Discussion · Government Orders
Jamie Schmale Conservative
“People in Richmond are worried about their homes and businesses because of a recent court decision. The government says it protects property owners, but its lawyers stopped defending basic property rights in court years ago. How can it win in court now when it gave up that argument earlier?”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for Richmond Centre—Marpole’s speech was amazing. He is very passionate about the issue, given that the Cowichan decision affects a portion of his riding. He deals every day with people who are worried about the future of their homes and businesses. Maybe we can talk about the government, in 2018, deciding that its lawyers would stop arguing for fee simple property. I think that is the crux of the issue. To that point, the government says it stands up for fee simple property owners, but maybe the member could opine on how the government expects to win a court case with an argument it cannot use in appeal because it did not use it in the lower court.”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, the member for Richmond Centre—Marpole’s speech was amazing. He is very passionate about the issue, given that the Cowichan decision affects a portion of his riding. He deals every day with people who are worried about the future of their homes and businesses. Maybe we can talk about the government, in 2018, deciding that its lawyers would stop arguing for fee simple property. I think that is the crux of the issue. To that point, the government says it stands up for fee simple property owners, but maybe the member could opine on how the government expects to win a court case with an argument it cannot use in appeal because it did not use it in the lower court.