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Justice

In question period on justice, Conservatives raised the case of Shane Ertmoed, who killed 10-year-old Heather Thomas and was granted a 60-day unescorted absence from prison to take cooking classes, asking whether the Prime Minister would change parole rules and meet with Heather’s mother. The public safety minister said the incident was abhorrent but that the Parole Board makes decisions independently, and that the government works with victims and survivors. Another Conservative cited Nathan Deslippe’s murder and asked the government to reform the parole system to put victims first; the Liberals said they were open to reform and noted the Conservatives last changed the relevant law. Conservatives also raised gang-related car thefts and arsons in the Quebec City region, asking the government to adopt the Conservative public safety plan; Liberal ministers responded that they had passed laws with tougher penalties developed with police input, said crime statistics are going down, and invited Conservative co-operation.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

10 statements

Frank Caputo

Conservative

Linked statement

“A convicted child killer was granted a 60-day unescorted leave from prison to take cooking classes. I want the Prime Minister to say if he will cancel his parole rules so this stops happening.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Shane Ertmoed killed 10-year-old Heather Thomas about 26 years ago. Her family continues to serve a psychological life sentence, while Mr. Ertmoed himself gets a 60-day temporary, unescorted absence in order to take cooking classes, cooking classes that Heather will not get to take. I am going to look right at the Prime Minister and ask this: Will he commit to repealing, to removing, Liberal parole so this cannot happen again, yes or no?

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Gary Anandasangaree

Liberal
“The crime mentioned is terrible, and we condemn it. However, the parole board makes its own decisions without the government. We have already improved the justice system, and we will keep working with victims and survivors to make the parole system stronger.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 45 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the incident that my friend opposite speaks about is abhorrent, and we condemn it in all possible terms, but let me just be clear: The Parole Board of Canada makes decisions independently. We as a government have made significant changes to the criminal justice system, and we will continue to listen to victims and ensure that the right changes are in place. We will continue to work with survivors, victims and the organizations that work with them in order to strengthen our parole system.

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Frank Caputo

Conservative
“I want the Prime Minister to meet with Heather's mother and her lawyer this Thursday. I want him to tell them the same thing the public safety minister just told me.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 75 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “Does the Prime Minister have the guts to stand up and say it”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my question was for the Prime Minister, yet the public safety minister answered. This is all talk and no results. I am meeting with Heather’s mom and her counsel on Thursday. If the Prime Minister believes in what the public safety minister just said, will he meet with Heather’s mom and her counsel this Thursday and say what the minister just said? Does the Prime Minister have the guts to stand up and say it, yes or no?

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Gary Anandasangaree

Liberal
“We should not play politics with public safety. Every member here has a duty to support victims. Our government is working directly with survivors and their families to fix the justice system, including parole rules.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, issues around public safety should not be politicized. What is important is that every member of the House, every single one of us elected to office, has a responsibility to ensure that we support victims. That is exactly what our government has been doing. We are working with representatives of survivor groups, with survivors and with their family members to ensure that we have the right changes to the criminal justice system, including parole. That is the commitment we make today, and that is the commitment that every single one of us on this side of the aisle makes to Canadians.

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Jamie Schmale

Conservative
“The parole system lets killers ask for early leave, which hurts victims' families over and over. I want the government to fix this broken system and put victims first.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Tim and Mona Deslippe lost their son Nathan to a brutal murder in London, Ontario, in 2016. Nathan’s killer beat him to death in what the courts say was a prolonged and violent attack before the murderer dragged his body to the bathtub, took a shower and a selfie as well. The killer was sentenced to life with no parole for 14 years, yet Tim and Mona have already had to respond to multiple requests for escorted temporary leave, which have revictimized the family over and over again. When will the government fix its broken Liberal parole system and, after 11 long years, put victims first?

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Ruby Sahota

Liberal
“We are open to reforming the justice system. We have updated the criminal law more than any government before us. The Conservatives made the last changes to this law, so it is their law, not ours.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Public Safety has said, we are open to reform. We have made more reforms to the Criminal Code of Canada than any government has. The act that the members were speaking of was last changed by the Conservative government, so it is not a Liberal act. In fact, it is a Conservative one.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“Violent crime and fires tied to gangs are rising in Quebec. Criminals do not fear the law under this government. I want the Liberals to adopt our Conservative plan to keep Canadians safe.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, media in the Quebec City region have reported that, in the past month alone, more than 10 cars and six residential buildings have been set on fire, possibly by organized crime, in a bid to gain control of the drug market. Even in my riding of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, a teenager allegedly stole a vehicle before attempting to ram police officers in order to escape. Since the Liberals took office, criminals no longer fear the consequences of their crimes. Our Conservative action plan aims to keep Canadians safe. Will the Liberals adopt it?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal
“We passed laws to stop car theft and arson, and crime is going down across the country. We work with the provinces and the police to keep communities safe. The Conservatives are the only ones refusing to work with us, and I want them to help.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, before I answer, I would like to thank my colleague for this question. It is very important to recognize that we need to implement the new legislation that the House passed during the last parliamentary session. We have put forward a series of different laws that tackle, very specifically, crimes such as arson and violent crimes involving auto theft. We are seeing nationally the rate of crime actually coming down. We have worked very carefully with our partners, with the province and with law enforcement, and we are going to continue to do so. The only body that seems not to be collaborating in the effort to adopt stronger laws to produce safer communities is the Conservative Party of Canada. If Conservatives would like to collaborate with us—

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“Liberal laws caused our current crime problem. We are seeing daylight car thefts, violent robberies, shootings, and home invasions. The government talks, but it does not act fast enough. Will the Liberals adopt the Conservative plan to keep Canadians safe?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the minister should acknowledge that the Liberals are the ones who created the problem we are currently experiencing. They are the ones who introduced the laws that have led to these issues with crime. Today, we are seeing crimes becoming more brazen, with car thefts happening in broad daylight, jewellery store robberies being carried out with axes, shootings, armed home invasions, and offences committed by individuals who are already subject to legal conditions. The Liberals are all talk, but we could be moving faster. Will the Liberals agree to adopt our Conservative proposals and our plan to keep Canadians safe?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal
“We passed laws that created tougher penalties for serious crimes, and police leaders supported them. Crime, including car theft, is actually going down across the country. We will keep making plans based on facts and evidence.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to admit that it was this side of the House that adopted laws that actually made stronger penalties be put in place for serious crimes. Those laws were developed in collaboration with law enforcement, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Every regional police organization not only fed into the process but endorsed the measures that we implemented after the fact. The hon. member is not correct. As a matter of fact, while he says that crime is somehow increasing, the stats show, nationally and in virtually every region of this country, that crime, including auto theft, is coming down. We are going to put forward a plan that is based on science, facts and evidence. We will incorporate the perspective of those who—

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