Ruby Sahota
Brampton North—Caledon, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, on the day of his funeral, I ask all members to join me in honouring OPP Constable Tarun Bali, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and in extending our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and fellow officers.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians have questions, victims have questions and the police chiefs have questions as to why it has taken so long for Bill C-22 , which was originally Bill C-2 , to get through the legislative process. Every day that we wait, more and more victims are created in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, where are the Conservatives who used to care about protecting Canadians? They are not in this House. It is the government that has committed to protecting Canadians through our various bills that we have progressed through this House.”
“Madam Speaker, throughout the debate, I have heard the Conservatives make reference to, “Why do we need this bill at all? We already have existing laws.” It is really surprising to me, hearing that come from the Conservatives, considering they claim to be tough on crime and want longer sentences.”
“Mr. Speaker, this Conservative opposition is not about scrutinizing bills. We are up for scrutiny. We have amended many of our bills, including Bill C-22 .”
“Mr. Speaker, the member talks about underlying crimes that are in the code already, such as assault or mischief. This bill would take the penalties for those crimes and double them for people who would dare prevent somebody from going into their synagogue.”
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“Madam Speaker, yes, it is important that all of these cases are taken case by case. The Conservatives are trying to tarnish the image of immigrants as a whole, which I am against. Today, even if somebody—”
“Madam Speaker, the answer is absolutely not. Anyone who commits a serious crime in Canada and does not have citizenship is removed if they serve a sentence of six months. Also, during the citizenship process, criminality is a factor, and criminal background checks are asked for, which is another check and balance we have in our system. The system is in place. However, I would ask that Crown prosecutors pursue these matters and make sure these criminals are convicted and held accountable. There is no federal legislation that says sentencing should be reduced for anybody.”
“All we have asked for is support from the Conservative Party of Canada to pass these measures so that we can catch and convict criminals in this country and, when necessary, also remove criminals from this country. All I would say to the Conservatives is allow the vote, pass the bill and catch the criminals.”
“The crime prevention action fund is a key component of the Government of Canada's initiative to take action against gun and gang violence. It was renewed in 2023 and provides $390.6 million over five years to provinces and territories. The government also launched the building safer communities fund in 2022, which provides $250 million directly to municipalities and indigenous communities to bolster gang prevention. The reason I am listing all of these things is that they are all interconnected. It is important to understand that. No one fund or plan will solve the problem completely, but as I have been saying, we have a tough-on-crime agenda, we are adding resources, we have drafted legislation and we have tabled it in the House.”
“To support victims of extortion, the Government of Canada and the B.C. government committed $1 million. The Government of Canada is also providing the Government of B.C. with $500,000 over two years through Justice Canada's victims fund for four additional outreach workers to assist the B.C. extortion task force and local police. These investments address the need for additional victims services and community outreach in Lower Mainland communities, particularly Abbotsford and Surrey. This funding will also support the development and translation of public resources, including web pages and safety planning tools, to improve cultural relevance and accessibility. Through the crime prevention action fund, we recently announced $1.5 million for the Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative in Surrey to divert vulnerable youth away from gangs.”
“This, alongside proposed border security legislation, will support the provinces, territories and municipalities in combatting the illegal fentanyl trade and protecting communities from those who try to evade our border security measures. As part of our border plan, we are hiring 1,000 new CBSA officers and 1,000 new RCMP personnel to further strengthen our ability to combat threats from organized crime. Extortion is one of those crimes that is organized and transnational in its nature. Investing in and expanding these resources means that we are cracking down on crimes like extortion, money laundering, online fraud and gun smuggling, which have caused havoc in our urban centres. In addition to our focus on bolstering the capacity of law enforcement, we are making investments in prevention efforts and assistance for victims.”
“In January, we convened a summit on extortion in Peel, during which we announced another, similar $100 million to help the Peel Regional Police combat extortion, provide support and services to victims and build on the efforts already under way through its police force. This investment is further backed by a federal investment of $4 million to establish a similar drug enforcement team with the Government of Ontario. Let me be clear: These are not the only resources that are being put into this matter. Provincial governments are responsible for policing their provinces, and they have also put in resources to tackle this issue. The drug enforcement teams, or RIDETs, are a key part of Canada's $1.3-billion border plan. This is a historic investment. No other government has put this amount into its border plan.”
“At its conclusion, federal, provincial and municipal leaders committed to enhancing and strengthening law enforcement capacity, expanding community safety planning and increasing supports for victims and prevention initiatives. (1055) To strengthen Canadian law enforcement's capacity to disrupt organized crime groups that control the illegal drug market in B.C., the Government of Canada, in collaboration with provincial partners, is creating a regional integrated drug enforcement team, backed by a federal investment of $4 million over four years provided through Public Safety. It will bring together law and border enforcement resources from multiple agencies and jurisdictions to fight organized drug crime and combat extortion. To maximize collaboration, participants will co-locate in a centralized hub.”
“In response to B.C.'s January 2026 request for additional federal support to address the acute extortion situation in Surrey, which was recently heard about in the news, our government is providing 20 additional RCMP officers and a helicopter to strengthen local operational capacity. All of these efforts build on the federal leadership already demonstrated in November 2025, when the Government of Canada convened a trilateral summit in Surrey, B.C. It brought together federal, provincial and municipal leaders, along with law enforcement officials, to coordinate national action on extortion and organized crime. The summit focused on law enforcement, supporting victims and prevention.”
“The CBSA continues to aggressively pursue the removal of extortionists attempting to evade justice by abusing Canadians' concern for genuine refugees in need of protection. I do not want to single out only immigrants in this conversation, which I feel the Conservatives' motion does. They are trying to target immigrants and put them in a bad light, but the system is already there to identify when somebody has been criminally convicted in our country, and we have a process in place to remove them. I just mentioned that we are also creating other informal processes to remove those who are already removable.”
“If someone who is a PR or on some other temporary status serves a sentence in Canada today of six months or more, which one would for serious criminality, they are removed from Canada. The Conservatives are raising sensational issues based on headlines in which the Crowns are also responsible. I would urge that in many cases where Crown attorneys dismiss charges or fail to adequately pursue the charges the police lay, they do it so that these people can then be removed by the CBSA. The system is there to make sure that we can quickly identify these people and remove them so that Canadians are safe. Making a refugee claim does not exempt lawbreakers from the consequences of their actions.”
“Beyond that, there are many provisions currently in Bill C-12 , like those I have named, which will also help in these cases. They will apply retroactively, once passed through the Senate, and they will no longer allow people who have been in the country for over 12 months to even file a claim for asylum. Those with criminal intentions, who often come between our official ports of entry, through illegal means, will not be allowed to file a claim of asylum after 14 days. On top of that, I also wish to acknowledge that in this country, if someone has been found criminally liable and convicted on charges, that sheer fact makes them removable. They would be removed.”
“(1050) What is key, and this addresses the opposition motion today head-on, is that we have incorporated the CBSA directly into these task forces. The CBSA's job has been to work with police and process the removal of these individuals, sometimes even before charges are laid, when they are removable. If people are out of status in Canada and are connected to criminality, and the police are able to identify them, we are working efficiently and quickly to remove them from the country so that they do not take up resources and police time, and we are able to dismantle criminal transnational networks. We are putting in every effort and we are thinking outside of the box so that we can tackle these issues in a non-traditional sense.”
“Municipal policing partners have also secured charges in some of their respective investigations, both independently and through joint evidence gathering with the task force. As of January 20, 2026, in support of this task force, the CBSA Pacific region is investigating 111 foreign nationals who may be inadmissible for immigration and refugee protection-related offences. So far, nine of these individuals have been removed from Canada. I want to pause right here. This task force I am mentioning is in relation only to B.C. There have been many other arrests in Edmonton, Calgary and the Peel Region. Through the national coordination team and the intelligence provided, I am absolutely certain that we are going to continue to see success.”
“This evidence-led increase in police resources has ensured that additional tactical resources have more presence in identified areas. As of January 17, 2026, the task force has taken conduct of 32 files from jurisdictions across the Lower Mainland. Investigators are analyzing physical, digital and forensic evidence to establish linkages and advance investigations toward enforcement into identified cluster groups. The task force has obtained almost 100 judicial authorizations and executed multiple search warrants across the Lower Mainland, in the southeast district, and in Alberta. Investigators have made arrests, conducted searches incidental to those arrests and obtained statements to lawfully secure perishable evidence. To date, task force efforts have resulted in seven individuals being criminally charged.”
“In B.C., the extortion task force, led by the RCMP, brings together the CBSA, the CFSEU‑BC, the Delta Police Department, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, the Abbotsford Police Department and the Surrey Police Service. By combining expertise and intelligence, these agencies are expanding capacity, strengthening coordination and driving a unified response to dismantle organized crime networks and protect communities. To bolster enforcement, the B.C. RCMP has added resources to the task force, while the CBSA has opened investigations into foreign nationals who may be inadmissible, and it has already removed individuals from Canada. RCMP surge resources continue to be deployed strategically, using an intelligence-led approach to support local police agencies.”
“The NCST serves to expand the reach and impact of police agencies by facilitating information and intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies, and by providing tools, techniques, best practices and other resources to advance investigations led by the police of jurisdiction. Across Canada, law enforcement agencies have applied significant resources to this issue. The Peel Regional Police established the extortion investigative task force. The Calgary Police Service stood up a South Asian extortion working group. In B.C., the province and municipal police forces have mobilized to stand up the B.C. extortion task force.”
“This is an issue that is deeply concerning to me, not only as the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime, but also on a personal level. As the member of Parliament for Brampton North—Caledon, I have personally witnessed the impacts of extortion on people's lives. They can be very scary and devastating. In addition to our proposed suite of legislative changes, our government is moving to target extortion on a number of other fronts. The RCMP's national coordination and support team, which our federal government put in place, recognizing the seriousness of this issue, was started back in February 2024, when the crime was starting to surge. This support team supports investigations into extortion and intimidation tied to organized crime, working closely with police across Canada and international partners as well.”
“We agree that the recent increase in the numbers and severity of extortion attempts are alarming. That is why we are committed to protecting the safety of Canadians and Canadian interests from all criminal threats, including extortion-related acts of violence. Whether this is through physical threats, coercion or blackmail, extortionists seek to profit at the expense of others' livelihoods, safety and well-being. It is a crime that involves using threats, accusations or violence to coerce someone into surrendering something against their will. (1045) Extortion is not just a financial crime; it is a direct assault on the peace of mind of our citizens. We have seen a surge in extortion incidents targeting families and small businesses, particularly in the South Asian community, of which I am a part.”
“The proposed legislation would expand reverse-onus rules for violent and repeat offenders, limit bail releases and mandate stricter public safety considerations. It would also impose tougher sentencing provisions for crimes such as motor vehicle theft, break and enter and extortion. With respect to the crime of extortion in particular, Bill C-14 is a game-changer. Not only would it impose tougher sentences for this crime, but it would also mandate consecutive sentences for extortion when it is committed alongside arson or with a firearm. Our government introduced these bills to crack down on crime, protect Canadians and increase public safety. The Government of Canada is aware of the growing concerns related to the growing crime of extortion and is deeply concerned about Canadians who are victims, as am I.”
“Without the measures in Bill C-2 , which were proposed and tabled in the House back in June, this is very difficult. We are basically tying the hands of our law enforcement officers if we do not give them these lawful access measures. This would not only help in extortion cases but also help in child pedophile cases, and I do not know why the Conservatives are against that. It would also enable Canada Post to perform warranted searches of mail to stop the circulation of fentanyl and other contraband, which is an issue that is of grave concern in Canada. Finally, we are addressing the revolving door of justice through Bill C-14 . This legislation contains changes designed to keep repeat violent offenders off our streets.”
“This means that investigators would be able to confirm the identity and immigration status of individuals in real time, eliminating delays, which previously hindered criminal investigations. This provision would directly correct a lot of the things that I think the Conservatives wish to correct as well. However, we have already done those things in our legislation, which is why I ask that they stop obstructing and allow this legislation to progress. While Bill C-12 carries forward urgent priorities, Bill C-2 , the strong borders act, would continue to advance critical tools to further secure borders. This would include measures to further facilitate law enforcement's access to basic subscriber information. In cases of extortion, this is critical.”
“CBSA would be able to go into these warehouses to stop the export of items, whether they are drugs or autos, that are being exported out of our country and threatening the safety of Canadians. This is a good bill. We would cut off the flow of fentanyl into our communities by accelerating the scheduling pathway under this bill for precursor chemicals. We would also crack down on money laundering by increasing the monetary penalties for anti-money laundering violations, ensuring that non-compliance is no longer just the cost of doing business. Another critical section of Bill C-12 would establish clear legal authorities for IRCC to share information with provincial law enforcement partners.”
“Madam Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to lend my voice to the debate. I wish to assure Canadians today that our government is committed to protecting their safety and security and ensuring that all communities remain safe and free from violence. Bill C-12 , the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act, includes measures that would expand Canada's law enforcement tool kit to combat transnational organized crime. It is the culprit. Under this legislation, we would expand the CBSA's authority to access warehouses and export staging zones to identify and disrupt the movement of stolen vehicles and illicit commodities before they leave our shores. This provision would be game-changing.”
“Madam Speaker, the good news is that this new government has a tough-on-crime agenda. The Conservatives are good at giving salacious speeches, but they have been obstructing any of our measures that we have put forward to be able to handle these types of issues. Once again, we brought Bill C-2 back in June of last year, June 2025. Had we passed that bill, the people who had claimed asylum in that Surrey case would not have been able to do so. I have good news, because that bill was split and is now at the Senate. Retroactively, when passed, those cases will be ineligible. They will get cancelled. That is the good news. That is the work we can do together when the Conservatives stop obstructing.”
“Madam Speaker, what is disgusting has been the obstruction by the opposition. Back in June, we brought forward Bill C-2 , which contains provisions that would not have allowed those asylum claims to be made in Surrey that the member references. That portion, which is now in Bill C-12 before the Senate, would not allow any person who entered Canada over 12 months ago to make an asylum claim. They would be ineligible to even file the claim. All of those individuals, those 12 individuals, had been in Canada for over a year. They would have been ineligible had the Conservatives not obstructed and had passed that bill back in June, and that is disgusting.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have been following these cases very closely. In the case of B.C., where some people have filed for asylum, Bill C-12 , which is in the Senate right now and progressing nicely, would make those particular claimants ineligible to file for asylum. We are closing those loopholes. We are working tirelessly to make sure that extortionists are caught. Will the Conservatives help us give law enforcement the tools that are needed? I am asking for this. The lawful access measures in Bill C-2 are needed in order to catch child pedophiles and extortionists.”
“Mr. Speaker, the second bill we brought forward in this Parliament was Bill C-2 , which addresses this very issue and provides other measures, such as lawful access. I am glad to see that the Conservatives have somewhat co-operated and split that bill to create Bill C-12 , which is now in the Senate. This will create an ineligibility for precisely these types of people, who try to exploit our system. They will no longer be able to apply for asylum. I would like the members opposite to also co-operate on lawful access, because we need to catch these criminals.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have good news for the House. Just today we tabled the build Canada homes act, and we are hopeful that the Conservatives will not obstruct the bill as they have been doing with our budget that provides more affordability measures to Canadians, so Canadians can have that dream of buying their first home and so they can live in affordable housing. That is the dream of all Bramptonians; that is what I hear from my constituents. The act would help us meet those goals.”
“I would say that there is a provincial element and responsibility in the administration of justice, as well as a policing law enforcement responsibility to enforce the law and lay charges, and a responsibility for the courts not to dismiss these cases. I am wondering if the member would agree that, in order to really and truly protect our health care workers, we have to all work together at the federal and provincial levels to make sure, even after the passage of the bill, that it would actually get applied, because what we are seeing now is that it absolutely is not.”
“Madam Speaker, we have always supported the member's cause when it comes to the bill. It is noble what the member is proposing. However, in 2021 the Liberal government, in Bill C-3 , passed aggravating factors when it comes to health care workers. Therefore, when an offence is committed against someone because they are providing health services, including personal care services, that is already seen in our Criminal Code as an aggravating factor. I, too, met with nurses on the Hill yesterday, and the violence against health care workers does continue. It is very concerning. It is something I would like to solve, but I think there is a missing piece of the puzzle, because the crime exists in the code, but police are not charging. They think it is a waste of court time. They do not think it is going to lead anywhere.”
“Madam Speaker, a lot of comments have been made about the essentials benefit as though it is the government's only measure. I want to hear some more insight into what the long-term measures in the bill consist of.”
“Mr. Speaker, like I said before, when it comes to food inflation as well, responsible governments do more. That is why we are also seeing an uptake in people wanting to surrender their prohibited weapons. Over 22,000 people have signed up to get their guns out of our communities. That is progress. In addition to that, we have put major investments into our borders to catch illegal guns and get them off our streets. We have also put forward measures and legislation to help the police catch criminals and help them with their investigations. The Conservatives have been obstructing all of those measures. I would ask them to allow Bill C-2 to come to a vote.”
“Mr. Speaker, since taking government, we have had a tough-on-crime agenda. We have six different bills going through the House right now that are all tackling the situations the member mentioned. It has been eight months since we put in place Bill C-2 . We have been waiting on the Conservatives for their co-operation to pass lawful access measures that would help police in their investigations. We have been asking for help on cracking down on fentanyl and tackling organized crime, but they have been stalling and they have been obstructing all along. I hope they will get on board and work with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, if the challenge is complex, real leadership meets it with more, not less. This is why, when it comes to food inflation, Canada's new government is doing more. We are building long-term solutions to pricing pressures and are making sure Canadians get the real relief they need right now. We are building stronger, more resilient supply chains and are increasing domestic supply and production to ensure that additional costs are not passed on to the consumer. This will take time, but while we are doing that, we are also going to make sure Canadians get five years of support, over $1,890 a month for a family.”
“Mr. Speaker, violence driven by control and fear leaves deep and lasting harm, and too many women and children are living with the consequences. That is why we have introduced one of the largest Criminal Code updates in generations to confront modern threats and to protect victims from domestic violence, keep our children safe, address Jordan court delays and strengthen victims' rights. We are also cracking down on coercive control before violence turns lethal; increasing protections against sexual exploitation, including AI deepfakes; and reinforcing mandatory jail time for child predators. These reforms will allow our justice system to act faster and deliver stronger protections for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are talking about catching these criminals. In order to catch these criminals, the police need the tools to do so. They need to be able to connect IP addresses and phone numbers to the criminals, which the Conservatives are obstructing and stopping from passing in the House. We brought lawful access measures to Parliament in June, yet the Conservatives have been obstructing those measures all along. Whose side are they on? Will they help our law enforcement and police officers with catching these criminals?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives need to decide whether they are going to help us stop extortions or whether they are going to obstruct us giving law enforcement the tools they need to prevent these crimes from happening. Right now it takes about six months for police agencies to connect a phone number to an IP address or to a person, to a criminal, but these Conservatives are against supporting our lawful access measures, which would give law enforcement these exact tools. Which side are they on? I hope they will vote with us when we put this bill before Parliament.”
“Mr. Speaker, in this country, we have life in prison for extortion and mandatory minimum sentences when extortion is committed by organized criminals or with a firearm. We are taking this issue very seriously. That is why I have criss-crossed the country, finding out what is needed and where the gaps are. Everywhere I have gone, police and law enforcement agencies have asked for lawful access. That was the second measure that we brought to Parliament, but the Conservatives have been obstructing it every step of the way. What do they have against catching extortionists?”
“Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague to the government benches, where he is already making a real impact. In 2024, we had an auto theft summit and created a plan, and thanks to the dedication of law enforcement across this country, and focused federal action, we are seeing a downward trend in auto thefts across the country. On top of that, we presented bail and sentencing reform, which is going to make people who commit auto theft or home invasions face serious jail time. This is serious leadership for a serious matter.”
“Mr. Speaker, in Canada, someone who commits extortion can serve up to 25 years in prison. We have the laws in place, but we are going to improve on those laws. That is why we have put forward a bill on bail and sentencing reform. I am glad to see that it is progressing through committee. One law that could really help these cases is lawful access. It was the second bill we presented in the House. The Conservatives have been obstructing it all along. We had several different summits across this country. What did law enforcement ask for? It asked for lawful access. The Conservatives need to stop the obstruction.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is just a fact that the member for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South has been blocking all crime bills at the justice committee since the beginning of the current Parliament. He has been talking about his pets instead of talking about the safety of Canadians. This is a clear pattern that we are seeing from the Conservatives; they have been weak on crime since they got here. They have been blocking the bail reform bill. They have been blocking protections for peaceful worshippers. They will not allow the police to have the powers they need to stop extortionists and pedophiles.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South has been the main culprit who has been filibustering all the crime bills at the justice committee this season. The Conservatives have been talking about cats and dogs when hate crimes have gone up over 70% in this country. The reason we brought this bill was to help protect those worshippers. We are doing everything on this side of the House to protect Canadians and to protect public safety, and they have been opposing, they have been stalling and they have been blocking it.”
“I think it is really important that we prioritize legislation because we also need to give the other place time to review that legislation.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will look into it, but I just heard as I was here in the House, and I do not have the ability to confer with anybody right now, that a meeting has been scheduled. I hope, for the sake of these important measures, that a meeting is scheduled. It is something that I would advocate for as well. All the committees should be doing the work that is necessary, but I will also say that when studies are done, this is the time of year, during the last week of the parliamentary sitting, when committees will decide themselves whether they want to wind up the issue they are studying right now or they want to continue. That is not anything abnormal. In the last 10 years that I have been here, that has always been customary. However, once again, I will go back to the point about prioritizing legislation.”
“Mr. Speaker, my comment in terms of life was in relation to the work that is being done at the justice committee with respect to Bill C-9 and with respect to the bail and sentencing bill, Bill C-14 . It is what I have been hearing from law enforcement and what I have been hearing from victims, so it was in reference to that. It is not to make light of anything. I take this issue very seriously. In terms of what is being studied at the transportation committee, I think that is very important too. Safety on our roads is incredibly important. To a large extent, that issue is provincial. Provincial authorities can decide whom they license, whom they do not license and whether they want to license temporary visitors. I know Ontario is taking measures with respect to that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for that member, and I know that in the past there have been many opportunities provided to debate pieces of legislation in the House. If a member would like to appear before a committee, they have to work with that committee and it depends on the members and the consensus that is built at that committee. I hope that this member is given an opportunity because she always brings value to any debate that we have in the House.”
“Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with the member. Right now, we have a comprehensive piece of legislation before the justice committee. I have been promising constituents that we will get this bill to the finish line with the help of the Conservative Party and with the help of all parliamentarians in the House. Who wants to see criminals go free? Who does not want to improve our judicial system? We are delivering that. I would hope that the Conservatives would partner with us in that, but to my surprise, they have been obstructing every chance they get. They have been obstructing at committee. They have been obstructing in the House. They have been obstructing out at community events.”
“I would say the committee should get back to work, should have that discussion around the committee table and should have the important vote there.”
“Mr. Speaker, it would be very important for the justice committee to resume its work so the member can get an answer to that question. That question might eventually be before the committee. Members can debate that issue as they are supposed to be able to debate it in the committee process. We will then know what their views are when there is a vote on that issue. We will know where the issue lies. Let us get back to doing the work that is necessary, rather than debating hypotheticals. All we have been doing the last several weeks is talking about hypotheticals, filibustering about what may be, who may be thinking what or what is happening in which caucus meeting. That is not the work of Parliament. That is the work of gossip rags.”