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Public Safety

During question period on public safety, Conservative MP Arpan Khanna raised a drug lab shutdown near Norwich and arrests in Woodstock, saying accused drug dealers were released on bail and blaming the government’s bail laws, border policies, and unfulfilled promises to hire 1,000 more RCMP officers and 1,000 border guards, citing a shortage of 3,400 RCMP officers. Liberal ministers Sean Fraser and Ruby Sahota responded that the government is bringing in the bail and sentencing reform act with tougher penalties and conditions, and tools for police to catch drug traffickers, and said the Conservatives have delayed that legislation. They urged Conservative support to pass it.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Arpan Khanna

Conservative
“Police shut down a big drug lab near Norwich, but drug dealers in Woodstock were released on bail. Liberal laws are letting criminals go and failing to protect our communities. Fifty thousand Canadians have died from drug overdoses under this government. When will the government crack down on these criminals?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the RCMP and CBSA, a massive multi-million-dollar drug lab was shut down near Norwich. In Woodstock, drug dealers pushing fentanyl and cocaine were arrested, but then released on bail. Liberal weak-on-crime, catch-and-release and open border policies are destroying our communities. Under their watch, 50,000 Canadians have lost their lives due to drug overdoses. When will the Liberals crack down on these criminals and protect our communities?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal
“We are changing Canada's criminal laws to make bail harder to get and punishments tougher. The Conservatives have been slowing this down, but we will pass these strong changes with or without their help.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 45 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have good news to share with my hon. colleague. He will be well aware of the fact that we are in the midst of moving forward with generational changes to Canada’s criminal laws, including the bail and sentencing reform act, which would lead to stiffer penalties and harder conditions on bail for the very criminals he raises in his question. The only question that I have is whether the Conservatives, after months of obstruction in the justice committee, will finally be collaborative now that they know there is a majority Liberal government that will implement the strongest criminal reforms we have seen in years, with or without their assistance.

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Arpan Khanna

Conservative
“The Liberals broke their promises to hire more police officers and border guards, leaving us thousands of officers short. Illegal guns and drugs keep entering the country. I want the government to take real action to protect Canadians.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the police are doing their jobs, but it is this Liberal government that is failing Canadians. The Liberals promised 1,000 new RCMP officers and 1,000 new border guards, but they failed to deliver them. The AG says that, in Canada, we are short 3,400 RCMP officers. Meanwhile, illegal guns and illegal drugs keep pouring across our borders and into our communities. Will the Liberals stop recycling their speeches and finally act to protect Canadians?

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Ruby Sahota

Liberal
“Our government has made the criminal law tougher than ever. We proposed new laws to help police catch drug dealers, but the Conservatives delayed them. I hope the Conservatives will now support this help for police.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have implemented the strongest tightening of the Criminal Code of Canada ever in the history of this Parliament. We are putting forward legislation that would provide law enforcement with the tools they need to catch drug traffickers, but the Conservatives have delayed many of these tools. Lawful access should have been passed months ago. Finally, now it is at the committee stage, and I hope the Conservatives listen to law enforcement and provide them with the help they need.

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