Evidence of meeting #1 for Justice and Human Rights in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Amarjeet Gill Conservative Brampton West, ON
Mr. Chair, I also want to touch base on the issue of crime.
We all know that we went through an election here recently. What I heard from people at the door was completely different. They are really scared. Canadians are increasingly worried about their safety. Whether it be break-ins, car theft, gang violence or drug trafficking, people are feeling the effects of failed Liberal policies every single day. Even in Brampton, families are living in fear. Crime is no longer the exception. It's becoming the norm they face every single day.
This is not just perception. I would like to bring in some data here. In 2023, auto theft claims hit $1.5 billion nationwide, a staggering 254% increase since 2018. Ontario alone saw vehicle thefts skyrocket by 48% in just two years. Tens of thousands of cars are stolen annually. That comes from the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Firearm-related violence also surged to its highest level on record, with nearly 14,000 violent gun incidents across Canada. Communities in Ontario, New Brunswick and B.C. were hit the hardest. That's from Statistics Canada.
Gang violence is out of control. In 2023, almost a quarter of all homicides were gang-related. Even more alarmingly, 31% of homicide suspects were under the age of 18. That's nearly double the previous year's rate. That's also from Statistics Canada.
In the Peel region, police made the largest drug bust in their history, but six of the nine accused dealers are already out on bail.
Liberal
Conservative
Amarjeet Gill Conservative Brampton West, ON
In another operation targeting an extortion ring, half of those were—
Liberal
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Gill, I don't mean to interrupt you in your speech, but it seems very clear to me that you are speaking to the substance of this motion. I'm sure you will have the opportunity to do so, but I want to bring back the point that there is a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Chair, I think it would be opportune at this point to vote on that motion. If it does not pass, then we'll entertain all representations and all points of view with regard to the substance of Mr. Brock's motion.
I want to reiterate that I'm calling the vote to adjourn. It seems to me that we're discussing the merits of the motion, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
I appreciate my friend's suggestion. Nonetheless, you have to look at the substance of the motion itself in order to ascertain the urgency, which is the point that's being stressed by the opposition members here. We can't discuss the motion to adjourn and potentially the need to adjourn, without addressing some of the substance in the opposition motion.
I appreciate my friend's position, but I think Mr. Gill has the floor. We'd be very grateful to be able to conclude, each of us, briefly.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
Typically, as the members well know, these motions to adjourn go immediately to a vote. I've allowed some leniency in the spirit of a new committee being convened, hopefully with the spirit that Mr. Brock represented as vice-chair when he got elected. I have allowed some leniency. This will go to a vote very shortly, but I would like Mr. Lawton and Mr. Maloney to be able to speak briefly if they have a point that is pertinent to the motion and not Mr. Brock's motion.
It's over to Mr. Lawton now.
Conservative
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
On the Liberals' belief that adjournment should take place immediately, I am new to the House of Commons. I was elected, as were all of us on the Conservative side, in large part due to our desire to have safer streets in this country and our desire to get serious about bail. The number of people who brought up the urgency, to them and to their communities, of the crime situation was absolutely staggering.
Look, I accept that the Liberals won this election. The Conservatives had argued that members of Parliament should sit through the summer, because all these issues that are facing our country are still here regardless of the outcome of the election. I do not think it would be opportune for any of us, including my Liberal colleagues, to pack up this committee's work for three months without having done a single thing to help the crime-riddled communities of our country. I speak on behalf of my own constituents in Elgin—St. Thomas—London South and all Canadians.
I think adjournment is entirely inappropriate when we have Canadians who elected us to get serious about this. I actually don't think any of these members want to face their own constituents over the next two and a half months and say that they chose to not even listen, to not even debate a motion about some of these issues, because they thought it was easier to start their summer vacation early.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
Thank you, MP Lawton.
Ms. Larouche, go ahead on a point of order.
Then we'll go back to Mr. Maloney.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
I would remind you that 48 hours' notice is required before we can debate a substantive motion.
Are we now discussing committee business?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
We just passed the motion that members must respect the 48-hour time frame—that is to say, two nights—before moving a motion like the one Mr. Brock is moving. That's a very fair point. We'll go to a vote soon, and members can vote accordingly.
Mr. Maloney, go ahead, and then we'll go to a vote.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
We're experiencing early-onset grandstanding, I see.
Look, this is a procedural motion. We vote to adjourn or not to adjourn. I welcome the new members. There's a process in place for getting motions on the floor and having an opportunity for debate. Following the procedure, which both of you will respect, the process is to vote once a motion to adjourn is made, and then we can move on.
Conservative
Conservative
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Chair, that member made an argument alongside his motion to adjourn. He followed the introduction of the motion immediately with an argument for why he thought adjournment was inappropriate. He was the one who started debate on this motion, Mr. Chair. I think it is entirely appropriate for us to respond to those arguments.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
Again, the responses are well noted.
We will now go to the vote.
(Motion agreed to)
The meeting is now adjourned.