QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Public Safety
Progress of Legislation
May 31, 2023
Minister, at this time last year, you will recall that we were seized with the issue of Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016. We were told it was essential that we pass the bill as quickly as possible here because of a court case in Alberta that had struck down certain provisions of the law as unconstitutional and created a disequilibrium so the law was applied differently in Alberta and, subsequently, in Ontario than in the rest of the country.
We were encouraged not to amend the act, but we did so nonetheless and got it done by the end of June. Now, I cannot help but note that Bill S-7 was introduced at first reading last October and has not moved any further down your Order Paper.
So just out of curiosity, why were we rushing, and what’s going on in your house?
To begin with, we have Bill C-21, which is life-saving gun-control legislation; Bill C-20, which is legislation that I just testified before the Standing Committee on Public Safety would create a new public complaints and review commission for the RCMP, enhancing independent review and oversight of the RCMP and, for the first time, the Canada Border Services Agency; and there was the introduction of Bill C-26 to ensure that we are enhancing the security of our critical cyberinfrastructure network. Given all the exchanges I have had around foreign interference and other threats to our national security, I am sure that members in this chamber would see the value of that initiative as well.
But I also want to take a moment to thank you, senator, and the other senators who participated in the study of that bill. Rest assured that I am committed to seeing that passed as well, and I have given thoughtful consideration to the manner in which that bill was reported back to the House of Commons.
