Judy A. Sgro

In response to a question from Terry Beech

“I support this bill. It takes too long to get projects approved in Canada, which scares away investment. We can protect the environment and still get things built much faster.”

“Mr. Speaker, let me say very clearly that I am so happy that Bill C-39 is moving forward. It will be 26 years next month that I have been here as a member of Parliament, and it takes forever to get anything done. There can be many great intentions, but it takes 10 years to get anything done here, and that is not the way we build a country. If I were to invest somewhere, I would want to invest somewhere where I know things are going to move along quickly. In past practice, over 26 years, everything that I thought would happen quickly, in one year, two years or three years, has taken years. It is overdiscussed and overprocessed. I am very glad that Bill C-39 is moving forward. We have to make sure we do things right, protect our interests and protect the environment, but I believe we can do it all at the same time.”

In response to a question from Mario Beaulieu

“I support this bill. Even though it speeds up reviews, environmental protections stay in place. I trust the environment minister to protect our environment.”

“Mr. Speaker, I believe that all of us have mutual concerns about protecting the environment regarding Bill C-5, Bill C-39 or any other legislation that goes forward that is expedited. However, at the same time, there are different ways of doing things, and I think a lot of the protections we have around the environment remain there and move forward. I am very confident, in hearing the Minister of the Environment, who is very keen on protecting the environment, that the things that would protect the environment as we move forward are in the bill.”

In response to a question from Ellis Ross

“I agree with the member. Indigenous communities must always be included in these discussions, and we should make these decisions together as Canadians.”

“Mr. Speaker, I share the member’s concerns. I believe that every member of the House shares the member’s concerns about ensuring that indigenous communities are at the table 100% of the time. Those discussions are heartfelt. The decisions that will be made should ultimately be made with all of them as a group, and as Canadians together.”

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In response to a question from Kevin Lamoureux

“I want the House to pass this bill. It speeds up the approval process for major building projects and trade routes while still protecting workers, the environment, and Indigenous rights.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to add my comments on this very important piece of legislation today. As we reach a point where we would be moving forward on it, I am glad to have a chance to participate. As I indicated, I am pleased to rise today in support of Bill C-39, the one Canadian economy act. At a time when Canadians are facing profound economic uncertainty, this legislation represents a critical step towards building a stronger, more resilient and more prosperous Canada. The world is changing rapidly. Long-standing assumptions about global trade, supply chains and economic partnerships can no longer be taken for granted. Around the world, countries are reassessing their economic security, looking for reliable partners and working to strengthen their ability to weather external shocks that we hear about every day. In this new environment, Canada has a unique opportunity and it is imperative that we do not allow it to slip away. We are one of the very few countries in the world that possess all the ingredients necessary to succeed in this emerging economic reality. We have abundant natural resources. We have a highly skilled workforce. We have world-class innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs. We have strong democratic institutions, the rule of law and a culture of co-operation that is respected around the world everywhere, including in this House. Most important, we have the capacity not only to build a stronger future for ourselves, but to serve as a trusted partner to other nations that are seeking stable and reliable economic relationships, given the current situation with our partner to the south. As countries look to diversify supply chains and reduce vulnerabilities, Canada can help lead that way. We can strengthen our economic independence while deepening partnerships with like-minded nations. We can help build an international economy rooted in stability, integrity, prosperity and mutual respect. To seize that opportunity, we must be prepared to build. We must be able to develop our resources responsibly. We must be able to construct major infrastructure. We must be able to connect our producers to new markets and we also have to be able to do so at a pace that reflects the urgency of the moment. This is where Bill C-39 comes in. A critical component of this legislation would address one of Canada’s long-standing challenges: our ability to move important projects from proposals to construction in a timely and predictable manner. Canadians rightly expect strong oversight of major projects. They expect rigorous environmental assessments, which we intend to see continue. They expect meaningful consultation and partnership with indigenous communities, something that is very important to all of us here in the House. They expect transparency, accountability and responsible governance. These are not obstacles to progress. They are reflections of the values that define us all as Canadians. The challenge is not that Canada reviews projects. The challenge is that our review processes have too often become fragmented, duplicative and unpredictable. Projects that would create jobs, strengthen supply chains and improve Canada’s competitiveness have too frequently encountered delays that discourage investment and cause opportunities to be lost. Bill C-39 would address that challenge. Our government is creating a faster, more predictable and more coordinated system for project reviews, while fully maintaining the high standards that Canadians expect. The legislation would establish clearer, simpler and more predictable processes for project proponents and indigenous groups participating in consultations. It would provide investors with the certainty they need to put capital to work and have confidence to build in Canada. Through a more coordinated approach to federal approvals and a commitment to timely decisions, we would improve the efficiency of our diligence without compromising the values and protections that Canadians have entrusted us to uphold. That balance is essential. Investors need certainty, workers are looking for opportunity, and communities are looking for growth. Indigenous partners deserve meaningful engagement. Canadians need confidence that important projects are can be built responsibly and efficiently. Bill C-39 attempts to strike that balance. At the heart of every major project, every transportation corridor and every new economic opportunity are Canadian workers. Building a stronger Canada is not simply a matter of policy. It depends on the people who design, construct, operate and maintain the infrastructure that powers our economy. That is why our government would also be modernizing Canada’s labour framework and strengthening protections for workers in federally regulated industries. Changes to the Canada Labour Code would strengthen collective bargaining by helping parties address issues earlier, reach negotiated agreements and resolve disputes, while fully protecting the right to strike that we all respect and acknowledge. Additional measures would modernize labour protections to keep pace with the changing economy. The government would also add 100 new health and safety officers to increase inspection capacity, additional staff to help address complaints before the Canada Industrial Relations Board, and enhanced enforcement measures to crack down on worker misclassification. Together, these improvements would help build a modern, resilient and fair labour relations system that supports good jobs, stable workplaces and a stronger economy. Just as workers are essential to Canada’s future, so too are the transportation networks that connect our products, businesses and communities. Canada’s long-term economic strength depends on efficient trade corridors that link our producers to domestic and and international markets. Bill C-39 would help strengthen Canada’s trade corridors and their ports, move Canadian goods more efficiently, unlock new opportunities and build more resilient supply chains. The legislation would support the designation of strategic trade corridors, reduce bottlenecks, improve coordination of federal permitting and advance priority transportation projects, something that is way overdue. It would also modernize port governance, promote the digitization of trade processes, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and create clearer and more predictable conditions for investment. These measures would help Canadian businesses grow, reach new markets and compete successfully in the global economy while maintaining high standards of safety, security and sustainability. Bill C-39 is about more than reducing red tape. It is about ensuring that Canada is ready for the realities of a changing world. It is about building infrastructure, supply chains, workforce, and regulatory systems that are needed to support the next generation of Canadian prosperity. At a time when nations around the world are searching for stability and reliable partners, Canada has an opportunity to lead. We have the resources. We have the talent. We have the expertise. We have the institutions. What is required now is the determination to act. That is what Bill C-39 is about.”

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  “Changes to the Canada Labour Code will strengthen collective bargaining by helping parties address issues earlier, reach negotiated agreements and resolve disputes, while fully protecting the right to strike.”

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In response to a question from Lisa Hepfner

“Changes to protect women's rights have been too slow, but we have made progress over the last decade. Our government will keep passing laws to better protect women and children.”

“Mr. Speaker, a ton of changes have happened, but they have all been too slow. It seems that it takes a long time to start to really understand some of the difficulties different people, women in particular, are facing. I am very proud of what has happened in the last 10 or 12 years as, really, women’s rights have been getting the attention they need as we all move forward collectively to ensure that women’s rights are protected. We will make sure that women such as those I met a couple of weeks ago know that their government is concerned about them and will continue to move forward legislation that will better protect them and better protect our children.”

In response to a question from Gabriel Ste-Marie

“I want the House to pass this bill. It will protect victims, help more people report crimes, and keep children safe from predators.”

“Mr. Speaker, different people have different opinions. We are very confident that Bill C-16 would accomplish exactly what we want it to do: protect victims, encourage more people to come forward, and look after our children and protect them from the many predators who unfortunately continue to be out there.”

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“When we write laws, we must make sure they follow the Charter of Rights. If we let our emotions guide us instead, courts will strike the laws down.”

“Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague is very serious about the concerns he has, as well as the rest of us, but when members are on the government side of the House and crafting legislation, we have to make sure that it is going to withstand charter challenges. We have seen too many times that we have reacted with our hearts, not necessarily with our heads, and brought in things that ended up being challenged, with court cases thrown out completely because the legislation we introduced reflected our emotions, not necessarily our responsibility, which is to make sure that the laws of the land are charter-proof.”

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“I support this bill. It protects victims of violence and children from online abuse, makes controlling partners a crime, gives more rights to victims, and speeds up court cases.”

“Mr. Speaker, as always, it is great to see you in the chair. I am pleased today to rise in support of Bill C-16 the protecting victims act. At its core, this legislation reflects something very fundamental: that our justice system must do much more to protect those who are the most vulnerable, especially children and survivors of violence; and that it must adapt to reflect the realities that they face today. Before I speak to the details of the bill, I do want to begin by acknowledging the strength and the courage of survivors. The member for Niagara South, last week or the week before, hosted a meeting that many of us were invited to and we listened to half a dozen women who were victims. They were there to speak of their position as being victims of sexual violence and so on, but also of their concerns that the perpetrators were not getting strong enough sentences. The victims have a life sentence because they will carry that abuse for their entire life, whereas the abusers seem to get very minimal sentences of 18 months or two years, which seem so very minimal. I very much agree with those individuals who were speaking. They were still very distraught about what had happened to them many years before and frustrated by the lack of penalties for the abusers. Whether the issue for those who came forward to tell stories is intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation or abuse of children, they want change and that is what Bill C-16 would bring. Their experiences were deeply moving and their points were well received. They are a powerful reminder that our justice system must continue to evolve, not in theory but in practice, so that it truly meets the needs of those it is meant to protect. Bill C-16 represents one of the most significant updates to our criminal justice system in generations. It would do so through four clear objectives: tackling gender-based violence, protecting children from predators, strengthening victims’ rights and addressing court delays. Each of these pillars speaks directly to issues that the survivors I heard from two weeks ago, advocates and experts have been raising for years. First, with respect to gender-based violence, this bill would recognize something that has too often been overlooked: that violence does not begin with physical harm. It often begins, as my other colleagues have mentioned, with patterns of control, including coercion, intimidation and manipulation, that escalate over time. By introducing a new offence for coercive and controlling conduct, this legislation would allow earlier intervention before violence becomes lethal. This is critical. It reflects again what survivors and frontline organizations have told us, which is that warning signs are often present but we have not always had the legal tools to respond to them. The bill would also ensure that murders committed in contexts such as coercive control, sexual violence or exploitation are recognized with the seriousness that they warrant. These are not isolated acts. They are part of a continuum of violence. This legislation would begin to reflect that reality in law. Second, with respect to protecting children, the need for action is urgent. We know that the nature of exploitation has changed. Predators are increasingly using digital platforms to groom, manipulate and extort children. Bill C-16 responds directly to those threats. It would strengthen offences related to child luring and sextortion; criminalize emerging forms of abuse, including the use of threats and digital content; and reinforce accountability through stronger penalties. It would also ensure that law enforcement and the justice system would be equipped to respond to the new technologies, including the use of AI-generated sexual deepfakes, which can be used to exploit and harm victims. For children and families navigating these deeply traumatic experiences, these measures are not abstract. They are essential protections. Third, this legislation would strengthen victims’ rights. We know that, for many victims, the justice system can be overwhelming. Victims often struggle to access information, to understand processes and to have their voices heard. Bill C-16 would build on the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights by improving access to information, expanding participation and ensuring that victims are treated with dignity and respect. It would also expand access to supports such as testimonial aids, helping reduce the risk of retraumatization when individuals come forward. These are practical changes, but they are also deeply meaningful. They would help ensure that victims are not simply observers in the justice process, but participants whose experiences matter. Fourth, and critically, the bill addresses court delays. Delays are not just procedural issues. They have real consequences. We have seen serious cases, including those involving sexual violence, collapse entirely because of delays. For victims, this can be devastating. It can mean that after coming forward, after reliving their trauma, there is no resolution and no accountability. Bill C-16 introduces measures to reduce these outcomes, requiring courts to consider alternatives before stays of proceedings, streamlining procedures and clarifying just how these delays are assessed. These changes in Bill C-16 are about ensuring that cases are heard and that justice is not lost to process. What is important about this legislation, as well, is not just any single measure, but its collective impact. The bill recognizes that violence today is complex and evolving. It reflects the rise of digital exploitation affecting our children, the realities of coercive control, the vulnerabilities of children online and the ongoing challenges victims face within the system. It also responds to what we have heard from commissions, experts and communities across the country that earlier intervention, stronger protections and a more responsive justice system are needed. At the same time, it is important to ground this work in principle. We must ensure that victims are treated with care, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that those who come forward are supported, informed and respected throughout the process. We must continue building a system where survivors can have confidence not only that they will be heard, but that the system will respond in an appropriate manner. No single piece of legislation will resolve all the challenges. We know there are gaps that will remain. We also know that continued investment in prevention, in services and in supports will always be essential, but legislation like Bill C-16 is a critical part of that work. It provides the tools. It sets the standards and it signals clearly that protecting victims, especially children, is not optional. It is a fundamental responsibility of us all. I am proud to be part of a government that is taking meaningful steps, both in law and in practice. I appreciate the fact that the opposition is supporting this bill and has helped move it along. In closing, this bill is more than legal reform. It is about ensuring that survivors are heard, victims are protected, and those women who I met from Niagara South two weeks ago can look at Bill C-16 and know that we were thinking of them when we put this forward. It is about ensuring that those who are the most vulnerable are not overlooked, but supported with care, dignity and action. For all of these reasons, I am proud to support Bill C-16 and appreciate the support of all of the opposition.”

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  “Strengthening victims' rights and addressing court delays.”

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