Senator Gold, it’s bad enough that every day brings a new story about law-abiding Canadians being victimized by criminals out on bail as a result of your government’s “hug-a-thug” policies, but today we’re learning about an admitted human smuggler who was not only released while awaiting trial but somehow, under your watch, managed to have his passport reissued after being ordered to turn over his travel documents to the RCMP as a condition of that release.

To borrow a phrase from your own Attorney General, make that make sense to me, Senator Gold. According to the Cornwall Regional Task Force, this individual oversaw an organization linked to the deaths of nine people on the St. Lawrence River in late March 2023 as they were being smuggled into Canada. He was ordered not to reapply for his passport, but I guess nobody thought to tell Service Canada. Are we just supposed to trust a confessed criminal to follow a court order, Senator Gold? Explain this to us.

Senator Gold, this happened in 2021, around the same time that law-abiding citizens were lining up for blocks and blocks trying to get their passports. This thug got his reissued.

We don’t need platitudes here and you looking into it. Senator Gold, we want to know who’s responsible. Your government doesn’t like taking responsibility. Who in your government is to a blame for this one, Senator Gold? It’s always somebody else’s fault. Who in the government is going to take responsibility this time?