives drew their inspiration 15 years ago, authorities are doing away with minimum sentences because they do not work. We are here to do a better job of protecting society.
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- Jun/8/22 3:10:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, indigenous peoples and first nations organizations have long been calling for police reform. Security and protection are essential services. It is time for indigenous police forces to be considered as equally essential. Indigenous groups have been very clear about wanting a law that recognizes, funds and prioritizes first nations police services.
How is this government supporting culturally sensitive first nations police forces and recognizing the essential role they play on the pathway to reconciliation?
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- Jun/8/22 3:11:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, to begin, I want to thank my colleague for all of her hard work.
Protecting indigenous communities through well-funded, culturally sensitive indigenous police services is a top priority and vital to our commitment to walk the pathway to truth and reconciliation. We understand the importance of recognizing indigenous police services as an essential service, which is why our government is imminently launching a public engagement process to develop legislation.
In consultation with indigenous groups, provinces and territories, we will work to further protect indigenous communities all across Canada. We will do this work because it is in response to the calls to justice and the calls to action and because it is the right thing to do.
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- Jun/8/22 3:12:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the 83-year-old father of my constituent was deported from Canada because of the government's draconian mandates. He arrived in Canada, and despite being doubly vaccinated, one of the vaccines he had was not approved. He co-operated and got the Pfizer shot. That did not help. After being held three days, he was sent back to Venezuela to return after a two-week quarantine. This involved unnecessary stress, extra expenses and zero common sense.
Will the minister apologize for the appalling treatment of this family?
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- Jun/8/22 3:13:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, back in 2020, the Conservatives claimed that we would not have enough vaccines for all Canadians, but let me be clear that Canada has sufficient supply to ensure all eligible Canadians are protected for primary, series, boosters and pediatrics. On this side of the House, our government will continue to make sure we are putting the health and safety of Canadians first because nobody wants another wave of this COVID-19 pandemic.
The member opposite raised a particular case. If he would like to discuss it personally, I would be happy to accept a call or an email anytime.
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- Jun/8/22 3:13:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is in a housing crisis. Too many families are unable to find a safe roof over their heads and many young Canadians are just being forced to give up on the dream of ever even owning a home. There is a simple solution, though. It is to build more houses and increase the housing supply. All we see the government do is pose for photo ops at spending announcements, but there is a curious lack of ribbon cuttings.
My question is simple: When is the government going to get off the sidelines, demonstrate leadership to end exclusionary zoning and say yes to building more homes for Canadians?
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- Jun/8/22 3:14:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt in saying they are facing a crisis of leadership, because the hon. member fails to mention his very leader refuses to help municipalities with supply. His member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon says that we should step back and not invest in provisional housing programs. He is opposed, on the record, to the foreign ban of Canadian residential real estate and has opposed funding for affordable housing for indigenous peoples. It is all rhetoric and more rhetoric.
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- Jun/8/22 3:14:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there it is once again: more rhetoric, more talk, but no real action. If announcing billions of dollars could solve this problem, we would have a housing surplus in this country right now. In fact, the number of houses per 1,000 Canadians has gone down dramatically since 2016 under this government's watch.
Again I ask the minister: When is the government finally going to have the courage to do what is right and commit to working with provincial governments and municipalities to end exclusionary zoning and fix this crisis?
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- Jun/8/22 3:15:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are doing exactly that through the housing accelerator fund. The housing accelerator fund is all about supply, supply, supply, but they are on record as opposing the housing accelerator fund—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Jun/8/22 3:15:34 p.m.
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The hon. member for Parry Sound—Muskoka asked a question and he wants to hear the answer, I am sure. I would ask members to keep it down.
The hon. minister, from the top, please.
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- Jun/8/22 3:15:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should speak to his leader, who has trashed the housing accelerator fund, which is all about supply. His colleagues from Calgary Centre, Edmonton Riverbend, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon and Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola have all said contradictory things about housing supply, about support for first-time homebuyers, about building more affordable housing in this country. They have no shame.
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- Jun/8/22 3:16:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as someone who spent years working with social purpose organizations, I have seen first-hand how social innovation and social finance are catalysts for positive change. Big challenges like climate change, energy security, poverty, systemic racism, food insecurity, housing affordability, reconciliation and more can all be addressed by harnessing the ingenuity of our social innovators and our social entrepreneurs. That is why I am proud of the work that our government is doing to implement Canada's first social innovation and social finance strategy, which will drive economic growth, build more inclusive communities and help transition to a low-carbon economy.
Can the minister update the House on the progress our government is making on building a stronger social innovation and social finance ecosystem?
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Jun/8/22 3:17:18 p.m.
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Could I have everyone's attention, please? Can I continue?
Before the minister answers the question, I want to remind hon. members that when they are referring to someone, to please refer to them by their title or the riding they represent and not by their first name. Mocking someone in the House, regardless of what side members are on, is not an example we want to set for our children, who are watching today and wondering what is going on. I want everyone to reflect on what they are saying, please.
The hon. minister.
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