QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Crime Prevention
October 9, 2024
Leader, there is a very interesting article in today’s La Presse on crime in Montreal. Sergeant Moore, of the Eclipse squad of the Montreal police force, said the following:
The whole range of firearms has skyrocketed over the past few years. It’s totally nuts. I have never seen this in 18 years at the Montreal police force. Finding a gun in a client’s man purse, in a licensed establishment, is extremely common.
Sergeant Giguère said the following:
I noticed a difference when the Supreme Court rejected three-year minimum sentences, as well as the five-year mandatory minimum in case of recidivism, for possession of a firearm. Before that decision, people in the street told us that they did not want to end up in prison for a long time. Now, individuals get arrested on firearms charges and it is not long before they are let out.
Leader, can you acknowledge that your government’s strategy for fighting crime is an utter failure?
With all due respect, senator, the answer is no. The rise in crime in our cities, big and small, is unfortunate, lamentable and deplorable. However, that being said, everyone in this chamber recognizes, and I hope that many of you will be willing to admit it, that the causes of crime are complex. Criminal legislation is certainly one aspect. In that respect, the approach of the government I represent is very different from that of the opposition. What is more, socio-economic and even demographic factors make this an extremely complex problem. We all have to face that fact and do our part to combat crime.
Leader, your answer proves that you are completely out of touch. In the same article, Sergeant Moore, who works on the ground, says the following:
These days, it’s not uncommon for someone to be arrested and then say, “No big deal, you’re going to give me a piece of paper and let me go, and I’m going to do it again.” I get the impression that they’re no longer afraid of getting arrested by the police. They know there won’t be any consequences.
Leader, those are the results of your actions: a society that has lost its bearings and its boundaries. Are you still proud to be part of this government?
Thank you for the question. No, I am not out of touch; I am very much in tune with all of these issues, given my experience as a lawyer, member of the Parole Board of Canada and government representative in the Senate. Again, the government is doing its part within its own jurisdiction, according to the values that underpin its policies.
