What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

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Government Orders

Protecting Victims Act

A very long bill to increase government power over Canadians' digital lives and data, including making it easier for the state to obtain info on people from telecom companies and online service providers. During discussion, the Conservatives nitpicked specific provisions while the Liberals talked up the bill's benefits, and both sides traded barbs about being soft on crime and supporting victims.

Official Hansard ↗

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“Those Conservative obstructionists wasted everyone's time in committee. Look at me supporting the bill and being reasonable. Why won't the Conservatives stop playing games and get on board?”
Our translation 63% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“Why didn't you vote for our amendment? It was good. It would have improved legal support.”
Our translation 68% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“Do you agree with the parts of this bill that do what your committee recommended? Did you try to convince other Conservatives to support it?”
Our translation 76% shorter

Xavier Barsalou-Duval

Bloc Québécois
“I want to dig up dirt on Liberal ties to a trucking lobby. I hope you Conservatives will help me.”
Our translation 85% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I want to look like I care about protecting women, but I'm really just setting up a complaint that this bill doesn't solve everything. I'll talk a lot without saying much.”
Our translation 65% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I'm talking a lot about a bill I support. I want more money for housing, shelters, and services for women who experience abuse. I want to make a normal crime really bad by calling it 'coercive control.' I say Quebec knows how to spend the money better than Canada. I hint the bill is not enough but I still support it.”
Our translation 95% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I want to say the Liberals messed up by voting against our amendments. I want to talk about those same amendments again another time.”
Our translation 83% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“I want to agree with my colleague. I want to criticize government for getting in the way of organizations that help abused women. I want to know if there are concrete steps the government can take to be more consistent with Quebec.”
Our translation 63% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“Mr. Speaker, this government program doesn't seem to be working. We don't know what it will amount to. We have questions. Women are stuck. They need help. The steps are being delayed. I think more needs to be done to help women escape the cycle of violence.”
Our translation 81% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I support this bill because it adds back some mandatory minimums, like my party wanted. I want us to vote on it now and pass it. We can always make more changes later. I want to work on helping victims and survivors. The other side is spreading misinformation.”
Our translation 65% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I want coercive control in the Criminal Code. Police say that will help them intervene sooner. The most important thing is to listen to victims.”
Our translation 75% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“Ten women murdered is terrible. I want to stop men from controlling women. This bill will help a bit. Pets are protected now too. Conservatives tried to slow it down but we got it done anyway. It has some gaps, but I still want it to pass. I watched a lot of porn for my job. I worry someone might take pictures of me. That would be bad. We have to do something.”
Our translation 91% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“I don't like political games. We should work together on serious issues. Put people first.”
Our translation 81% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“You criticized a deal. I want to shame you for saying that out loud.”
Our translation 83% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I'm boasting my party worked on a bill. My party wants to be seen on the side of victims. I want to pressure you to spend more money.”
Our translation 82% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“I want to pressure you to spend more money.”
Our translation 40% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“You're annoying me. I'm going to annoy you back. I want attention and money for my cause.”
Our translation 83% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“I'm ashamed of you. Stop bickering. This bill is important. I tried to make it better and you didn't listen to me.”
Our translation 91% shorter

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois
“I think the other parties are voting based on their party loyalty. I want the Conservatives to vote for this bill even though it doesn't do everything they want. This bill does some good. It helps some victims now. Conservatives should ignore their party and vote based on their conscience.”
Our translation 38% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“The victims say we need this bill. I want the government to pass it. We can fix the last 1% later. I want more money for other programs too. We should pass this quickly and move on to more spending.”
Our translation 80% shorter