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Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, I share the member's concerns about the deaths that are occurring. We are attempting to address this from a harm reduction perspective and a focus on health outcomes as opposed to criminal justice outcomes. However, it is critical to understand that the responses that we have made have been at the behest or request of provinces or cities of jurisdiction.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, in that regard I have serious doubts about that, based on the voting pattern that I have seen thus far and the actions that I have observed thus far from the Leader of the Opposition in terms of interactions with the LGBTQ community and willingness to stand up for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, I think that is actually appalling, given where we are with the alarming rise in anti-Semitism post October 7. We need to be doing everything we can to shore up the Jewish community and its need for safety and security at this time. Apropos of that, I find it very troubling that the opposition articulated by the Leader of the Opposition to a bill that I am shepherding through this chamber, Bill C-63, was so vociferous that he did not even wait to read the document.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his contribution to this evening's discussion and reflect on a couple of things. What I personally found most troubling, as somebody who sat on the Emergencies Act parliamentary committee after the declaration, is that we know about extreme far-right movements.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, I would indicate that, since the changes and investments that we put in place with respect to auto theft, more than 1,000 vehicles have been intercepted by the CBSA at the Montreal port. This shows that those investments are doing the work they need to do to keep Canadians safe.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, Bill C-75 dealt with a number of things. It dealt with trial delays. It dealt with responding to Jordan. It dealt with changing how to select a jury trial after the Gerald Stanley matter and the systemic racism that was disclosed. It also dealt with enhancing penalties for things like auto theft, which that member voted against.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that as a former Speaker, the member used to consult Speakers' decisions, but I also would appreciate that he knows about Supreme Court jurisprudence. What Bill C-75 did was codify a Supreme Court decision called “Antic”. The law was already in place. We took that law from the court cases and put it into the Criminal Code.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, with the utmost respect, I want to elaborate on a couple of points. First, when a court, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, renders a decision, the administration of justice and justice actors like myself follow that guidance. That is how the rule of law operates in this country.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, the principle of restraint from the Antic decision does not dictate the outcome of a specific bail hearing. That is fundamental to understand. It does not require the release of a person. It does not change the basis upon which someone can be detained. With respect to auto theft, for the member's edification, when something or someone is subject to a period of imprisonment of longer than two years, they are automatically immunized from the potential availability of a conditional sentence order.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, with respect to sub judice, the purpose is to protect parties in a case awaiting or undergoing a trial—
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, with respect to my appearance in court—
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite is aware, what I had indicated is that I have not been—
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, my job is to be addressing the safety of Canadians and that is—
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, Constable Pierzchala's death was a tragedy, and it motivated us to act, and act quickly. I am thankful for the support of that member in terms of the quick passage of that bill.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal
Business of Supply Mr. Speaker, it is important always to be looking at confidence in the administration of justice.
May 23rd, 2024House debate
Arif ViraniLiberal