Justice

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5 statements

Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Liberal
“We wrote these public safety laws by listening to police, provincial governments, and victims' groups, instead of listening to Conservatives shouting in the House. I believe we made the right choice.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we had a choice of who to listen to when it came to actually developing measures that were going to promote public safety in this country: Conservative members, who would simply yell and make noise on the floor of the House of Commons, or those who have dedicated their lives and careers to demand better public safety outcomes for Canadians. We chose to work with police who work on the ground to improve public safety. We chose to work with provincial governments that have the responsibility to administer the justice system of their province, and we worked with advocacy organizations that defended the interests of victims. I think we made the right choice.

Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Liberal
“Canadians already have the right to defend themselves in their homes. We also changed the law to make bail harder to get and sentences tougher for violent home invasions, especially those tied to organized crime. These changes are working, but we still have more to do.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, protecting the ability of Canadians to defend themselves in their own home is absolutely a priority that we share. Thankfully, that is what the law provides for today, but we took it a step further by implementing changes to the Criminal Code, which are now the law of Canada, that ensure there is a reverse onus when we have violent home invasions for someone seeking to have bail. It ensures that there is potential for tougher sentences when there are violent home invasions, particularly when they are tied to organized crime. We are seized with the issue. We are working, and as a result of the measures we put in place, we are seeing progress across the country. The job is not done, but we are trending in the right direction.

Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Liberal
“I send my condolences to the family hurt by this crime. Everyone deserves to be safe at home. Our government has already introduced strong laws to fix bail, toughen sentences, and protect victims. These laws will keep Canadians safe.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, first of all, we send our deepest condolences to the family impacted by this horrific incident. All of us in this House share the need for safety and security in someone’s home. However, I will be very clear: We brought forward significant legislation, the most comprehensive criminal justice legislation in a generation, including stronger sentencing as well as bail reform and including protection of victims’ rights. These are critical pieces of legislation that will ensure the safety and security of Canadians over the long term.

Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Liberal
“We already passed big laws to make bail and sentencing tougher and to protect victims' rights. The Conservatives did not support those laws. Now the provinces need to enforce them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have brought forward transformational legislation to protect those who are suffering from the scourge of issues such as home invasion. We have in place Bill C-14, which strengthens bail as well as sentencing. We have Bill C-16, which ensures victims’ rights are protected. These are transformational pieces of legislation. Unfortunately, the party opposite did not give us its support. It is important that these pieces of legislation are implemented and that is what we look to the provinces to do.

Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Liberal
“Our bill protects Canadians and victims of crime. We need the opposition to work with us on it. We do not need small, piecemeal bills that miss the bigger picture.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I repeat: We have brought forward significant legislation that will protect Canadians in their homes and on the streets, as well as those victims who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. What we need right now is collaboration from the opposition. We do not need piecemeal pieces of a private member’s bill that does not look at the bigger picture. That is why we have brought forward the most comprehensive criminal justice legislation in a generation.

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