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Justice

During question period on justice, Conservative members asked why non-citizens who commit violent crimes — including armed robberies, a strangulation conviction, and two men accused in a Stoney Creek murder — remain in Canada despite removal efforts, and what the government is doing to deport them. Liberal ministers replied that the government has brought forward major criminal law changes, including stricter bail rules and tougher penalties for repeat violent offenders, that serious offenders can face removal, and that no rule requires judges to adjust sentences based on immigration status, which the Supreme Court addressed in 2013. Liberals also said Conservatives have been delaying passage of the protecting victims act, while Conservatives pointed to victims still in shelters and removals held up at the border.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Larry Brock

Conservative
“A non-citizen committed violent armed robberies years ago and is still in Canada. The government refuses to deport him. I want to know why the government protects this violent criminal instead of keeping Canadians safe.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are sick and tired of watching violent criminals get chance after chance while victims pay the price. A non-citizen committed multiple violent crimes in 2019. Seven years later, he is still in Canada. He carried out two robberies at gunpoint and pistol-whipped another victim, yet somehow, these Liberals keep protecting him from deportation. We Conservatives fought to end sentencing discounts for serious criminals. They voted against it. Why is avoiding deportation more important than protecting Canadians from violent criminals?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal

Linked statement

“The opposition member just tried to slow down a bill that protects victims, so his criticism on crime makes no sense. Our government is strengthening criminal laws, bail rules, and penalties to protect victims and fight hate. There is no rule forcing judges to change sentences based on someone's immigration status. We trust independent judges to choose the right punishment.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to take seriously charges of not taking crime seriously with harms falling to victims from a member who, just a few hours ago, was opposing efforts to speed up the adoption of the protecting victims act. We have launched one of the most ambitious agendas when it comes to criminal law reform, when it comes to bail reform, when it comes to strengthening sentencing, and when it comes to protecting victims and combatting hate. With respect to the issue that the member mentioned, he knows there is no rule that requires sentences to be adjusted for immigration status. We support the decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada and trust the judiciary to implement the law with fit sentences, independent of politics.

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Larry Brock

Conservative
“Violent criminals are getting light sentences and avoiding deportation, while victims suffer. I want the government to stop helping violent criminals stay in Canada and start supporting victims.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians continue to watch violent offenders get lighter sentences, avoid deportation and stay in this country year after year. In Kitchener, a non-citizen strangled his wife in front of their child. He was found guilty. The victim and her child are now living in a shelter. He remains in Canada. Under these Liberals, violent offenders get sentencing discounts, delayed deportation and endless second, third and fourth chances, while victims get nothing but excuses. When will these Liberals stop bending over backwards to help violent criminals avoid deportation and start standing up for victims for a change?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal
“We must speak out against violent crimes, especially by repeat offenders. Our government wants to make big changes to our criminal laws. We want stricter bail rules and harsher sentences for violent repeat offenders and organized crime members. People who commit serious violent crimes should face serious penalties, including being sent out of the country.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is clear, with respect to the individual circumstances that the member referred to, that all members of Parliament must condemn heinous and violent crimes, particularly when it comes to repeat offenders. Now we have to ask ourselves what we want to do about that. On this side of the House, we want to move forward with the most ambitious set of reforms when it comes to the criminal law in this country that Canada has seen in generations. That includes more serious conditions on bail. That includes stiffer sentences for violent repeat offenders and those tied to organized crime. That includes allowing the courts to make decisions about fit sentences. When someone commits a serious and violent crime, they should face serious penalties, including deportation—

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Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“Two men accused of murder in Stoney Creek are refugee claimants. Border officers want to remove them from Canada, but face roadblocks. The minister is not doing enough to deport non-citizens who commit serious crimes. I want to know why.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, two of the five men accused of murdering a teenager in a terrifying Stoney Creek shooting linked to the GTA tow truck wars are refugee claimants. A source from the CBSA told the Toronto Sun that although they want to remove these individuals from Canada, they keep facing countless roadblocks. The minister does not do anything to make sure that government departments will deport non-citizens who commit serious crimes like murder. The residents of Stoney Creek and all Canadians want to know and demand to know why.

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Peter Fragiskatos

Liberal
“The Conservatives keep blocking changes to the justice system. Police chiefs and voters support these changes. Also, the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that a person's immigration status does not change their sentence.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, time and again throughout the parliamentary session, the Conservatives have stood in the way of genuine, real and historic criminal justice reform. They will continue to do so, I suppose, but they should listen to their constituents, who want to see real reform. They should review the comments of police chiefs across the country, who have spoken in favour of exactly what the government is doing on these issues. With respect to the issue of non-residents or non-citizens, he knows very well, or should, that in 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada made clear that courts, and justices in particular, can take note of the immigration status of an individual but that does not impact upon sentencing.

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