Thank you, Chair.
Minister Fraser and officials, welcome to the justice committee.
Minister, since your government took office in 2015, crime in this country has been spiralling out of control, with violent crime up 55%, homicide up 30%, sex assault up 76%, gun crime up 130%, and extortion, shockingly, up 330%. However, over the last 570 days, your government has introduced only two justice bills, Bill C-63 and Bill C-9, neither of which does anything to address the revolving door for violent repeat offenders.
Why, Minister, after a year and a half, is your first legislative priority a bill that restricts free speech instead of protecting Canadians from violent repeat offenders?