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Public Safety

Question period focused on public safety and the bail system. Conservative members cited several recent cases, including a man in Foothills charged with over 500,000 pieces of child exploitation material who was released, a man charged in the Lambton College fatal shooting who was out on bail, and an officer killed last week by a man who was on probation, and asked why accused violent offenders are being released and when the government will act. Government ministers responded that legislation to change the Criminal Code, including stricter bail and sentencing rules and measures on child sex offences, is before the House and that they want to pass it quickly, saying police chiefs, provinces, and municipalities support the bail and sentencing reform act, and inviting other parties to work with them.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

John Barlow

Conservative
“A man in my riding was charged with having over 500,000 pieces of child abuse material, but he was released on bail. People in my community do not feel safe. When will the government fix the bail system and keep people accused of serious crimes in jail?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Foothills families are shaken. A local man was charged with more than 500,000 pieces of child exploitation material, and he was released. Ten-year-old Grace asked me why this man was not in jail. She does not feel safe playing outside with her friends, and that is not right. Okotoks families want to know why a man charged with such a heinous crime was released into the community. Conservatives offered a solution, jail not bail for serious offences, but the Liberals rejected it. When will the Liberals fix the bail system they broke so Okotoks families can feel safe again?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal
“We are changing the Criminal Code this week so people who commit sex crimes against children cannot serve their sentences in the community. We also voted on a bill to stop child sexual abuse. I want these rules to become law quickly to protect our communities.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, these kinds of heinous behaviours have no place in Canada, and the Government of Canada has an opportunity to do something about it. I am pleased to share that we expect, this week, we will have changes to Canada’s Criminal Code. These include changes that will make it impossible for conditional sentencing orders to be tied to charges impacting crimes such as sexual crimes against children. In addition, last week the House voted on the protecting victims act, which would put in place a number of measures designed specifically to combat child sexual exploitation and child sexual exploitation and abuse material. My hope is that these measures will become law expeditiously, so communities benefit from these protections.

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Larry Brock

Conservative
“The man charged in the deadly Lambton College shooting is out on bail. I blame the Liberals for letting violent criminals out on the street instead of keeping them in jail.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

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    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the criminal charged in the Lambton College shooting, which left one person dead, is not surprisingly out on bail. Only under these weak-on-crime Liberals could a man charged with murder and attempted murder be back on the streets before justice is served. These Liberals have turned our justice system into a joke, a revolving door for violent offenders. Victims get fear; criminals get another chance. How many more accused killers do these Liberals intend to release before they finally admit that their weak-on-crime laws are a complete and catastrophic failure?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal

Linked statement

“Police leaders, provinces, and cities support our new bail and sentencing bill. We worked with these experts to make Canadians safer, and we want to pass this bill quickly.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 83 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the political motivation behind the member’s question is obvious, based on the way he phrased it, but if he would like some validation, the bail and sentencing reform act we have put forward in the House is supported by those who work on the front lines. I would invite him to talk to the head of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. I would invite him to talk to the head of the Ontario Provincial Police or of the Police Association of Ontario. The legislation we put forward has been informed by leaders in the police movement. It has been informed by provinces and premiers demanding the expeditious adoption of the bail and sentencing reform act. It has been informed by engagement with cities. We will do everything we can to listen to those expert voices to keep Canadians safe.

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Larry Brock

Conservative
“People on bail and probation are committing violent crimes. The government must keep repeat violent offenders in jail.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that minister and the government have had 11 years to get this right. Last week, Canada suffered a tragic loss when officer Marc Pinizzotto was shot and killed in the line of duty. It has now been revealed that the man responsible for the horrific crime was already out on probation. Then we learned that the U.S. consulate shooter was on bail. Thugs, who are already before the courts, known to police and prohibited from possessing firearms, are now back on the streets. This should have never happened. How many more tragedies will it take before these Liberals stop treating bail conditions like a joke and start keeping repeat violent offenders behind bars?

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Gary Anandasangaree

Liberal
“Two police officers were killed on the job last week. We are passing bills to make bail and sentencing rules tougher. I want the other parties to work with us to protect police officers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated before, we are deeply heartbroken that Constable Marc Pinizzotto of the Toronto Police Service and Constable Tarun Bali of the Ontario police service were killed in the line of duty last week. We as a government have been taking decisive action, including strengthening bail and sentencing, with bills that we expect to go through Parliament this week. We need to work in collaboration to ensure the safety and security of all those who serve on the front lines. We are taking those actions. We invite the party opposite to join us in order to strengthen these systems.

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