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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 275

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 5, 2024 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24
Hon. Arif Virani (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Feb/5/24 2:22:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very happy that the Leader of the Opposition, after reading a government press release, has finally tuned into this issue, but I have a couple of clarifications. First, mandatory minimums for auto theft for repeat offences already exist in the Criminal Code, so he is not changing something that already exists. Second, an aggravating factor for an auto theft that occurs with organized crime is already on the books too, section 718.2 of the Criminal Code, Mr. Leader of the Opposition. Why do we not focus on things we can actually do, like getting tough with organized crime and anti-money laundering?
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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24
Hon. Arif Virani (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Feb/5/24 2:55:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I have said repeatedly, mandatory minimum sentences for auto theft and for repeat offences, for example, already exist in the Criminal Code. If the offence is related to organized crime, this can result in a harsher sentence. That is already in the Criminal Code. What is not in the Criminal Code is the fact that we need to do more to fight organized crime, which we are addressing in a bill currently before the House, but the Conservatives are going to vote against it.
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Context: House Hansard - 275 - Feb/5/24
Hon. Arif Virani (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Feb/5/24 2:58:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this issue is an important one. It is really important to understand the full complexity of the issue. This touches on the auto industry. This touches on ports. This touches on the Criminal Code. This touches on the CBSA. What I would note for Canadians is that under that party's watch, when that member was a cabinet minister, front-tier agencies like the CBSA were actually cut. In terms of providing resources to keep Canadians safe, it is an interesting record they have. I would not be too proud of defending it.
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