Hon. Adam van Koeverden · TranslatePolitics.ca

Oral Questions

Sport

2026-06-11

“I want taxpayers to spend a billion dollars on soccer and cheer for my government while we do it.”

Oral Questions

The Economy

2026-06-08

“The Conservatives keep asking the same questions about the economy being bad. I think they should ask about something else. The economy is actually good. Lots of Canadians have jobs.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it seems that the Conservatives' photocopier is out of toner, because they have all received the exact same photocopy of the exact same question. It is too bad that the Conservative leader does not trust his MPs to ask an original question. Perhaps they might ask about their local businesses or something that is happening in their own province. It is the same question over and again. We have to stick to the facts. Canada's economy is growing. In fact, Canada has surpassed the U.S. when it comes to having a higher employment rate. The Canadian economy, because Canadians are working hard, added 88,000 jobs in the last month. We have a plan and we are working hard to make sure that Canadians are getting ahead.

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Oral Questions

The Economy

2026-06-05

“I like my friend across the aisle. Too bad he has to throw insults. We're going to stay positive. Look at all the new jobs. Many in construction. That's good for his riding. Let's build the country up. We have a plan.”

Government Orders

2026-06-04

“I'm filling time by talking about my colleague's work and the government's focus on crime legislation. Court delays are a provincial issue, but I want to look like I'm doing something by talking about them. I'm also trying to shift blame to Premier Doug Ford by bringing up a recent news story about prisoners being released.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague, the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime, for her question and for all of her work on this legislation and many other pieces of legislation. It is worthwhile to mention that fully two-thirds of the legislation tabled by this government over the last year has been to address crime and to focus on fixing our justice system. I would just highlight that the court delays are largely a provincial jurisdiction. The court in Halton region is very close to my constituency office, so oftentimes we hear from constituents who are concerned about those delays. It is an aging court. Unfortunately, it is one that does not have the capacity to deal with the growing population in Halton region and throughout Peel. I would also just highlight that we have seen in the news lately that Premier Doug Ford is very concerned about how 156 criminals were released from prison without an explanation. It is very easy to blame one level of government or another, but we are working together to solve these problems.

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“I want to pass this bill quickly. I don't want to debate it more. I want to look like I'm solving problems.”

“I don't want to lock up more criminals for longer. I want to spend money on other things I call upstream solutions. Then there will be less crime and victims will be protected.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I understand the member's concerns. I am a strong believer that our job in this House is not to play judge and jury; our job is to create the framework legal system to protect people and to protect victims. That is what the bill seeks to do: protect victims, expedite the justice system, and ensure that justice is served and victims are protected. I also strongly believe that we need to invest more in upstream solutions, because simply suggesting that everything is in place for a safe society and we could not do anything to prevent crime is also not a responsible approach. We are taking a balanced approach, investing in upstream solutions while also ensuring that the legal system has everything it needs in order to ensure that justice is served.

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“I want to pass this bill to add more flexibility so judges can avoid staying criminal cases. More government spending on sports will reduce crime.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today at third reading to speak in support of Bill C-16 and the Government of Canada's continued response to criminal justice system delays. Before I start, I would like to express gratitude to all members of the committee who have worked hard and diligently on this legislation. To start, I would like to highlight three measures proposed in Bill C-16 to address delays. First, Bill C-16 would introduce greater flexibility to courts in ordering alternative remedies to address unreasonable delays. Currently, once a court determines that there has been unreasonable delay, in breach of section 11(b) of the charter, a stay of proceedings is the only available remedy recognized by the common law. While Bill C-16 would not preclude ordering a stay of proceedings, it would, however, direct the courts to consider it a remedy of last resort after considering whether other remedies are appropriate and just under the circumstances. Courts would need to take into account specific factors like the impact a stay of proceedings is likely to have on the victim and the interests that society has in a final decision. Requiring that a stay of proceedings be considered as a remedy of last resort would also ensure greater consistency with how charter remedies are considered in other contexts. Alternative remedies would not be codified. Instead, it would be open to the courts to determine what would be most appropriate, depending on the circumstances of the case. Each remedy could be tailored to rectify the harm suffered by the accused while preserving the public interest in having criminal cases decided on their merits. For example, a court could make an order to expedite proceedings or the trial itself, sever charges for cases involving multiple co-accused or change the venue of the trial. Courts could also consider making an order to change the mode of trial, for example, by ordering a jury trial to proceed by judge alone where applicable and with the consent of the accused. Second, Bill C-16 would provide courts with additional guidance on assessing case complexity. The Jordan framework recognizes that some cases are inherently more complex and may justifiably take longer to complete, for example, cases with significant disclosure or particularly complex types of evidence. Bill C-16 would preserve the existing approach, determining whether a case is complex under the Jordan framework, but would require courts to consider specific additional factors when the case involves applications or motions. This proposal responds directly to the reality that in recent years, increased reliance on applications and motions has become a significant source of delay in some jurisdictions, for example, in cases involving sexual offences and organized crime. These proceedings can be important in ensuring the accused's right to a fair trial, but they also require time and resources that are often beyond the control of the judge. Importantly, all existing common law factors that the courts currently consider in determining whether a case is complex would continue to apply. The intent is not to replace those factors but rather to ensure that courts are recognizing the procedural complexities of modern criminal litigation and accounting for the cascading effect that applications and motions can have on delays. While Bill C-16 seeks to address delays in the justice system to protect victims and would ensure that justice is being served for the most egregious crimes and offences, our new government is also addressing crime by investing in upstream solutions and preventative measures. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, investing in sport results in lower crime. This may seem implausible or unconvincing to some, but I want to emphasize what a significant and serious upstream investment sport represents in an effort to create safer communities while promoting positive social development and building resilience, particularly among at-risk youth. Sport provides a safe environment for families and youth to learn life skills, develop social capital and engage in activities that reduce the risk of crime and violence. By fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for youth to participate in sports, societies can create safer and more stable environments. Our government's recent generational investment of $755 million in sport will support sport development for youth and also offer families more opportunities to learn and grow their skills and to meet new friends and mentors. According to experts, sociologists, psychologists, crime prevention researchers and law enforcement across Canada, sport will also help build a stronger, safer Canada for all. To conclude, Bill C-16 takes a careful and balanced approach to addressing criminal justice system delays. It responds to the real and lasting harm caused by stays of proceedings, particularly for victims. It would also provide courts with carefully tailored tools to ensure that justice is not only swift but fair and meaningful. Bill C-16 reflects this government's commitment to a criminal justice system that protects constitutional rights while maintaining public confidence and delivering justice on the merits. I urge all members of the House to support this important legislation.

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Oral Questions

Points of Order

2026-06-04

“I'm filling time with kind words. The government will spend money and pass laws.”

Oral Questions

Artificial Intelligence

2026-06-04

“What she said is a real problem. But look at all these nice bills! Our nice bills will fix everything. Please don't worry about the details or whether they work. No no, these are very good bills that protect you.”

“I'm saying nice things about AI to make our government look good. We want people to think we're doing something important. Please ignore the lack of specifics.”

Oral Questions

The Economy

2026-06-02

“I want you to be ashamed for opposing my party's policies. We are helping families in your riding with benefits and jobs. You are not helping because you criticize our policies and read the same speeches. I want to talk about my party's help for families instead of answering your points directly.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are busy making jobs happen in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek while that member votes against policies that support families in his riding, like the Canada child benefit, dental and the groceries and essentials benefit. That member is cherry-picking things out of the groceries and essentials benefit and from Food Banks Canada. He should be ashamed of himself. We are following the instructions from Food Banks Canada. We are putting on the record that we are here to help families with jobs and with the groceries and essentials benefit. All the Conservatives can do is read the same tired speeches from their leader into the record over and over again, while we are busy, on this side, helping Canadians.

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“I don't like that you think tariffs and wars don't affect the economy. The government is helping people. You voted against our programs. I don't like that.”

Oral Questions

Sport

2026-05-27

“We are spending $750 million dollars on the Olympics because it makes us feel proud.”

“The government is spending $755 million on sports because it's popular and makes people feel good.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my friend and colleague from Mississauga East—Cooksville knows what it takes to be an Olympic medallist, an Olympian. He has raced the marathon at the Olympic Games for team Canada, so I thank him very much. Today we welcome the 2026 team Canada Olympic and Paralympic athletes to Parliament Hill. Every time team Canada athletes compete, they represent our country and wear the maple leaf. It makes us proud. Our world-class teams and athletes deserve a world-class sport system. That is why we are building Canada strong, from playground to podium, by investing over $755 million into the Canadian sport system over the next five years to improve access to higher sport participation, host more international sporting events and support our incredible national team athletes.

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Oral Questions

Taxation

2026-05-25

“My party gives people free money and programs. Your party voted against it. My party will keep spending money to buy votes. Your party is bad and wrong.”

Oral Questions

Finance

2026-04-28

“Don't look at all the spending and debt! Look at the nice things we bought with it instead.”

“I want the member to admit she will cut popular benefit programs. Government spending is good for my riding. People in my riding use these programs. My programs help people. Cuts would be bad. The member has bad plans. I don't like her plans.”

Oral Questions

Sport

2026-04-27

“We're spending $6.2 million dollars on mental health programs for national athletes. Vote for us if you want to cheer for Team Canada.”

Oral Questions

Finance

2026-04-27

“The Conservatives don't get it. Spending on this stuff is good. We should totally do more of it. It helps people, man.”

Oral Questions

Finance

2026-04-24

“I want to cheer for popular programs my party created. I want voters to feel these spending promises are at risk. If I scare voters about losing benefits they might keep voting for us.”