Parliamentary Speeches
812 speeches by Gary Anandasangaree — Page 1 of 17
Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our government has always been committed to the safety and security of all Canadians. Any form of violence, intimidation or transnational repression targeting individuals and communities in Canada is unacceptable and punishable under Canadian law. We are taking action to protect Canadians. We are passing the most comprehensive criminal justice reform in a generation. Just this afterno…
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Mr. Speaker, finally, this House passed Bill C-22, which is on lawful access, despite days of obstruction from the opposition. It is a critical tool that law enforcement has been asking for in order to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, this House, as well as the Senate, passed a motion declaring Anton Boegman as the commissioner for the transparency registry. We are working toward the establishment of the regulations, and the commission will be up and running in the upcoming weeks.
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Mr. Speaker, this is not how legislation works. We have put forward a comprehensive piece of legislation—
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Mr. Speaker, the misinformation, sadly, continues on firearms. As members are aware, over 140,000 firearms have been declared by individual Canadians as well as businesses. We are in the process of collecting those firearms. What I will—
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Mr. Speaker, this is not how legislation works. We have put forward a comprehensive piece of legislation. We have consulted with a range of stakeholders, including law enforcement. Parts 1 and 2 go hand in hand. We cannot cherry-pick which parts of the act go into effect. I will give an example of the obstructionism of the Conservative Party: over 10 hours of discussion on clause-by-clause at the …
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Mr. Speaker, the misinformation on firearms continues. Over 140,000 individual firearms have been declared by owners, as well as businesses. We are in the process of collecting them. We have invested in law enforcement. We are hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel and 1,000 new CBSA officers.
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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 wor…
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moved the second reading of, and concurrence in, the amendment made by the Senate to Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places).
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Mr. Speaker, our government's decision to extend the amnesty order respects the judicial process, and it provides greater certainty for firearms owners across Canada. To date, over 142,000 firearms have been declared, and firearms owners have already begun making appointments to drop off their prohibited weapons. We will keep working to keep communities across Canada safe.
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Mr. Speaker, I am heartbroken in hearing of the passing of Officer Marc Pinizzotto. I was able to connect with the Toronto Police chief, the Toronto Police Association and the mayor of the city of Toronto, and I express our profound grief and condolences to the people of Toronto and all those who serve on the front lines. Today is a day for all of us to come together and cherish those who serve us…
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Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleague for the work he has been doing as part of NSICOP. As we are aware, it is a body of Parliament that ensures review of our security practices, and we look forward to the review that we will undertake starting this year.
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Mr. Speaker, from the outset, our INSET team, as well as RCMP personnel and senior leadership, has been fully engaged in this investigation. They have been supporting the Toronto Police Service, including deploying two special task forces in order to support the investigation as it unfolds. The work of the Toronto Police Service is part of the collaborative efforts of all of our law enforcement ag…
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Mr. Speaker, we have been working with first nations and Inuit police in communities across Canada to ensure the safety and security of all those in the communities. We are increasing the number of resources available for infrastructure, and we continue to ensure that funding is applied throughout the year. What I do want to say is that if the party opposite is serious about public safety, the num…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Oakville West for her advocacy. Canadians must have confidence in the integrity and security of the products and services they use each and every day. This is why we are taking the necessary steps to protect Canadians, our critical infrastructure and our economy through Bill C-8. This piece of legislation will help critical infrastructure operat…
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Mr. Speaker, the safety and security of all Canadians is critically important to this government. That is why we are taking decisive action to ensure security at the border, including ensuring that those who are inadmissible to Canada are not allowed in. If the Conservative Party wants to talk seriously about crime and law enforcement, they need to get serious on Bill C-22, which is a lawful acces…
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Mr. Speaker, let me just confirm that last year the Canada Border Services Agency removed an incredible number of individuals who were ineligible to be here in Canada. Over 23,000 individuals were removed. This year, the CBSA is on target to continue that trend and to ensure those who are ineligible to be in Canada are removed expeditiously. Our men and women of the CBSA are working hard each and …
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: Canada has had an MOU with China on combatting crime in various forms since 2010. These have never been made public. As with the potential release of any sensitive national security document, we are carefully following the advice of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies. We will continue to work collaboratively with international and law enforcement partners t…
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Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate that we have had some form of an agreement on safety and security since 2010 with China. They have never been made public, including under the opposition who were in government at that time. We will continue to work in collaboration with law enforcement and with our international partners to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. We are a country of the rule of …
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Mr. Speaker, the safety and security of Canadians is our top priority. Canadian law enforcement works closely with airport authorities, airlines, border agencies and international counterparts to detect criminal activity, protect travellers and disrupt organized crime networks involved in drug trafficking. At least six arrests related to luggage tag swapping have been made by the RCMP. We continue…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the excellent work of Peel Regional Police in collaboration with the OPP, CBSA, FINTRAC and the FBI, which announced the arrest of 17 individuals connected to an international criminal network. This network is responsible for violent extortion targeting the South Asian community across Canada. The operation dismantled a campaign involving 24 incidents, resulting …
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Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we support the RCMP. We are hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. They are training and they will be deployed shortly. The safety and security of Canadians is our first and top priority, and we will continue to ensure that our law enforcement sector is assisted. We will ensure that the officers have the right tools t…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to assure all Canadians that no IRGC member was admitted into Canada. Our government has been clear that IRGC members and all senior officials of the Iranian government are inadmissible to Canada. We have rigorous processes in place to ensure that anyone in the country who has ties to the IRGC goes through a removals process. We will continue to work with our border, immigratio…
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Mr. Speaker, ensuring the safety and security of Canadians is our top priority. I want to assure all Canadians that Canada has rigorous admissibility requirements. We have been very clear that IRGC members and all senior Iranian officials are inadmissible to Canada. If they are already in Canada, they will go through a removals process expeditiously. We will continue to work with our border, immig…
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Mr. Speaker, I will make this is very clear. IRGC members are inadmissible to Canada. Senior Iranian officials are inadmissible to Canada. We will continue to work with border and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. Having said that, I am unable to comment on one particular case.
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Mr. Speaker, let me once again repeat what I have said already. Senior members of the IRGC and those who are part of the Iranian regime are inadmissible to Canada. The safety and security of Canadians is of paramount importance to the government. Having said that, on the individual case in question, I am unable to comment due to privacy concerns.
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Mr. Speaker, ensuring the safety and security of Canadians is our top priority. We cannot comment on an individual case due to privacy laws, but I want to assure all Canadians that Canada has rigorous admissibility requirements, and we have been very clear that IRGC members and senior Iranian officials are inadmissible to Canada. We will continue to work with our border and law enforcement agencie…
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Mr. Speaker, let me first express my deepest condolences to the families impacted by this horrific act. The decision of the Federal Court yesterday is that of a judge who, based on the evidence in front of him, made that decision. Having said that, we will review the decision and we look forward to supporting the families in every way we can.
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Mr. Speaker, I welcome my friend from Scarborough Southwest to this House. Through the building safer communities fund, we are tackling gun violence and youth crime and supporting victims through organizations across Canada, including in her riding of Scarborough Southwest. We have also introduced several measures to keep Canadians safe. This includes tougher bail laws, lawful access measures to h…
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Mr. Speaker, every individual who applies to come to Canada is thoroughly reviewed for security. Our law enforcement agencies, including CSIS and CBSA, undertake a thorough check before documents are issued. When they are in Canada and are deemed to be inadmissible, CBSA enforces those removals. Last year, we removed over 22,000 individuals for inadmissibility, the highest number in recent history…
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Mr. Speaker, let me just acknowledge the heinous act that the member opposite talked about. I would say that, since taking office, we have brought forward the most comprehensive criminal justice reform in a generation. Bill C-14 speaks to that. It would ensure that repeat violent offenders are off our streets and will get stiffer sentences during the sentencing period. We have Bill C-16 now going …
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Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Mississauga—Malton for that very important question, and let me thank law enforcement agencies across Canada for the work they have been doing to ensure that lawful access measures become law in Canada. I want to assure all members in the House that we are working together for the swift passage of Bill C-22, the lawful access act. Today, chiefs of police an…
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Mr. Speaker, I really did not see a lot of substantive debate on this particular bill, rather than to outline a number of irrelevant facts.
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Mr. Speaker, I do not have to explain to my Quebec colleagues the impact of guns in their communities. We know that École Polytechnique had significant consequences. Many women were killed. We know that the program is important to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. We will move forward on a business buyback program that will open up, and we will complete the program as contemplated.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Let me just say that the enrolment period for the assault-style firearms compensation program was complete, with over 67,000 firearms that have been declared. This is a program that essentially will ensure that prohibited firearms are off our streets. We know that the Province of Quebec is an integral part of the program, and we are grateful for it…
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Mr. Speaker, I would appreciate a little bit of intervention because I am being heckled as I am trying to make a very important point. It is important that the bill get through the different stages. We are looking forward to the committee stage of this process. We have consulted extensively with different stakeholders, including law enforcement, civil society and academics, as well as industry. We…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Scarborough—Woburn for bringing forward this very important piece of legislation. In fact, in the fight against sickle cell disease, a lot of the work starts in Scarborough. There are some incredible heroes who have been doing the work, and there are so many individuals in our communities who are impacted by it. I am just wondering if the member can r…
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Mr. Speaker, I will say, at the outset, that we have consulted the intelligence commissioner and the provisions in this bill reflect what is required, in our opinion, for that transparency and accountability to take place. Of course, as I have always said, we look forward to this bill proceeding to committee and a more robust conversation taking place at the committee stage.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and for his work. We did extensive consultations, on an individual basis, with the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime, the Minister of Justice, me and other colleagues. For example, we were in Halton, where we met with the regional police. I want to thank the member of Parliament for Oakville West for her advocacy. We have gone across Canada an…
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Mr. Speaker, we expect compliance from telecommunication companies and other service providers. We are not contemplating compensation. This is part of the CRTC's licensing. As members are aware, these are licences that are provided to the public, and in the public interest, it is important there is compliance from those service providers, which are essentially governed by Canadian law.
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Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his very important intervention. I will get back to the substance of Bill C-22. The different parties came together on what is essential for law enforcement to protect Canadians, and there are three major parts to the bill. I want to frame where the first one comes from. Twenty-five years ago, there were phone books that every household had. Bell Canada would …
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Mr. Speaker, I do seek unanimous consent.
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Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime. Bill C-22, an act respecting lawful access, is a tool that law enforcement has been asking for for many decades, in fact, over three decades. Canada is the only Five Eyes and G7 country not to have a formalized lawful access regime. We have had a couple of court decisions that spoke to the limits of this ver…
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Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the new government is ensuring that we have control over the immigration system. Today we passed Bill C-12, which gives greater law enforcement powers to both the CBSA and the IRCC. For example, when people are using the asylum system to game the system, it will enable officials to disallow their claims. We are taking control of the immigration system, and Bill C-…
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Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Markham—Unionville for his hard work and advocacy. As members are aware, law enforcement agencies across Canada have been asking for additional tools, the most important one being lawful access in order to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. Through Bill C-22, they would have the tools they need to combat childhood sexual exploitation, extortion, h…
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Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. As part of the platform last year, we committed to hiring 1,000 new CBSA officers as well as 1,000 new RCMP personnel, and we have already started on that process. We had the first cohort of CBSA officers who graduated from Rigaud. The member opposite was in fact invited to the graduation. We will be rolling out the first cohort of RCMP personnel over the next co…
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Mr. Speaker, once again, let me express my condolences to those who were impacted by this heinous act, but let me also assure Canadians that we are working to strengthen bail laws, strengthen sentencing and strengthen victims' rights, as well as to ensure that those who are impacted by violence are supported through the number of bills that we have.
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Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the facts. There are 1,000 new CBSA officers, 1,000 new RCMP personnel, $1.3 billion for border security and Bill C-12, the strong borders act. We have Bill C-14, which would strengthen bail as well as sentencing. We have Bill C-16, which would strengthen victims' rights. That is the record of this government. We are going to be making sure that every Canadian feels …
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Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the first 1,000 RCMP officers we are going to be hiring will be coming out very shortly. We have also started to roll out the 1,000 new CBSA officers. What will be important for members opposite to reflect on is their commitment to the RCMP. On this side of the House, we support the RCMP. We support law enforcement. We have introduced Bill C-22 respecting lawful a…
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