Harb Gill
Windsor West, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“They are lessons about leadership. They are lessons about the responsibility we all share to confront hatred before it turns to violence. That is why this debate matters. Racism is real. Anti-Semitism is real. Islamophobia is real. Hinduphobia is real. Every one of us has a responsibility to challenge those things wherever they appear.”
“A few weeks ago, many Canadians joined Rwandan communities across this country by marking Kwibuka, the remembrance of genocide against the Tutsi people in Rwanda. Kwibuka means “to remember”. It is a solemn reminder of one of the darkest chapters in modern history.”
“Their sacrifice deserves our respect and our gratitude, and their memory deserves to be honoured. One officer came from an Italian Canadian family, the other from an Indo-Canadian family. Different backgrounds, different communities, yet both wore the same uniform, took the same oath and made the same sacrifice in service to Canada.”
“It will not stop repeat violent offenders or the transnational gangs that continue to terrorize communities across Canada. Officer Pinizzotto was not investigating a sermon; he was investigating violent criminal activity. That is where the danger is, and that is where Canadians expect their government to be focused.”
“Our democracy is strong. Our people are united by far more than what divides us, but history still has lessons to teach us. One of those lessons is that hatred rarely begins with violence. It begins when people stop seeing their neighbours as fellow citizens. It begins when stereotypes replace understanding and when fear replaces trust.”
“The question is whether Bill C-9 is necessary and whether it will achieve what the government says it will achieve. There are provisions in this legislation that deserve support. Every Canadian should be able to attend a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, gurdwara, community centre or school without fear of intimidation or violence.”
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“Mr. Speaker, a little over two years ago, I was involved in an operation, an investigation, with members of the RCMP and the CBSA. We seized over 300 kilos of meth at the Ambassador Bridge. That meth was traced back to a gentleman in Toronto who was found to have another 150 kilos of cocaine, large sums of cash and firearms. He pleaded guilty. There was a joint submission made by the Crown and the defence lawyer for the number of years to be spent in prison, but the man requested that he receive a six-month reprieve so he could wait until his child born before starting his prison sentence. That is outrageous in my opinion.”
“Mr. Speaker, I agree with my friend. I know that grandmothers are raising children. I have been to funerals for folks who have died where I worked before as a police officer. There are mothers who carry naloxone in their purse to make sure they have enough to revive their child if they end up overdosing. That is not a Canada I want to live in. Last week, the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime was on television, talking about hiring 1,000 CBSA officers, and she had no clue as to how many officers are retiring or leaving the job and how many are needed to replace them, aside from the 1,000 the Liberals are promising. With whom does the buck stop? Conservatives and the Canadian public have had enough.”
“However, just scolding someone or alleging that they did something wrong or insulted somebody is absolutely facetious and does not help the conversation.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is pretty rich coming from these folks. These kinds of statements are sowing division, not unity. The challenge we have is whether or not we are going to be united. With respect to these sorts of matters, we have to follow the evidence. If the evidence is there, let it be, but the evidence has to be explored and dealt with properly. If a statement is made by any member of the House, it has to be reviewed and looked at properly in the sense of whether that statement was made with any basis. I believe the leader when he says there are issues with those investigations. I know for a fact that there were. If members want to have a committee hearing, I would be happy to endorse that.”
“Mr. Speaker, whenever that happens, it is always deeply troubling, because members of law enforcement, whether with the CBSA or police agencies, no matter where they serve, serve with integrity. They have values they follow. They sacrifice. They miss birthdays and weddings so all of us stay safe. They miss Christmases and Thanksgivings with their family. When they see or hear these sorts of things, such as “defund the police”, it truly is tragic that this is the value somebody has placed on their work. It is deeply offensive. It was offensive to me when I was a police officer and still is today that the sacrifice is not acknowledged. We add value to the lives of our citizens by protecting them and by serving them. However, the reward we get in turn is to hear that we should be defunded.”
“Mr. Speaker, the answer is very simple. If it is done legally, done properly, done sensibly and done with common sense, we will support it. Anything less we will not support. We are not here to trample on the rights of Canadian people; we are here to stand up for them and fight for them.”
“Whether they are from CBSA, the RCMP or municipal or provincial police services, what are they expecting of us, and how are we helping them to stay safe? Conservatives support sending the bill to committee. There are elements worth exploring, but we will be pushing for serious amendments to ensure that law-abiding Canadians are protected, criminals are held accountable and border communities like Windsor are no longer left behind. Canada's border is not just a line on the map; it is a front line in crisis, and it is time we started treating it that way, with urgency, investment and real leadership.”
“We are asking our officers to do more with less while criminals operate with complete impunity. (1720) Windsor is not just the front line of Canada's economy; it is now the front line of the drug crisis and the fight to secure our borders. If the government cannot track lethal drugs hidden in beverage cans that are exported overseas where innocent people are dying, how can we trust it to protect our own communities? We are not just risking lives; we are also risking our relationship with other nations, and our reputation as a reliable security partner is also being questioned. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: What message are we sending to our allies, our citizens and the brave officers who are out there?”
“We have also become a haven for money laundering, with billions flowing through shell companies, real estate and even casinos. TD got fined last year by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for these kinds of activities. This is not just a health crisis but a national security emergency. Our bail system is broken. Known traffickers and repeat violent offenders are walking free, sometimes the very same day they are arrested. In Windsor and across Ontario, auto theft is up 167%, extortion is up 350%, and firearms violence is up 97%. Roughly 90% of the guns that are used in crimes are smuggled across our borders. There are no answers to that either. What is not up, one might ask? Resources, helicopter patrol hours, Coast Guard funding and border surveillance equipment are not up.”
“There were no charges, no suspects and no answers. The RCMP has remained silent. That is not just negligence; it is a public safety failure. Since 2016, 49,000 Canadians have died from opioid overdoses, and I have been to a few funerals myself. Seventy-nine per cent of those deaths involved fentanyl, yet Bill C-12 does not include mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl or meth traffickers or for gang members using firearms. That is not progress. That is abdication of the government's responsibility to Canadian citizens. In British Columbia, labs are producing kilograms of fentanyl every week. These criminals are profiting from addiction and misery. Canada has become a low-risk, high-reward destination for traffickers, and not just for drugs.”
“Senator Sandra Pupatello, who hails from Windsor, recently raised the alarm about illegal crossings by kayaks and motorboats in southwestern Ontario. She is absolutely right that if it floats, it can be used to smuggle guns, meth, fentanyl and cash. It is all moving across the river, yet the federal government continues to ignore the voices of those on the ground who are sounding the alarm. Canada's failure to act has had consequences far beyond our borders. After an investigation done by W5, a report aired this past week. According to W5, a young man named Aiden Sagala died in New Zealand in 2023, after unknowingly drinking liquid meth disguised as beer, which was exported from right here in Canada. He was just 21 years old. Authorities in New Zealand seized 29,000 cans shipped from Toronto. Did we do anything about it? Sadly, no.”
“It is more focused, yes, but it still misses the mark, especially when it comes to public safety, border integrity, and fentanyl and meth trafficking. Windsor is Canada's busiest border crossing, handling over half a billion dollars in trade every single day, yet our frontline agencies there are stretched thin, underfunded, understaffed and overwhelmed. When President Trump raised concerns earlier this year about the northern border, Ottawa scrambled. The government spent $5.3 million leasing Black Hawk helicopters and flew 68 patrol missions in just six weeks. That program has ended, by the way. The RCMP called it rapid response capability, but only one interdiction came out of all that effort. That is not enforcement; it is border security theatre.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today as the member of Parliament for Windsor West to speak to Bill C-12 , an act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures. Let us begin with how we got here. The original version, Bill C-2 , was deeply flawed. It would have given the government warrantless access to Canadians' financial data and unchecked powers to manipulate platforms. It would even have allowed Canada Post to open private letters without a warrant. All of this was proposed without consulting the Privacy Commissioner, of all people. Conservatives and Canadians said it was enough, so our Liberal friends backed down. Now we have Bill C-12 .”
“Mr. Speaker, for generations, families in Windsor have been the beating heart of Canada's auto industry, building not just cars, but hope, stability and opportunity for countless Canadians. However, that hope is being tested today. While auto workers are wondering what the future holds, the Liberal government is refusing to release the Stellantis contracts, the very documents that could show whether the promises made to our community are being kept. Canadians deserve accountability, responsibility and transparency. They deserve to know if their tax dollars are protecting Canadian jobs or simply adding to corporate welfare with no accountability. Windsor has carried Canada's industrial future on its shoulder for over 100 years. Our people have done their part. They have built the engines, the factories and the future.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada has the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment rate. Contrary to what these guys believe, it is only getting worse for people in Windsor. The Prime Minister is breaking his promise that he would protect Canadian jobs. A day after his trip to the U.S., we were told there is no deal coming. Jobs in Canada are at risk, and the Prime Minister is pledging $1 trillion to grow the U.S. economy, which is a slap in the face to our workers. He moved his own company, Brookfield, to the U.S., and now he is doing the same for Canadian jobs. Why is the Canadian Prime Minister helping the U.S. grow its economy—”
“Mr. Speaker, the world over shares or exports energy, even developing nations. How is it that we are not doing that? Can the member walk us through how repealing Liberal anti-energy laws would help restore investment and job growth in regions like Windsor, Ontario and Alberta?”
“Mr. Speaker, we know Canadians' trust on this subject and in the government has been deeply eroded, especially given what has happened over the last 10 years. As someone who spent nearly three decades in policing, I know accountability is not about changing titles. It is about having and enforcing proper oversight. How does this bill ensure military prosecutors and police are not only independent on paper, but also in practice, free from command influence or retaliation?”
“Mr. Speaker, this legislation is long overdue, and I believe the Minister of National Defence himself admitted this today. One of the most important issues for any military is maintaining discipline and readiness. By shifting more offences to the civilian system, which is already overburdened as it is, how will the government maintain the swift discipline and operational effectiveness necessary to military service? How is the government going to strike a balance between justice for victims and the chain of command's need for operational order?”
“Mr. Speaker, having served in an environment where chain of custody and evidence integrity are critical, I am concerned about jurisdictional overlap. I would like to have the member tell us how the military and civilian police would coordinate investigations without creating gaps where cases could fall through the cracks.”
“Mr. Speaker, we know that Liberal bail has unleashed crime and chaos on our streets. Violent crime is up 55% since the Liberals took office, gun crime has soared 130%, homicides are up 30%, sexual assaults are up 76%, hate crimes are up 258% and more Canadians have now died of overdoses than died in the Second World War. The Prime Minister promised criminal justice reform, but half a year later, that promise remains broken. Liberals are obstructing our jail not bail bill, keeping in place their soft-on-crime, catch-and-release laws. In 2022, Constable Greg Pierzchala was killed by a suspect who had already been denied bail but was released anyway. His death was preventable. Today, Conservatives are proposing a fast resolution to pass our jail not bail bill immediately to keep Canadians safe.”
“Mr. Speaker, in January 2023, working as a police officer, I attended the funeral of Constable Greg Pierzchala of the OPP, who was killed by someone who had already been denied bail but was released anyway. The OPP commissioner at the time said this death would not have happened if the suspect had been kept in custody. To the Leader of the Opposition, what is the price that Canadians are paying at this point for these failed Liberal policies?”
“Mr. Speaker, the number one job of the public safety minister is to keep Canadians safe. The Liberals promised to hire 1,000 border officers, yet their own documents reveal they have not hired any and have no plans to do so either. This will result in more guns and fentanyl being smuggled across borders like Windsor and Sarnia. The public safety minister has failed miserably. How does the Prime Minister still have confidence in the minister? Why will he not fire him?”
“Mr. Speaker, a friend of mine who works in the energy sector just came back from West Africa, and he discovered that the U.S. government takes our oil and sells it to these nations at three times the price it pays us. The question he had was this: When is the Canadian government going to do something about this and keep that money in our country as opposed to giving all that money to the U.S.?”
“Mr. Speaker, during the recent election, at one out of every three doors I knocked on, the question I was asked was how our party was going to facilitate diversification of the economy. Our economy is totally dependent on auto sector jobs. The hon. opposition House leader was in my riding a couple of weeks ago, and he had the opportunity to visit a company called Southwestern Manufacturing. This was a tool-and-die business; it has diversified into oil and gas and nuclear. I would like the opposition House leader to enlighten the House as to what his discussions were and what he heard from the folks at Southwestern Manufacturing.”
“Mr. Speaker, people in Windsor and across this nation are tired of feeling unsafe and under siege in their own communities. For 10 years, the Liberals have pushed catch and release. Violent repeat offenders are arrested and then are back on the streets, sometimes within hours. My former colleagues in policing are tired of arresting the same criminals over and over again. The Conservatives have a clear solution: “three strikes and you're out”. People out there are demanding jail, not bail.”
“Madam Speaker, without proper judicial authorization, we become a lawless country. We have to have some safeguards in place so that we can do all these things. Yes, I absolutely believe that we should be able to catch the criminals who are using the Canada Post system to send these drugs willy-nilly. That should not be an option for anybody. How about starting with a better intel system where we can identify the idiots who are sending all these things to poor Canadians who are victims of drug overdoses? Let us start with that.”
“Madam Speaker, that is one of the reasons I got involved and came to this chamber. I am sick and tired of us being constant victims. We need to stand up to these criminal elements. We need to be able to stand up to organized crime, and we need to stand up to defend ourselves. I would love and appreciate if the Liberal government did something about this, rather than telling our folks, “Sorry, we are trying our best.” As a salesman of the justice system in my previous life, I told folks, “This is not a good product,” and I hated to say that. That is not who we are. That is not how our country should be defined.”
“Madam Speaker, there are many things we need to do to fix our judicial and postal systems, but targeting people and their mail through these measures is not the answer. There has to be better options, better scanners, better things that we can use to intercept, rather than using a blanket opportunity to go after every piece of mail out there to say we are going to treat all our citizens as suspects. That is not how we should treat our people.”
“We Conservatives will fight for safer streets, stronger borders and a truly sovereign nation that answers to its own people.”
“If we want safer streets and stronger communities, we need both prevention and firm enforcement. We need all of our prosecutors to take criminals seriously, not just some of them. We need police and CBSA officers to have the resources and our backing so they can use their powers effectively. We need penalties that match the harm these criminals cause. Canadians deserve better. We will continue to stand with victims, families and the frontline officers who put themselves in harm's way every day to defend our communities. Windsor West is a community of builders, protectors and entrepreneurs. We deserve a government that stands with our workers, supports our frontline officers and protects our families from criminals who prey on them.”
“When we make it clear that it is easier for foreign authorities to access Canadians' private information without full and transparent judicial scrutiny, we are not just eroding our privacy and that of our citizens. We are also giving up a piece of our sovereignty. Protecting our borders should not mean handing over control of our citizens' data. The Liberal government has had nearly a decade to act decisively on crime and border security, but what we see instead are half measures and weak enforcement. Families are losing children to overdoses. Communities are living in fear of violent repeat offenders. Frontline officers are frustrated that the laws tie their hands while criminals exploit loopholes. Conservatives believe in compassion, but compassion without accountability is weakness.”
“Strong safeguards, transparency and accountability are essential to ensuring that Canadians' rights are respected. There is a deeper concern here, which is our sovereignty. Buried in this bill are provisions that could allow the government to enter into agreements with foreign states. I have heard from many constituents about this issue. These agreements may compel Canadian service providers to hand over information about our citizens. Civil liberties experts have warned that this framework risks weakening judicial oversight, especially if it links to treaties such as the Budapest protocol or the U.S.-style data-sharing arrangements. We cannot have this.”
“That is not only in Windsor, but also in the rest of Canada. Instead of giving prosecutors and law enforcement stronger tools, this bill sends the opposite signal, which is that Canada is a soft target and our justice system bends instead of standing firm. Another aspect of the bill that raises legitimate concern among Canadians is privacy. We value the freedoms and privacy of every Canadian. No one should fear that their personal correspondence or packages can be opened arbitrarily. It is absolutely true that we cannot and must not ignore the threats posed by illegal drugs, firearms and organized crime. Law enforcement must have the tools to investigate serious criminal activity but only in a targeted, high-risk context and always with proper judicial oversight.”
“My colleague, the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola , a former prosecutor, has already highlighted a lack of serious penalties. Without meaningful consequences, the message is clear: Crime pays and victims do not matter at all. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police emphasizes the need for balance. Yes, that is needed. It supports prevention and treatment, but they also know, like any other police officer, as well as those of us here, that enforcement matters. Without enforcement and without accountability, we are left responding to overdoses, chasing repeat offenders and watching our social fabric unravel. (1740) Let us be very clear: Windsor West is on the front lines of these challenges. Every illegal gun smuggled across our border, and every fentanyl pill pressed and sold on our streets, puts our families at risk.”
“They see traffickers and gangbangers treated with leniency. They also see that some prosecutors are rushing to throw the book at ordinary Canadians who are defending a family member from an armed home invader. Does that sound like justice to members? It does not to me. Some people are asking why some prosecutors, or the police for that matter, are timid when it comes to organized crime and repeat violent offenders, but fearless or even punitive when it comes to law-abiding citizens defending their families. These are the questions that victims, families and even frontline police officers are asking us every day. Even experts and legal practitioners have raised alarms that the bill before us is light on consequences.”
“This was based on a joint submission by the Crown prosecutor and the defence lawyer and approved by a judge. They all patted themselves on the back for being compassionate citizens, which is very commendable, but where is the compassion for the families who have lost loved ones to these drugs? Where is the compassion for parents burying their children? For communities terrorized by gangs, dealers, and the violence that follows them, where is the compassion? Bill C-2 fails to address these realities. It waters down penalties for serious drug offences and violent crimes while doing little for victims or the families who are left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. When I speak with former colleagues, whether police officers or CBSA officers, the frustration is very clear.”
“I also served in the marine unit along our international border. I know of many colleagues in Windsor-Essex who serve as police officers and CBSA officers and who intercepted shipments of drugs and weapons before they reached our streets. This is real frontline police work, which results in lives saved and communities protected. Let me share one story that illustrates why we cannot be satisfied with half measures. A Toronto man was convicted this year for smuggling over 36 million dollars' worth of drugs into Canada. However, over 23 million dollars' worth of his meth was seized at the Windsor-Detroit bridge. Despite the scale of his crime, he was allowed to remain out of jail for nearly six months, until the birth of his child, before finally serving his sentence.”
“It is because of government policies that have made it easier and more profitable for Canadian companies to send work and investment south. This is the reality the Liberals have created: constant talk about supporting Canadian workers, yet policies that incentivize moving jobs and critical investment out of Canada. The people of Windsor built this company. The Liberals' failure to protect these workers is a failure of leadership. I call on the employer to return to the bargaining table with the union, and I call on the government to finally put Canadian jobs first, before they are lost forever. With respect to Bill C-2 , I am not just going to speak about it as the member of Parliament for Windsor West, but as someone who spent nearly three decades serving as a police officer. I patrolled our streets and answered the calls.”
“Madam Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to rise in the House at the start of the parliamentary session on behalf of the great people of Windsor West. More importantly, I am here to speak on their behalf in this chamber. Before I get to the matter at hand, I would like to speak about the workers of Titan Tool & Die in Windsor, the men and women of Unifor Local 195, who have dedicated, on average, 35-plus years of their lives to this factory, which was built by the late Joseph Szecsei, a proud Canadian and a pioneer of manufacturing in Windsor. Today, these workers are locked out while the employer moves jobs and investment capital to the United States. Why? It is not because of tariffs or trade barriers.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back. I am thankful for the opportunity to ask a question to my hon. colleague from Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies. I recall the troubling case of Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, who was granted citizenship despite alleged ties to ISIS. There was no vetting whatsoever. What confidence does the member have, in this bill or the system itself, that such a major blunder would not occur again?”
“Mr. Speaker, in Windsor West, we are proud of Trisha Haldar, a grade 8 student from Bellewood Public School who just won Canada's top science prize for inventing a tool to help families understand dangerous drug interactions. Her project was inspired by her love for her grandmother, and it is a reminder of how bright and capable young Canadians are. Meanwhile, the government's Bill C-5 would bury billions in new spending with little transparency. As there is no budget being tabled, it would hike our national debt and there would be no meaningful investment in the next generation of innovators like Trisha. If a 13-year-old in Windsor can solve real problems with a great science project, what is my colleague's view on the government's failure to table a budget that would help real Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, as a retired police officer who served on the front lines for nearly three decades, I have seen first-hand the damage violent criminals can do, especially when the justice system fails to hold them accountable. Today, extortion is up nearly 400%, and that is not a coincidence. The Liberals repealed mandatory minimums and gutted the bail reform act. They even voted down a Conservative bill to restore serious penalties for extortion involving firearms. My former colleagues working on the front lines are begging for help. Will the Prime Minister finally listen and adopt the Conservative plan to crack down on violent crime?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a comment rather than a question. People can call a rose anything they like, and it will still smell amazing. No matter how one spins it, a pile of manure is not going to turn into a charming hill in the countryside. Dressing up any old policy in new fancy packaging does not change what it is or what it demands of the Canadian people, which is more sacrifices.”
“Mr. Speaker, the government keeps selling this EV mandate as a climate utopia, but for workers and suppliers in Windsor facing job losses and rising costs, it looks more like a policy-made dystopia. How can the government keep calling this a just transition when the reality on the ground tells a very different story?”
“Mr. Speaker, in Windsor we build cars. It is what feeds our families and pays our mortgages, but now 50,000 Canadian auto jobs are at risk because the Prime Minister could not get a deal with the United States. He promised to be elbows up, but instead it is elbows down. In Windsor, auto workers and suppliers are very concerned and they deserve answers. If Buzz were here today, he would be asking how many jobs will be lost because the Liberal government failed to stand up for Windsor and the Canadian auto sector.”
“His legacy is felt not only in the assembly lines, but also in the strength and resilience of our communities. May Buzz rest in peace. His voice may have fallen silent, but his legacy will live on.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the Conservative member of Parliament for Windsor West. I am deeply humbled by the trust the good people of Windsor have placed in me to represent their voices in Ottawa. It is in that spirit that I pay tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on our community and our country's auto industry. That man was Buzz Hargrove, who passed away on June 15. Buzz started in the line of the Windsor Assembly Plant and later rose through the ranks to become the president of the Canadian Auto Workers Union. He was a passionate advocate for working families, especially in Windsor, where the auto sector is not just a source of jobs but part of our identity. Buzz fought hard for wages, safer workplaces and the security that comes with a good contract.”
“Mr. Speaker, today's opposition motion is about affordability and accountability. Windsor auto workers and suppliers are worried, as these mandates are going to impact their jobs. What specific and time-bound commitments is the government going to make to safeguard legacy auto jobs in Windsor and ensure that no worker is left behind?”
“Mr. Speaker, the City of Windsor is still owed $1 million from the convoy issues that went on there. The Liberal government has not paid it. Some of the money that would be recovered from this enterprise would go to the City of Windsor to refill its coffers, because this is money it has already spent.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is about accountability and responsibility, and that totally rests with the Liberal government at this point. In order to regain trust, we have to show that we are responsible parliamentarians and pass this motion. All the public is seeing is more of the same, which is eroding trust in public institutions, in us as parliamentarians and in anybody who works for the government. Nobody out there believes us or anything we say. We have to mean what we say and hold people accountable, or else we will not have much of a democracy left anymore because we are going to get scam after scam. This is not acceptable. The member's point is absolutely true. A lot of these agencies or companies start off with new names, and we just say, “Okay, it is good to go.””