Jeff Kibble
Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, British Columbia · Conservative · Canada
“There is no requirement to come back and report to Parliament, no definition of what “improving housing supply” is even meant to mean, and nowhere does the government commit to building so much as a single home. The government claims there will be 11,000 for the $13 billion it is spending.”
“However, there are people behind those numbers, and I know many of them by name. I know veterans, men and women who once wore this country's uniform, who are now living out of their trucks. I know forestry and mill workers who have been knocked down by mill curtailments and closures and are now living in campers.”
“He wrote a letter, he announced a screen, and he assured us he had stepped aside. However, when a motion came before Parliament that would have stripped the high-speed rail provisions out of the government's budget bill, the minister did not step aside at all. He stayed and voted to protect the project.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will share my time today with the member for Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North . Before I turn to the business at hand, I would like to share that I was in Hamilton this morning for the change of command of the Royal Canadian Navy.”
“The government has a real gift for illusion. Bill C-26 is dressed up as Emerald City on the Hill, with $1.7 billion announced with a great deal of fanfare, and all of it said to be for housing. What I would ask of every member of Parliament is that they pull back the curtain and reveal what the illusion is.”
“When money on that scale can move on the say-so of one minister with no criteria and no audit, I think we all know who tends to benefit in the end, and it is rarely the young family in Langford or the senior in Duncan. Instead, it is the well connected and the well placed. This brings me to the real question at the heart of this bill.”
The complete record
Every one of 241 lines we hold for Jeff Kibble, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 5.
“However, my concern is for the names that do not make the news: the young lieutenant who was repeatedly raped by his commanding officer; the corporal who has gone to her commanders only to be told the evidence is not there, or worse, have the evidence swept under the rug; the young sergeant who was pinned down and raped by her peers because she had received a prestigious award; or the master corporal who was raped by a fellow allied service member in Latvia, outside Canadian jurisdiction and where local authorities are not willing to prosecute. I have heard first-hand as Canadian Forces National Investigation Service members told a victim that they had all the pieces needed to get a solid conviction, but they have been told not to prosecute because it would reflect poorly on the military.”
“We must do everything we can to ensure that the supports our troops actually need and that they are asking for are implemented so that they can feel safe and respected in the workplace, be it on base in Canada or deployed in Latvia. Over the last few days of debate, we have heard a lot about the big names who have been accused of sexual misconduct, such as the admirals and generals who have been charged. Of course, that is what we hear in the news.”
“They do not feel supported or honoured by the government. We must deal with the issue of sexual misconduct and harassment so that our forces can begin to feel that respect. Many military sexual trauma survivors are being released or quitting the Armed Forces, along with many others who face systemic issues in the military, which is having a huge impact on recruitment and retention. We are short approximately 16,500 members in the Canadian Armed Forces. We are desperately short on the hard-working men and women who train up our troops to deploy on missions. Currently, there are over 10,000 undertrained and undeployable members in uniform. That is, over 10,000 men and women do not have the skills or necessary training to perform the jobs they have been hired to do. This is both unsustainable and embarrassing for Canada as a nation.”
“These are only a few examples of the key issues that will require rigorous committee examination of the bill. The last concern I wish to speak to today is that of the capacity of the civilian courts to take on these cases. We have seen, over the last 10 years, the civilian courts become more and more overwhelmed because of the Liberals' soft-on-crime policies. The bill would only add to a system that is already over capacity. This may lead to prosecutors' refusing to try a case because of an unlikely probability of conviction. What recourse will this leave victims? Internal service code of discipline punishments may still be possible, but will they happen? I fear that this will just feed the mentality of excusing systemic military sexual trauma in the Canadian Armed Forces. Our service members do not feel safe or respected.”
“(1615) Additionally, while the military police can still start investigations of these cases on Canadian soil, they are to pass the investigation along to civilian investigators as soon as possible. This is a step in the right direction, but we need to ensure that these investigations are unhindered. This brings us back to the concern over political interference. An unhindered civilian investigation will be vital to the success of cases in civilian court, so it is key that the bill outlines that process and includes the importance of unobstructed, independent investigation. There need to be tight protocols for the collection and sharing of information related to the investigations, and there need to be solid protocols for unrestricted access by civilian investigators.”
“The bill indicates that investigations and prosecutions would be moved under civilian authority for sexual misconduct cases that take place within Canada, which we support, but what about the cases that take place abroad while on deployment? Those would still be investigated and prosecuted by the military police, who often already struggle to successfully investigate and prosecute under the current system, and now the concern is that those skills would only atrophy, as they would see fewer cases. This must be considered and accounted for in legislation to ensure that Canadian Armed Forces members can be properly served justice at home or while deployed abroad.”
“While the change would mitigate military interference, it would also open the door to direct political interference. Given the evidence we have seen first-hand of increased political interference from the Liberal government over the last decade, it raises concerns that this pattern may be even worse under the legislation. I am talking about cases like Vice-Admiral Mark Norman and the former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance. Moreover, the logistics around the lengths of the appointments and the process of how individuals would be appointed is unclear. There would be no consistency with the other Governor in Council appointments. We must address these issues before implementing the bill.”
“One of the concerns that has been brought forward is that the legislation would open the door to increased political interference with new Governor in Council appointments of the director of military prosecutions, the director of defence counsel services and the provost marshal. They would be moved from their current reporting structure under the judge advocate general, and while the intention of the change is well-meaning, meant to create independence from the military and the judge advocate general, it would ultimately give more power to the minister of national defence. Not only would the minister have direct control over the key investigatory and legal positions in the Canadian Armed Forces, but the change would also allow them to issue guidelines related to Bill C-11 with respect to prosecutions.”
“Though desperately late, Bill C-11 has the potential to meet one of the many outstanding recommendations that need to be implemented from the Deschamps, Fish and Arbour reports. The bill is something the Conservatives want sent to committee, where it clearly needs rigorous study. We need to hear from experts, including those in the legal community, and we need to hear from victims and those who have served or are still serving. Unfortunately the legislation is not without issue. Conservatives already spoke to numerous stakeholders about the bill when it was in its previous form, Bill C-66 , and there are many questions and concerns that must be addressed, which is why we support the bill in principle but believe it requires in-depth study at committee.”
“Less than half of them had been implemented as of the last public updates, and I am at a loss as to why the government has sat on its hands and ignored our military members again and again, especially those who are suffering from military sexual trauma. They deserve better than what the Liberal government has yet to give them. Under the current system, victims and their families have no answers, and their cases continue to sit, awaiting proper action. It is 10 years and three separate reports later, and we are finally seeing the Liberal government start to implement legislation to help deal with the horrific travesties of justice, something the Liberal government should have dealt with years ago.”
“Unfortunately, all too often, people in uniform are impacted by military sexual trauma, an issue that Bill C-11 looks to address. My Conservative colleagues and I wholeheartedly believe that we must address and provide realistic solutions to the issues of sexual misconduct, racism, sexism and other forms of harassment in the military. All military members deserve to have a safe and respectful workplace, especially given the amount of sacrifice we already ask of them and their families. Deschamps, Fish and Arbour are three former Supreme Court justices who have released separate reports dealing with sexual misconduct in the military, the first of which was published in 2015, yet we are still waiting for a majority of the recommendations to be implemented.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise on behalf of the great people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford on Vancouver Island. I would like to take a minute to recognize a resident from Langford, Mr. Matt Gariepy, who recently retired from the Royal Canadian Navy after 23 years of service. I congratulate Matt. Today I am honoured to speak on behalf of the brave men and women serving our country in the Canadian Armed Forces. As a veteran myself, I am proud to have worked with so many heroic men and women, and I share much respect for those who have served and continue to serve. I understand first-hand the support that all people in uniform need, and I have made it part of my mission to continue to listen and to ensure that their needs are met.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to negotiate a win for Canadians with President Trump. He promised a deal by July 21, but there is still no deal. Now tariffs on lumber are set to increase from 35% to a whopping 45%. On Vancouver Island, we have several mills that have curtailed operations until year-end. They face closing entirely if we do not seek change. That is thousands of lost forestry sector jobs. When will the Prime Minister finally realize that mills will close and thousands of jobs on Vancouver Island will be lost without an end to U.S. tariffs on lumber?”
“I look forward to continued broad support from across the House as we look to prevent the revictimization of the families of murdered and brutalized persons. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)”
“It would not change the outcome; the offenders are unlikely to ever be released. The bill is just; courts and judges would retain their discretionary powers based on the circumstances of the case. Most importantly, the bill is compassionate; it is about sparing the victims' families and loved ones from appearing at unnecessary parole hearings year after year. The hearings feed criminals' depraved nature to revictimize as they describe their heinous crimes in detail. Victims' families are dedicated to attending, to advocating and to giving a voice to their loved ones who can no longer speak for themselves. Families relive the experience and trauma of their loved ones over and over. The bill previously received wide support from the members opposite and was set to pass to committee in 2021. However, an early election was called.”
“Bill C-235. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-235, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility) . He said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table my private member's bill today, an act respecting families of murdered and brutalized persons. I have the utmost respect for my colleague, the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman , who originally tabled the bill. I am honoured that he is here today to second the important bill before us, which speaks to the most heinous cases, where criminals abduct, sexually assault and murder their victims. Think of Bernardo, Pickton, Rafferty and McClintic, or Wellwood and Moffat. The act would increase parole ineligibility from 25 years to 40 years for these types of cases. The bill is fair.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals know full well that no Canadian shipyard could justify the multi-million dollar cost to build on this major capital project, as contracts were designed with Chinese cheap labour, low worker safety standards and minimal environmental regulations in mind. Now billions of dollars of printed money are going out of our economy and into China's. What is the solution? Let us build new ferries here in Canada. When will the self-proclaimed “great economist” Prime Minister put Canadian workers and the Canadian economy first and cancel the billion-dollar loan?”
“Mr. Speaker, the former transport minister was dismayed when I asked her about the Liberals funding BC Ferries to build four new ships at a Chinese state-owned shipyard back in June. Turns out, her office knew about the deal weeks earlier, according to The Globe and Mail yesterday. Canadians deserve transparency on the reported national security concerns with this deal. The Liberals promised “buy Canadian”. When will they stop investing in China's economy and cancel the billion-dollar loan?”
“Let us remember Warrant Officer Hohl not only for his service, but for the values he lived: duty, honour and sacrifice. I say fair winds to Warrant Officer Hohl.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only as a member of Parliament from Vancouver Island, but as a veteran who understands the quiet weight of service. I stand here to honour Warrant Officer George Hohl, who tragically passed while deployed in Latvia on Operation Reassurance. His body was returned to Canadian soil on Friday. George served with distinction for nearly 20 years. His commitment to duty touched not only the Canadian Armed Forces, but all Canadians who value quiet courage. This summer, I visited CFB Edmonton, where George served. I witnessed the honour and excellence our soldiers carry. George embodied that spirit. To his wife Michelle, his comrades and the defence community, we stand with them, we mourn with them and we honour him.”
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Attorney General stated that the Liberals will bring forward multiple changes to their catch-and-release laws in the fall, effectively admitting that Bill C-75 is a failure, yet the same day, the secretary of state for combatting crime blamed the provinces for releasing violent repeat offenders. Two years ago, my own daughter watched as her boyfriend, Johnny, was murdered in Victoria, stabbed to death by a violent repeat offender who was out on bail for attempted murder not three weeks earlier. When will the Liberals protect Canadians like Johnny, actually take action and cancel failed Bill C-75 ?”
“Will the Minister of Transport please share specifically who she sent the letter to in B.C.? Will she make the letter public for all to see? Will the Minister of Transport withhold the $36-million subsidies unless the B.C. government puts Canada first and invests in Canadian shipyards?”
“Mr. Speaker, last week B.C. Ferries announced that it will purchase four new full-sized ferries from a Chinese Communist Party state-owned shipyard rather than a Canadian shipyard. Indeed, our shipyards cannot compete with China's cheap labour, lower safety standards and poor environmental regulations. Canadian union workers, industries and shipyards all feel betrayed. The Minister of Transport stated that this is not a federal issue, despite the Liberals subsidizing B.C. Ferries to the tune of $36 million a year. The fact remains that hundreds of millions of dollars will be sent to a Chinese state-controlled shipyard, supporting China's economy and its workers. Earlier this week, the Minister of Transport stated that she shared her concerns in a letter sent to B.C.”
“Mr. Speaker, what a great non-answer. Yesterday the Minister of Transport refused to act on my concern over BC Ferries' buying four ships from a Chinese state-owned shipyard. She used the excuse that it was not a federal project, which was not the question that I asked. The Liberals should be supporting Canadian shipyards and our economy instead of supporting CCP-owned shipyards and their economy. Again, I ask this: Will the Liberals attach the obvious condition of buying Canadian-built ships in order for BC Ferries to get their over $30-million Liberal subsidy?”
“Mr. Speaker, BC Ferries just announced that it will purchase four new full-sized ferries from a Chinese state-owned company rather than from a proven Canadian shipbuilder, such as Seaspan in North Vancouver. The Liberals are set to hand over $30 million to BC Ferries, while BC Ferries hands over critical jobs and investment in industry to China. Will the Liberals attach a common-sense condition of buying Canadian-built ships to BC Ferries in order to receive its $30-million subsidy?”
“Madam Speaker, my esteemed colleague's question is challenging. I share the story not just for sympathy but so people understand that these traumas affect not just me but so many people across our country. I am sharing to show I understand that we must change our laws, we must protect our victims and we must keep violent repeat offenders off our streets. I am passionate about it, but I know I am not alone, because there are so many people across our country who have faced the same trauma, the same challenges. I join with them and understand their challenges.”
“Madam Speaker, my heart and my sympathy go out to the families and all those affected by the forest fires. I salute, congratulate and acknowledge the hard work of the first responders, the military and other services that are fighting the devastating fires. As I said, I support, and our party supports, responsible use of our natural resources. We produce some of the cleanest energy in the world, and I will continue to support responsible use of our natural resources to rebuild our economy.”
“Madam Speaker, I congratulate my esteemed colleague on her first time in the chamber. Our armed forces need significant rebuilding and re-funding, and the delays have been going on for 10 years. I appreciate the government's new statements that it is planning to support our military, and I appreciate that it has stolen many of those policies from our own platform, which just indicates that our platform is going in the right direction. I will work to support any policies that will help rebuild our military, bring back pride in the work it does and support our members in the Canadian Armed Forces.”
“While I may be new to this chamber, I am not new to working for the federal government. I served Canada for 28 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, defending our great nation's sovereignty, democracy and freedom. Through the skills, leadership and experience gained at sea during operational deployments and command positions, I will continue my mission to serve Canada, but now from this chamber. Let us rise together and restore the dignity of our seniors, respect our first nations, honour the sacrifices of our veterans, support our serving military and build a country so that our youth can once again have hope. Canada is worth it; our children are worth it, and the future we fight for begins today.”
“Where is the Prime Minister's budget? We were all elected to represent our ridings and bring positive change. Parliament should be sitting through the summer, with committees working tirelessly to address these changes. Actions are not matching the promises. The people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford have entrusted me with the immense responsibility of representing them in Ottawa, and I do not take this lightly. We are the government in waiting. Hope is what the House must rekindle in the heart of every Canadian. It is hope that drives parents; they work tirelessly so that their children can have a better life. We must ensure that our children inherit a Canada that embodies the values we hold dear, a Canada where hard work pays off, where families thrive and where every generation inherits a better future.”
“For example, we need to take immediate steps to support B.C.'s recreational fishing industry, which is nearing collapse. A simple fix of marking all hatchery salmon would allow our recreational fishing industry to return from the brink of extinction. We have renewable resources, whether forests, fish, farming or even mining. Now is the time to use them responsibly and build wealth and rebuild our economy. We need to spend on responsible infrastructure, such as by bringing in rapid transit and an alternative route for the dangerous Malahat Highway. Rapid transit would connect our island, bring economic prosperity, improve safety and benefit the environment. Unfortunately, the throne speech was light on details. Promises of change and prosperity are not matched by actions or supported with plans. Where is the Prime Minister 's plan?”
“We need to incentivize municipalities and reduce red tape and bureaucracy while unleashing our home builders so that hard-working tradespeople can build homes. They are the experts. We do not need another government agency that will fail to deliver homes. We need to repeal Bill C-75 and Bill C-5 to keep repeat violent offenders behind bars so that people like Jonny could still be with us. We need to repeal Bill C-21 and protect the rights of our law-abiding, licensed hunters and sport shooters while protecting our borders and keeping illegal guns from entering Canada and illegal guns off our streets. We need real tax cuts that will stimulate our economy and relieve pressure on so many. We need to unleash our industry and natural resources to build our economy.”
“Too many veterans despair, hearing from their government that “they're asking for more than we are able to give right now”. We lose them not just to old age but to the despair that follows when a nation forgets its promises. This is unacceptable and must change. Furthermore, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been devastated by years of neglect. They face challenges that no military personnel should endure, from inadequate resources to outdated equipment and the inability to afford housing where they are stationed. To be a strong fighting force, they need modern equipment and solid recruitment, and we need to restore their customs and traditions. We must ensure they have the tools, training and resources required to do their job effectively.”
“Two years ago, my daughter watched as her boyfriend, Jonny, was murdered by a stranger in downtown Victoria. He was stabbed to death by a repeat violent offender who was let out on bail for attempted murder not three weeks earlier and had a history of no fewer than five violent charges against him. (1250) The Liberals' soft-on-crime bills have allowed dangerous criminals to remain free, which risks public safety. Violent criminals must be held to account to prevent further tragedies and restore faith in our justice system. What of our veterans, the brave men and women who once stood defending our sovereignty and freedom? These heroes now face bureaucratic hurdles that strip them of the respect and the care they deserve.”
“They are our daughters, sons, mothers, fathers and loved ones. The trauma of losing family members to addiction leaves lasting scars. The absence of effective action to address this crisis continues the cycle of dysfunction and despair. In Duncan, the crime rate is 237% above the national average, and the violent crime rate is 153% above the national average. A few months ago, I met Norm, a retired minister whose 80-year-old sister was mugged and pushed to the ground, breaking her hip. In Langford, police are finding drug labs hidden in homes and pulling over cars to find fentanyl and illegal firearms. This needs to change. Crime is not just a story in the news; it is something that now touches everyone's life, my own family included.”
“The seniors who built this country are struggling to make ends meet while feeling unsafe to go shopping in their once-safe communities. These are all signs of a failing economy, and this needs to change. People are worried about rapidly increasing crime, disorder, open drug use, addictions, homelessness and poverty. This should not be the norm in our communities. The so-called safe supply experiment has failed. The overdose crisis continues to ravage communities, claiming thousands of lives in British Columbia alone. Families are left helpless as loved ones succumb to addiction. This is exacerbated by government policies that prioritize the distribution of dangerous drugs without providing adequate rehabilitation and support systems. These are not just statistics that we hear in the news.”
“However, for all of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford's beauty, resources and opportunities, I am saddened to report that, as in much of Canada, our people are struggling. During my campaign, I spoke with thousands of people across our riding, and the message was clear: This is not the nation we all once knew. People are struggling to make ends meet, pay for groceries, heat their homes, pay their bills and provide for their families. I met many who are losing their homes or who are now living in shelters or on the street. This needs to change. Many people live without a doctor or basic medical care, with wait-lists of many years. Some of our communities, including Port Renfrew and Lake Cowichan, have no doctors anymore.”
“There are farmlands, mills, small ports, logging, mountain ranges and remote communities spread across some 4,800 square kilometres. We have an active outdoor community and endless opportunities for recreation and tourism. We have numerous rivers and many fish hatcheries. It is a truly beautiful, stunning and vibrant place, where I have lived most of my adult life, and I am proud to call it home. There are seven first nations that make up almost 10% of our population. I continue to learn from them while respecting their culture and traditions. There are seniors, young families, farmers, trade workers, retirees, anglers, hunters and business leaders. As well, there is a strong veteran community and many serving military members across our riding.”
“We all came together, working endlessly, and they put their trust in me. I thank them. I say a special thanks to the many young people who volunteered and turned out in record numbers to vote for positive change and Conservative values, many for the first time. I truly believe that the work we are all doing here is for the youth and future generations of our nation, and that is the reason I am here. Their dreams of Canada, where hard work is rewarded with a good paycheque, where families can live in a safe neighbourhood and where they can one day afford a home, are the dreams I will continue to fight for. Our riding is as diverse as our landscape, from the fast-growing city of Langford, with bustling urban life and a vibrant sports community, to the remote, rugged fishing town of Port Renfrew on the Pacific Ocean.”
“Madam Speaker, I stand before this chamber for the first time, and I am humbled to represent the people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, located on beautiful Vancouver Island, from Chemainus to Langford and from Port Renfrew to Duncan, including Thetis Island and Penelakut Island. I thank them for putting their trust in me and for supporting positive change and hope for our riding. To my wife, Angel, and to our children, I say thanks for their unwavering support, love and enthusiasm as I tackle this new mission in life to represent our communities. I would also like to pass along my utmost gratitude and appreciation to my amazing campaign team and the committed volunteers who worked tirelessly to connect with as many constituents as possible. They include Janet and Fred, our senior-citizen, door-knocking dynamic duo.”
“Mr. Speaker, after 10 years, the Liberals have doubled housing prices. The new minister 's housing record shows that the government is more of the same. As the mayor of Vancouver, he oversaw rent increasing 50%, house prices increasing 179% and homelessness increasing 40%, yet we know we must build more homes to meet demand. The City of Langford is actually discussing slowing down the development of homes, stating, “there is no award for overachieving”. How many more Canadians must struggle to find a home before the government finally tables a budget?”