SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 215

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 16, 2023 10:00AM
  • Jun/16/23 11:44:08 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, the Liberal bill, Bill C-83, allowed rapist and killer Paul Bernardo to be moved from a maximum-security to a medium-security prison. Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Minister of Public Safety has the power to send him back to where he belongs, but he refuses to do so. His office knew about the transfer for months, but the minister chose to remain blissfully ignorant. Why will he not take responsibility and resign?
79 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:44:42 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, it is categorically false to say that. Bill C-83, which was aimed at ending solitary confinement, a practice that had been condemned by human rights groups and was found to be against our charter, was replaced by something called structured intervention units to allow for a more direct and equitable form of intervention in those cases. The link between Bill C-83 and the decision made by Correctional Service Canada to transfer this known killer is misinformation.
80 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:45:22 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, Paul Bernardo is the worst type of human being who can exist, yet over and over again, Liberal ministers stand on their feet to defend his right to the comforts of medium-security prisons. The minister may not understand, but it is the Liberals' very own Bill C-83 and its change to section 28 of the act that allowed this serial rapist and murderer to be transferred to easy street. This is not something that just happened. The Liberals made it happen. Yesterday, the government would not support a Conservative bill that would fix this by requiring serial killers to stay in maximum-security prisons. When will the government take public safety seriously, reverse these ridiculous changes and keep notorious—
124 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:46:02 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, many people in the House are parents, and I am a father. The— Mrs. Stephanie Kusie: Do you have a daughter? What would you do if your daughter were a victim? Hon. Mark Holland: Yes, I am the father of a daughter, and they are yelling out to ask about my child. Madam Speaker, the idea that I would find those crimes anything other than repugnant, and that I or any member of the House would not do everything in their power to ensure public safety, is repulsive. The difference is that we will not mis-characterize information. We will not torque. Saying something that is not true, that a bill that has absolutely no impact on this matter is involved, is politicizing this, and that is something that should not be done.
136 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:46:50 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, post offices are the heart of rural communities. We rely on them to keep in touch with loved ones and to pick up essentials, but consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have been starving them of resources. It started with making postmasters find their own facilities. When that fails, the Liberals privatize our mail, destroying union jobs. Shockingly, when privatizing government services does not work out, they just plop in a mailbox and call it a day. What is the minister's plan to stop the privatization scheme, save rural community hubs and save well-paying union jobs?
99 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:47:30 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, as the member opposite knows very well, Canada Post is a crown corporation at arm's length from government. However, of course, ongoing discussions do occur between me and the chair of the board at Canada Post. As is the case with many other postal carriers around the world, Canada Post is evolving to meet changing customer needs and expectations. There is a top priority in keeping its employees in the communities that it serves, and it will continue to serve Canadians with the service they can rely on.
91 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:48:10 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, with all due respect, that answer was not good enough. The government's policy on postal service is failing rural communities. It is not working in Atlin. It is not working in Telegraph Creek, and it did not work in the 120 communities in rural Canada that lost have their post offices since the government took office in 2015. Therefore, I would like to give the hon. minister another chance to answer this question: Is she aware of the impact her government's policy is having on rural communities when it comes to post offices? If so, what is she going to do to ensure that not a single additional community loses its post office?
117 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:48:51 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I suppose I need to reiterate that Canada Post is a crown agency at arm's length from government. However, we do work together to always ensure that the corporation provides the high-quality service that Canadians expect, at a reasonable price, and that reaches Canadians across the country. We will continue to work with Canada Post to ensure that the corporation continues to meet the evolving needs of Canadians, including changes brought on by the pandemic.
79 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:49:25 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, this month is pride. Just last week, the pride flag was raised on Parliament Hill, showcasing our tremendous support of members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, who continue to face systemic barriers. One in four entrepreneurs have faced discrimination or lost their businesses because of their 2SLGBTQI+ ownership. Can the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development update Canadians on yesterday's historic announcement?
69 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:50:03 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, the entrepreneurs and businesses of the 2SLGBTQI community contribute tremendously to Canada's economy, contributing $22 billion and employing half a million Canadians, yet they face discrimination. A third lose business because of who they are, and 40% are not able to get access to capital or funding. Therefore, yesterday I announced $25 million to help these incredible business owners, businesses and entrepreneurs from the 2SLGBTQI community to empower them to grow their businesses across Canada and contribute—
81 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:50:40 a.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.
10 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:50:45 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, Paul Bernardo is a serial killer and rapist. Vile monsters like him are living more comfortable lives because the Liberals are soft on crime. If they were not, the government would have supported the member for Niagara Falls' motion yesterday to keep mass murderers where they belong, in maximum security. This minister has yet to explain to Canadians how he could sit on the news of Bernardo's transfer to medium security for three months. When will the Prime Minister find the courage to stand up for the victims of monsters like Bernardo?
95 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:51:25 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, first of all, all of us stand up against monsters like Bernardo. That is why we ran: to keep our communities safe. The principle difference is that we are saying we have to use evidence and make sure we use reasoned, levelled arguments. The Correctional Service has always been independent. Yesterday there was UC motion. I find this interesting because when I talk to the opposition House leader, he often tells me that we cannot use UC motions to just blow through the process. He complains that they are used in that way, and then they move a massive change that would change how we deal with corrections. They have said that they should not be used that way.
121 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:52:07 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, three indigenous police services in northern Ontario are out of money because the public safety minister did not bother to renew their contracts. At first I thought it was his staff who did not tell him. However, yesterday that same minister rejected a Conservative motion to keep rapists such as Paul Bernardo where they belong in maximum security. The minister cannot hide behind his staff any longer. When will the minister stand in the House to explain to the victims of Paul Bernardo why he is okay with this monster having more freedom and comfort?
97 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:52:42 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I will say to the victims, not just of Paul Bernardo but of anybody who has faced crime, that we will meet the horror and trauma they are faced with with the best evidence to keep them safe and to make sure that we restore to the best condition possible after what they have gone through. That requires us being reasonable. It requires us not playing politics or attempting to extract partisan gain in dealing with this debate. These are deeply serious crimes, some of the most awful crimes that have ever happened in this country. We cannot and should not play partisan games with them.
108 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:53:22 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, it was this government that introduced into Bill C-83 section 28, which states that all offenders must be placed in the least restrictive environment for them. That is why, yesterday, the member for Niagara Falls asked the House to adopt a unanimous motion to repeal this portion of the section and ensure that offenders such as serial rapists are placed in an environment that contains the necessary restrictions. That is simple. We could have taken action. Yesterday, the Liberals refused. Why?
85 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:54:00 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, Bill C‑83 addressed the issue of solitary confinement. We changed the system to introduce structured intervention units. The Correctional Service of Canada has always had the authority to make such decisions. It is an independent service. It has to be that way. We were open to the idea of reviewing the situation. As the government House leader just said, we have to study bills the right way.
72 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:54:43 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, it is so independent that when the Liberals got caught, they requested a process to review the decision by CSC. If it is so independent, then why did they request a review of the process? They found out about it three months ago. The Prime Minister's Office, his staff, the office of the Minister of Public Safety found out three months ago that Paul Bernardo, that serial rapist, would be transferred to a medium-security institution. That is unacceptable. The victims had the right to know. Why did they refuse to do the right thing and ensure that Mr. Bernardo was returned—
107 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:55:18 a.m.
  • Watch
The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
11 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/16/23 11:55:24 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, let me again clearly explain that the choice to transfer a person who is incarcerated is a choice that is made independently by the correctional service. It is essential that Correctional Service Canada operate independently, free from politics. Now, we are asking Correctional Service Canada to conduct an investigation to determine whether it is possible to change this decision. In two weeks, we will have a response.
69 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border