A bill to change many criminal laws, mostly about gender-based violence, and amend several other acts too. Creates new crimes like 'coercive control' in intimate partner relationships. Changes rules around things like distributing sexual images. Strengthens penalties for some child sex crimes but also gives judges ways around mandatory minimums if they deem it 'cruel and unusual.' Conservatives focused on prison time in their speeches and accused the Liberals of going too soft. Liberals focused on the bill protecting victims.
“I am saying nice things about a bill that spends more money and creates more laws, because it makes me feel good. I really want this bill to pass. It will put more people in jail for longer. I spent many years as a social worker and I saw many sad things. We need to spend more money to stop sad things.”
“I want you to know that I like my colleague and worked with victims and survivors. I think judges need flexibility and we need to tell victims there will be serious consequences for offenders.”
“I think it's important to understand the whole situation before laying charges. I met with people as a frontline worker and I want to recognize all the circumstances that lead to intimate partner violence.”
“I hope our colleague gets better. Can the member talk about why it's important to make sharing non-consensual intimate images illegal in Bill C-16? I think it's a terrible thing, especially for women.”
“It is very important that we pass Bill C-16 as quickly as possible. Non-consensual intimate images can ruin lives and create chaos. We must do something to stop this.”
“I'm telling you about a bill that spends money and makes laws to protect women and girls. This bill does many things. It makes new crimes. It changes old crimes. It spends money. It changes rules. The government should do all these things to help women and girls. The government should spend lots of money. The government should make more laws. If you vote for this bill, you are helping women and girls.”
“I want to make the bill sound as good and effective as possible. More people should trust in our system, even if they don't need to testify. And it should cover modern technology too.”
“I want this bill to pass. It will make our party look like we're doing something about predators. Don't worry, the judges still get to decide what happens.”
“I want the Conservatives on our side for this bill. See, even their old critic agreed with us once. Let's pile on and make them look like they're changing their minds now.”
“I want this bill to pass. It does wonderful things! Coercive control will be a crime now. Some killings will count as first-degree murder. We kept some mandatory minimums too. The Conservatives just don't want to support it. They used to want that safety valve option. Why are they so against making communities safer? They should let this bill pass.”
