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Report Stage

Bill C-11, Military Justice System Modernization Act · Report stage · now law Where it stands

What the law does

The law removes the military's authority to investigate or try sexual offences under the Criminal Code that are alleged to have taken place in Canada. It alters appointment processes for military prosecutors, defence counsel, and the provost marshal, who is renamed the Provost Marshal General. The law also expands who can become a military judge, removes those judges from the summary hearing system, and lets people acting for victims request a liaison officer.

Official text

86 statements

Garnett Genuis

Conservative

Linked statement

“This bill is about protecting victims of sexual violence. Our committee listened to victims and experts, and we voted to make the bill stronger. Now the Liberals are trying to undo all that work.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that was a question that went madly off in all directions. This is a bill about protecting victims of sexual violence. We can have a conversation about military spending, capabilities and all of these other issues, but, fundamentally, here is the point. The committee heard directly during its deliberations from victims and from experts. For those who know this process best, a majority of that committee, representative of the House of Commons that Canadians elected, chose amendments to strengthen the bill and respond to the testimony they heard. Then Liberals used an undemocratic, stolen majority to try to undo all that work.

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Mario Beaulieu

Bloc Québécois
“The government claims it wants to work with us, but it rejects all our changes to this bill. It even rejected our idea to create an inspector general for sexual misconduct in the military. I want to know what my colleague thinks about the government doing that.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it reeks of hypocrisy when government members say that they want to consult and work together with the opposition but then they turn around and throw out every amendment. I think that kind of thing fuels criticism toward all politicians. I am going to speak to only one of the opposition’s recommendations, which was to create an office of the inspector general for sexual misconduct in the armed forces. That is going to be scrapped. I fail to understand how the government can defend that. What does my colleague think about that?

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Garnett Genuis

Conservative
“I agree with my Bloc Québécois colleague. The Liberals talk about working together, but then they changed this bill completely without us. They are being hypocrites.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my Bloc Québécois colleague. I also thank him for the work that was done by the opposition parties. He mentioned the Liberal Party’s hypocrisy. The Liberals talk a lot about co-operation, yet they tried to eliminate the need for it. Right after that, they decided to change this bill completely. This truly is an example of Liberal hypocrisy.

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Carol Anstey

Conservative
“People were heckling my colleague while he spoke. I want him to tell us what message that heckling sends to victims who are watching this debate.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that was an incredible speech. I just want to draw attention to, once again, the heckling and comments about majority rules, while my colleague was trying to communicate during his speech. I just want to give the member an opportunity to speak to what further message that sends to victims and other people who may be looking to see what the government’s response is on this important piece of legislation.

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Garnett Genuis

Conservative
“All parties should work together on this issue, especially in a minority government. It is wrong for the government to play party politics when we are trying to help victims.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this certainly is the sort of issue where we would hope for cross-party collaboration and hope to not have a spirit of partisanship. From what I understand, that spirit of collaboration was what prevailed at committee. It prevailed in a context where co-operation was required, because of the minority conditions that Canadians voted for. If a party win a majority at the polls, fair enough. It has a mandate from Canadians to proceed as a majority. However, if Canadians vote for a minority that necessitates co-operation, and then a party tries to throw that out the window, and then acts in this ultra partisan fashion while we are trying to advance solutions for victims, that is inappropriate.

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Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I want us to agree to end debate early and move on to the late show.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I suspect if you were to canvass the House, you would find unanimous consent to call it 7:12 p.m. so we can get into the late show.

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Discussion

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Comment rules

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  26. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  27. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements