44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 15, 2023 10:00AM
- Jun/15/23 2:26:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, based on that account, the Prime Minister knew the day of the transfer, and his office knew three months earlier.
The government has, in the past, issued directives to the Correctional Service on what should be done with various classes of prisoners, like forcing those with contraband into dry prison cells, for example. In other words, the government does have the power to direct corrections on these issues.
The Prime Minister and his office knew for three months. Given that he is here in Ottawa today, does he have the courage to explain his decision to let this monster go out of maximum-security penitentiary, yes or no?
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- Jun/15/23 2:26:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite cares as deeply about the gravity as those crimes and the impact on the families as I do. I know he cares as deeply about what we are going to do for Canadians on that. I also know that he knows the independence of our correctional services system. I know that he also knows that we are not supposed to interfere politically.
I would ask him to work collaboratively with us to find a way where we do not politicize Correctional Service of Canada, and we work together to make sure that the families who are impacted by crimes of this nature are taken care of.
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- Jun/15/23 2:27:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I look across at the Prime Minister's seat. I know that he is in Ottawa today, and if he had the courage, he would be standing to answer these questions directly—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Jun/15/23 2:27:43 p.m.
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I just want to remind hon. members that we cannot do indirectly what we cannot do directly. I will let the member continue.
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- Jun/15/23 2:27:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I take the government House leader up on his challenge to work with us.
We have a bill that would make sure every mass murderer stays in a maximum-security penitentiary. It is before the House. Will the government pass it with unanimous consent today?
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- Jun/15/23 2:28:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would say that I am looking directly at the leader of the official opposition for a reason. I am looking at him for a reason because when we are dealing with something as serious and as brutal as the crimes that occurred in a community that was right next to mine, that I felt viscerally, the conversation that we have has to be measured. It has to be based on co-operation and, frankly, it needs to be based on the underlying premise that every member cares equally and deeply about this, about two things, about the victims absolutely but also about not politicizing our correctional services system.
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- Jun/15/23 2:29:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I take the House leader at his word that he is equally horrified with this monster and that he wants to do something, but I take him at his word when he says he wants to work with us to reverse this transfer and put this monster back in a maximum-security penitentiary. The good news is that he can do that today. The Conservative member for Niagara Falls, who represents many of the family members and friends of the victims, has a bill that would ensure that every single mass murderer stays in a maximum-security penitentiary forever.
Will the government commit to passing it with unanimous consent and send Paul Bernardo back to a maximum-security penitentiary?
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- Jun/15/23 2:29:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are, in all instances, ready to have a conversation about how we do not politicize our correctional services, about how we ensure that we take care of victims and their families. There is a review of the decision that was made by the Correctional Service. It is going to be completed in two weeks. I would suggest that we take a look at that.
I would also suggest that, when we are dealing with something as major as changing our correctional services system, it deserves discussion and it deserves the ability for it to be examined by all parliamentarians and to make sure that we do not create unintended consequences.
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- Jun/15/23 2:30:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, an inquiry into Chinese interference must be launched before we rise for the summer. It takes a lot of time to investigate, and we have wasted too much time already. If we want to reassure the public, we need to shed light on the interference that occurred in the last election before another one is called. That is the only way to convince the public of the integrity of the next federal election. I am appealing to my colleagues' statesmanship. Time is of the essence.
Will they announce an independent public inquiry before we rise for the summer?
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- Jun/15/23 2:31:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very encouraged by the exchanges between my hon. colleague, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Bloc and the NDP. I hope there will be other conversations with the Conservatives. Fighting foreign interference is not a partisan issue. If we work together, we can create new authorities, provide resources and strengthen them to fight foreign interference. That is the most important thing.
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- Jun/15/23 2:31:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleagues must realize by now that the Bloc Québécois will not give up. Public trust in democracy is at stake. The people are calling for an independent public commission of inquiry. Its commissioner must be approved by the House. The commission will have to report on its work, not in five years, not in two years, but in the next few months. We realize that this is an immense task. That is why we are working with the government, and they know it. We have our work cut out for us. Will the government announce this commission?
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- Jun/15/23 2:32:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her co-operation. Yes, a public inquiry is still an option. That is exactly what my hon. colleague the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities is negotiating with the opposition. The most important thing is that we are now working with Canadians to create new authorities in order to better protect not only our democratic institutions, but Canadians as well.
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- Jun/15/23 2:32:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what do the Minister of Public Safety, the President of the Privy Council, the former minister of foreign affairs and the Prime Minister have in common? Obviously, they are unable to check their email. That can be dangerous. Is this government aware that it is retraumatizing the families of the victims of one of the most fiendish murderers in Canadian history?
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- Jun/15/23 2:33:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely true that the crime in question probably comes close to being Canada's most serious crime. It is such a serious crime. I can also say with certainty that our correctional system is independent. As I explained earlier, staff were informed of the possibility that the individual in question might be transferred. Once all the details were confirmed, the Prime Minister was informed. It was—
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- Jun/15/23 2:33:50 p.m.
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The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby.
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- Jun/15/23 2:33:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have seen fiasco after fiasco with the government. The level of disorganization and negligence from Liberal ministers is often appalling.
After the public safety minister was failed to be informed of the transfer of one of the most brutal criminals in Canadian history, we now know that the Prime Minister's Office was informed three months ago. The Liberals could have used that time to ensure the victims' families were warned.
How does this keep happening on such serious files? Why are the Liberals showing such clear incompetence? When will they fix this?
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- Jun/15/23 2:34:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I stated, in March, staff were informed of the possibility of a transfer. There were still many details that were not certain. It was not until the end of May, once the details were confirmed, that the Prime Minister was briefed.
I would say for the member opposite, who knows that Correctional Services is independent and that decisions must not be made with political interference, is that we have to have a conversation, as a House, about how we do not interfere with Correctional Services but also ensure that a transfer of this nature does not occur. That needs to be a mature conversation that does not involve a lot of politics.
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- Jun/15/23 2:35:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, just when we think things cannot get any worse with the Liberal government, the Prime Minister says “hold my beer”, because it is a game to the Prime Minister. That is what this is.
For three months, the public safety minister knew that child murderer and Scarborough rapist Paul Bernardo was being moved from maximum to medium-security prison and did nothing. Now we know the Prime Minister also knew for three months and also did nothing.
This is not a game. Incompetence does not even begin to describe that leadership. Canadians deserve better and these victims' families deserve better. Therefore, will the public safety minister—
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- Jun/15/23 2:35:49 p.m.
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The hon. government House leader.
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- Jun/15/23 2:35:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I do not know the member for Peterborough—Kawartha well, but I do know that she is very sincere when she cares about these cases, and she would know that the Prime Minister would be deeply impacted as a father and as a Canadian by the horror of these crimes. Any assertion to the opposite is just frankly not constructive to the debate that we need to have.
I said that Correctional Services operates independently and that it cannot be interfered with politically. I would also say that we have to be very careful, when dealing with the victims of crime, that we do not politicize that or attempt to use it in a way other than to ask how we stop—
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