SoVote

Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)

Dec/14/21 10:08:09 a.m.
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Re: Bill C-213

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-213, an act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate). He said: Mr. Speaker, it is very important to introduce this long overdue legislation to end predatory lending in Canada. I would like to thank my seconder, the member of Parliament for Nunavut, who has been a strong advocate for marginalized people, as well as organizations like ACORN across the country that have been pushing back against predatory lending practices. As members are well aware, legalized interest rates of up to 600% currently exist in Canada. This bill would end the loopholes that allow financial institutions and payday loan lenders to charge 500% or 600% and would cut in half the criminal interest rate that is currently permitted in the Criminal Code. I will provide just one of many examples. My constituent, who I will call Lisa, paid $13,000 in interest charges over a number of years. She struggled to put food on the table and keep a roof over her head for a $700 emergency loan and was unable to pay even one dollar of principal over that period. Other countries have put in place microcredit, lending circles and co-operative credit. Therefore, for the marginalized populations, who make up 40% of this country and who share no part of the wealth, it is vitally important to end these predatory lending practices. I hope all members of Parliament will support this long overdue and important legislation.

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Context: House Hansard - 17 - Dec/14/21

Mr. Peter Julian

Dec/14/21 10:27:49 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As you know, Standing Order 36(6) gives a maximum of 15 minutes for petitions. There are 338 members of Parliament. If one member of Parliament is able to monopolize half of that time, which is what just happened, unfortunately other members of Parliament may not be able to present their petitions. I would ask you continue what has been our normal practice, which is to allow members of Parliament to present a handful of petitions, maybe two or three, and then move on to other members of Parliament in order to avoid one member of Parliament taking half of the 15 minutes allotted to petitions.

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Context: House Hansard - 17 - Dec/14/21

Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)

Dec/14/21 12:39:55 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-5

Madam Speaker, I have appreciated working with the member for Calgary Shepard in the past. Perhaps he could answer a question for me. At the same time as the former Harper government put in place legislation a few years back, it gutted the network of crime prevention centres across the country. Members will recall that $100 million in funding for crime prevention was slashed by the Harper government. As we know, $1 invested in crime prevention saves $6 in policing costs, court costs and prison costs. It did not make sense that the Harper government eliminated crime prevention across the country, including centres such as the B.C. Centre for Crime Prevention. Could the member explain why the Harper government gutted one of the most effective tools in combatting crime?

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