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 ↗

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I want to brag about how much more seriously we take this than the other party. They tried to end debate early and some even missed the vote. That's childish. We're the serious ones.”
Our translation 82% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I'm filling time by saying the other party is worse. I'm saying my party is good. Blame the other party!”
Our translation 97% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“We're never wrong. We make everything better. We should get credit for trying to help. Those other guys lie and get in the way. They only care about themselves. They don't care about people like we do. They're very, very bad. Bad, bad, bad. We're good. Me good.”
Our translation 97% shorter

Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“You messed up. Your bad laws put a criminal out on bail. You voted for bad things. You voted against good things. You're lying now. It's your fault, not ours.”
Our translation 79% shorter

Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“I want to shame you. I don't like what you said.”
Our translation 52% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I don't like you Conservatives. Your filibusters make me sad. You should stop opposing us.”
Our translation 90% 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

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I want Canadians to feel we're doing something to help victims. Our bill will give them information without having to ask, and let them testify in easier ways. It's all about the victims, not about us.”
Our translation 76% shorter

Kristina Tesser Derksen

Liberal
“I want to complain about some misinformation I claim Conservatives are spreading online about our bill. I used to help abused women as a lawyer. A constituent asked me about a video from a former Conservative MP. I don't like how they're making it harder for us to pass our bill.”
Our translation 63% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I'm filling time by accusing the Conservatives of always spreading misinformation. Mandatory minimums would only be used sometimes under our bill. Conservatives are misleading people about what the bill does. It's sad they're lying to everyone. Our bill protects kids and that's good.”
Our translation 64% shorter

Hon. Mike Lake

Conservative
“Crime went up a lot since your government came in. Maybe you should say you're sorry for passing bad laws that made that happen.”
Our translation 74% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“You researched a lot to try to make us look bad. But really, you got in the way. You should stop getting in the way. Things would be safer if you let us pass bills.”
Our translation 75% shorter

Iqra Khalid

Liberal
“You're asking good questions. But you should stop getting in the way. Let us pass bills. Things would be safer if you let this bill pass.”
Our translation 68% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I want you to vote for my coercive control bill. I think it is good. Stop criticizing it.”
Our translation 80% shorter

Dominique O'Rourke

Liberal
“Someone in another party said something mean. I want you to apologize and look bad.”
Our translation 71% shorter

Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“Too often, victims are not the focus of our justice system. They are left feeling overwhelmed, ignored, and unsupported. This bill claims to protect victims, but it also includes a major change that deserves attention. It would make mandatory minimum sentences optional, which would weaken accountability for serious crimes. Canadians expect consistency and consequences when it comes to serious offenses. Creating a way around mandatory minimums undermines public trust in the justice system. I will vote against this aspect of the bill because protecting victims means ensuring that mandatory minimums remain mandatory, not optional. My community should know that I support measures to protect victims of intimate partner violence, child exploitation, and sexual violence. What I don't support is weakening accountability for offenders while victims struggle to rebuild their lives.”
Our translation 91% shorter

Iqra Khalid

Liberal
“I want you to vote for my bill. I'll say that you don't care about victims if you don't. I'm ignoring your point about mandatory minimum penalties. I'll talk about a different part of the bill that sounds good. I won't talk about whether the bill actually does what I say. You're either with me or against victims. I want this bill to pass no matter what.”
Our translation 48% shorter

Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“I'm not voting against helping victims. I'm against making mandatory minimums optional. I don't want judges to decide if the offender gets time. I would vote to help victims of violence. I wanted the government to change the bill and take out the part about mandatory minimums. The government didn't work with us. That's the real story.”
Our translation 49% 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

Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“I'm focusing on one small part of the bill that I don't like. The rest of the bill is fine, but that one part is a dealbreaker for me. I won't support the whole thing because of that one piece.”
Our translation 44% shorter