44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 3, 2023 02:00PM
- May/3/23 2:25:40 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as the leader of the Conservative Party knows, this government takes any threats of foreign interference very seriously.
As soon as we were informed of the matter concerning the member for Wellington—Halton Hills, we contacted him and offered him a briefing. We gave him that briefing yesterday. It was not the first briefing that the member opposite received.
We will continue to do good work to protect everyone who works in the House and to protect our democratic institutions.
83 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:28:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, does the member opposite really think that by exaggerating his rhetoric and lobbing attacks at the government, he is doing any service to the member for Wellington—Halton Hills?
Of course the members of this government care about the safety and security of the member for Wellington—Halton Hills and his family. That is why we provided a briefing for him yesterday. It was not the first briefing that he received. We will continue to do the work to protect the members that work in this space and our democratic institutions.
95 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:29:46 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we put confidence in our intelligence agencies to take the actions that are necessary when threats are posed against members in this chamber.
As we heard, the member for Wellington—Halton Hills was briefed yesterday. He has been briefed on a number of occasions. The Liberal government will continue to ensure that parliamentarians are getting timely and concrete briefings. We have issued fresh instructions to CSIS on this point, so that we can protect the people and the families that work in this space, as well as our democratic institutions.
93 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:38:44 p.m.
- Watch
I am having a hard time hearing the hon. minister. The hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills has asked a question, for which he deserves to hear the response, so I am going to ask everyone to bring it down a notch to listen to what the hon. minister has to say.
The hon. Minister of Public Safety can begin from the top, please.
65 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:40:54 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the exact opposite has proven to be true. For two years, they failed to inform the member for Wellington—Halton Hills about these threats against his family. This is an attack on all parliamentarians. We have now known, based on the reports in the Globe and Mail, that the government knew two years ago.
The question is very simple, and instead of the minister carrying on with non-answers, he needs to be very direct. When did the minister's office become aware of this specific instance?
90 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:41:34 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that, as soon as we became aware of this specific issue regarding the member for Wellington—Halton Hills, we took decisive action.
We reached out. We spoke to the member opposite. We offered him a briefing. We made sure that the briefing occurred. It occurred yesterday. It was not the only briefing the member opposite received, which is because we want to be sure we can protect him, his family and, indeed, all members in this chamber, so they can do their job, represent their constituencies and defend our sworn obligation to uphold this democracy.
103 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:44:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the government, the Prime Minister's Office and therefore the Prime Minister himself were aware of the threats against the member for Wellington—Halton Hills.
The threats were directed at the member and his family, yet they said nothing and did nothing. No matter how we ask him the question, the Prime Minister gives us no valid reason. If parliamentarians and their family members can be targeted by threats because of votes or positions taken in the House, none of us are safe.
Will the Prime Minister apologize right now in the House to the member for Wellington—Halton Hills?
104 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:50:11 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as we have said before, the idea that somehow we are not concerned about the safety and security of the member for Wellington—Halton Hills is outrageous. That is why we took decisive, concrete action to ensure that he was provided with a briefing yesterday. We will continue to be vigilant on this front, putting in place the resources, the personnel and the authorities to protect the people who work in this chamber so that we can uphold our democracy.
83 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:53:14 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the government is focusing on an issue that affects everyone in the House. That is why we supported the opposition member who works for the community of Wellington—Halton Hills. That is why we created new powers for our intelligence service. That is why we will work around the clock, seven days a week, to protect all MPs in the House and their families so that they can do their work.
74 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 3:07:06 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, by now, given the repeated nature of the questions we are receiving from Conservatives, they will know that we have taken decisive and concrete action in supporting the member for Wellington—Halton Hills.
It was the Conservatives who were asleep at the switch, respectfully. They were asleep at the switch for 10 years when they had the reins of government. They could have introduced new powers for CSIS; they did not do it. They could have introduced an NSICOP; they did not do it. They could have introduced NSIRA; they did not do it. It was their incompetence and their being asleep at the switch that allowed us the opportunity to do that work, and we will continue to build on it so we can protect the people in our institutions.
134 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
