Chris Bittle
St. Catharines, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 31st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Challenges Regarding Special Ballot Voting”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 30th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding Bill C-25 , an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact an act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026.”
“We have heard it from our American partners. The Prime Minister is right in ensuring that we step up and meet our NATO commitments and using that commitment to build and ensure strength within our manufacturing sector. I had the opportunity to tour a company in St. Catharines called FBT.”
“It provides a great number of high-paying jobs in St. Catharines and has a lot of long-term employees there, which speaks to the good work it does. A lot of tool and die shops, and other companies within the Niagara region, can learn a lot from this company.”
“By removing duplicate approvals and cutting unnecessary red tape, it will accelerate timelines and provide much-needed clarity and predictability to our industry partners. With a centralized process for review and approval, procurements will move forward more efficiently.”
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“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 22nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House. Motion for concurrence If the House gives its consent, I move that the 22nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be concurred in.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. [ English ] The committee advises that, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business met to consider the order for the second reading of private members' public bills originating in the Senate, and recommended that the items listed herein, which it has determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House.”
“No lessons were learned when the Leader of the Opposition was in cabinet and he saw that all of these energy projects that they were going to ram down the throats of Canadians were denied and stalled. Nothing happened, and nothing has changed in all of this time.”
“Mr. Speaker, I guess that is why they call it “questions and comments”. We can ask a rhetorical question and answer it ourselves before even putting it aside. However, this shows that the Conservatives are against the thing that they are asking for. It boggles the mind that as a government they showed for years that they could not get anything done. Any project they pushed forward was stopped by the courts, stalled and denied. The projects would have violated indigenous rights and gone against premiers at every opportunity. We have heard recently from the Leader of the Opposition that he would do exactly the same thing. No lessons have been learned during their time in opposition.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. The Conservatives would starve municipalities of funding. We heard in the lead-up to the last election that they saw mayors and city councillors as the enemy. Their leader spent week after week condemning mayors and elected officials as the villains in this country on housing and infrastructure. This just shows that nothing has changed and that the Conservatives would starve them of the money they need for infrastructure. My community in St. Catharines, and every member's community across the country, uses that fund to build roads and bridges, keep the property taxes lower in the community and build necessary infrastructure. The Conservatives would just do away with that and leave them to their own accord. They do not care about property taxes back in their own communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is interesting. The hon. member gets up to say that we are opposed to developing energy, yet he has been critical of building a pipeline, the Trans Mountain pipeline. I will be honest that at the time I was opposed to it, but Prime Minister Trudeau was right that it needed to get built, because we would be in a much worse position now if that pipeline had not been built. The Conservatives were critical, but at that time we got that pipeline built. Conservatives spent years trying to get oil to tidewater. They were not successful. They tried to ram through projects and violated the rights of people. We are going to get things done, we are going to get things built, and we are going to do it the right way.”
“Do we build Canada's energy future or do we undermine the very policies that are attracting jobs and investment? Do we offer Canadians real relief today or build resilience tomorrow? Our government has made this choice. We are providing immediate relief to Canadians at the pump. We are building Canada into an energy superpower, and we are doing it in a way that strengthens our economy, supports our workers and ensures that Canadians have the certainty and security they deserve. Canadians understand that we cannot control what happens abroad, but they also understand that we can control how we respond. Today, we are responding with leadership, with responsibility and with a clear plan to build a stronger Canada. For those reasons, I urge all members of this House to reject this motion and support a responsible path forward for Canadians.”
“Again, that is not responsible. Our approach is different. We recognize that Canadians need help today, and that is why we are acting to lower costs at the pump. We are doing it in a way that is targeted, temporary and responsible. We are pairing that with a broader plan to strengthen affordability, such as cutting taxes for the middle class, providing support for groceries and essentials, investing in housing, lowering child care costs and promoting stronger competition across key sectors. That is because affordability will not be solved by a single policy. It will be solved by a comprehensive plan. At its core, this debate comes down to a simple choice: Do we respond to global volatility with serious targeted action or with permanent, unfunded promises?”
“At a time when our allies are demanding cleaner, more responsible energy, that is a risk we cannot afford to take. There is another consequence that the Conservatives have not addressed: The proposal would have real impacts on municipal infrastructure funding. Fuel tax revenues support communities across the country, helping to build roads, transit systems, water infrastructure and climate-resilient projects. These are not abstract concepts; they are projects Canadians rely on every single day. Undermining that funding without credible replacement would shift costs onto provinces, municipalities and our future taxpayers. What the Conservatives are saying is that they do not care how much property taxes increase for their constituents. They want to have a quick, cheap political win without thinking of the consequences back home.”
“Let us talk about what the Conservative motion would actually do. It is not just about the excise tax. It proposes eliminating the clean fuel regulations. It proposes scrapping the industrial carbon pricing. These are not minor changes. These are policies that are driving tens of billions of dollars in investment into Canada's energy sector, supporting projects like carbon capture, clean fuels and low-emissions production. Scrapping them would not make Canada stronger, and the Premier of Alberta has said as much. (1535) It would make Canada less competitive. It would send a signal to investors that Canada is stepping back from the very policies that are helping us access global markets and create domestic demand for canola and other crops to support cleaner fuels.”
“We are using that strength not just for ourselves but for our allies. Canadian energy exports are rising. The Trans Mountain expansion is moving record volumes. LNG exports are reaching global markets. Canada is playing a key role in stabilizing supply during a volatile period. That is what it means to be an energy superpower. Being an energy superpower also means something else. It means building for the future. While we deal with today's price spike, we must also ensure that Canadians are not exposed again. That is why our government is investing in clean electricity, low-emissions LNG, nuclear energy and the infrastructure that connects our resources to global markets. We are building an energy system that is more resilient, more independent and more affordable over the long term.”
“As outlined in the Conservative leader 's letter to the Prime Minister , their plan assumes billions in revenue that may never materialize and would commit billions in permanent tax cuts that would leave a hole in our public finances. That is not a serious plan for a serious moment. From a natural resources perspective, the debate is about something bigger than just taxes. It is about energy security. This global crisis has revealed a fundamental truth. Countries that control their energy future are more resilient. Countries that do not are exposed. Canada is fortunate. We are one of the world's great energy nations. We have the fourth-largest proven oil reserves. We are a leading producer of natural gas. We are building major projects in LNG, nuclear, hydro and clean electricity.”
“It recognizes that the price spike Canadians are experiencing is driven by external global factors, not long-term domestic policy. It provides relief without undermining the fiscal stability Canadians depend on. Now let us contrast that with what the Conservatives are proposing. Their motion calls for sweeping permanent changes based on assumptions about oil prices that they simply cannot guarantee. Their entire plan depends on one thing, that global oil prices remain high. We have already seen how quickly those prices can change. Following a ceasefire announcement, prices dropped sharply in a matter of days. The question is simple: Are we going to base national fiscal policy on speculation about global oil markets? That is exactly what the Conservatives are doing.”
“We do not control disruptions in international shipping lanes. We do not control the decisions of OPEC or other major producers. What we can control, and what we must control, is how we respond. Today, our response is clear: immediate relief for Canadians paired with long-term energy security. Earlier today, the Prime Minister announced that our government will temporarily suspend the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel, from April to Labour Day. That means real savings for Canadians. It means up to 10¢ a litre off gasoline, money that stays in the pockets of Canadians. It means savings every time a parent fills up the car, every time a small business fuels a delivery truck and every time goods move across our country. This is targeted, and it is how we are responding responsibly for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, across the world, conflict and instability, particularly in the Middle East and with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, have put pressure on the global oil supply. Prices are rising. Canadians are feeling it. They are feeling it at the pump, on the grocery bill and in the cost of moving goods across the country. Let me be clear: Canadians are right to be concerned. However, in moments like this, Canadians expect seriousness. They expect leadership grounded in facts, not slogans. They expect a plan that deals with both the immediate pressures they are facing today and the structural challenges we must solve tomorrow. It is exactly what our government is delivering. Let us start with the reality. Canada does not control the global price of oil. We do not control geopolitical conflicts.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member did a very interesting job skating through his argument about who will stand up and protect the rights of terrorists, sexual offenders and whatnot, which is interesting, because everyone is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I think the hon. member made a case about that. At the same time, an hour or so earlier, the hon. member for Peace River—Westlock got up and asked why we do not just invoke the notwithstanding clause to suspend rights under these types of provisions. I was wondering if the hon. member could stand up and either defend the member from Peace River or explain why charter rights should be protected, even in cases like this.”
“Mr. Speaker, while I am on my feet, I want to wish a happy birthday to Wesley Padbury. The Conservative members were excited to ask a question about the notwithstanding clause, the suspending of rights for Canadians. This is something they talk about frequently and is something they would do with religious freedoms and freedoms before the courts. It is shocking that they would come forward to do that. I was wondering if the hon. member could comment on how easy it is for the Conservatives to want to suspend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is from Winnipeg, which is home to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. I was wondering if he can discuss conversations he had with its representatives, and how this bill would aid their work in protecting children and the police who aid them as well.”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, it being later this day, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the membership of the committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence on the 19th report later this day. While I am on my feet, I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 20th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Becoming a Candidate in an Election: A Review of the Criteria”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Certificate of Nomination of Anton Boegman to the Position of Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner”. The committee recommends the nominee to the position of foreign influence transparency commissioner.”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. The committee advises that, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business met to consider the order for the second reading of a private member's public bill originating in the Senate, and recommended that the item listed herein, which it has determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House.”
“That is why they are on the other side of the House rather than working to build homes for Canadians and young people who need them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I miss my time on the heritage committee with the hon. member for Drummond. At the same time, he is right; we do need to work with the provinces. That is part of the holistic plan. As I said, not everything is in this bill. The member talked about municipalities. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities says that it “welcomes the federal government's Build Canada Homes...initiative as a strong signal of leadership on the housing crisis.” I am sure the Conservatives will mock and laugh again at the experts and getting houses built. Let us not care what the mayors and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities say. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, again the Conservatives are laughing about the mayors. They called them gatekeepers.”
“I guess that is his right, but at the end of the day, the Conservatives have nothing on this file and do not care about young people. It is time to put their money where their mouth is.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member can cherry-pick the statistics that he knows are much deeper. He talks about young people, but the hon. member for Sackville—Bedford—Preston just talked about his bill on housing for young people, and the Conservative member voted against it. An hon. member: Proudly. Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the member said that he proudly voted against housing for young people. Shame on him. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are laughing about voting against housing for young people. This legislation is about getting housing that is more affordable for Canadians. That is what this legislation would do. The hon. member talked about how the experts are wrong.”
“However, there is a government that is willing to step up and act, to work with the municipalities and the provinces, but at the end of the day, all the Conservatives have are their stall tactics. All they have is their obstruction. They get mad when we say that, and I can understand why. They do not like the spotlight on that. All Canadians deserve a place to call home. Housing is a fundamental need, and the growing demand for housing across the country requires urgent action. The Government of Canada is implementing a new and innovative solution to bring down costs, cut red tape and build homes more quickly. I just wish the Conservatives cared enough to get onside.”
“The last time I was up on my feet, the member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations said the government is stalling its own legislation, which is impressive. It is impressive that they could even come up with something so ridiculous, saying the government is responsible for stalling its own legislation. The government wants to see the legislation get through. I would love to see this legislation get to committee, but the opposition does not want that. We can read the experts who have said that they would like to see the bill go to the next step, but the Conservatives do not care. They offer no plan and nothing of substance to Canadians to take that step. They say it is a housing crisis, and it is a crisis.”
“This is an agency that is going to be created. The consistency throughout the speeches today is that we have heard from our constituents. We have heard there is a housing crisis and we have a government that's willing to step up and take action. It is the opposition's job to oppose and to hold the government to account, but what we have seen, not just in this Parliament but in previous Parliaments, is the opposition knowing that in a minority Parliament, they can just talk out the clock. They can keep talking and prevent these measures from seeing the light of day and getting to committee. The Conservatives sit there amused at the notion that it is not them, that we should not look at them as being responsible for legislation not getting through. They say, as they have heckled to me before, that it is the government's fault.”
“The Conservatives delay, and the Conservatives obstruct. They talk about there potentially being problems with this bill. Let us send it to committee and end the debate right now. Let us send it to committee and see what the next step is. If these experts are wrong, because the Conservatives are saying that the people who want to build affordable housing in this country are wrong, then they are right and their leader, who built six homes when he was the minister responsible, is the person we should be listening to. At the same time as they are stalling this legislation, they are going to stall affordability measures. They are going to stall funding for these particular programs. They are going to stall the billions of dollars through budgetary measures to ensure that there is meat on these bones.”
“It said: The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association congratulates [the Minister] and the Government of Canada on the creation of Build Canada Homes. This new agency is an important step toward addressing the housing crisis—building homes at speed and scale, ensuring affordability, and listening to the community housing sector. We also congratulate Ana Bailão on her nomination as Chief Executive Officer of the BCH agency. We look forward to working with Ana and the Build Canada Homes team to deliver the homes communities need most. Together, we can build a stronger, fairer, and more resilient housing system for all Canadians. The organization that wants to build more affordable housing in this country, true affordable housing, is saying this legislation is a great step forward. The Conservatives laugh.”
“I bet the members over there have not visited a co-op in their riding. This is fundamental housing that was built, but successive governments, both Liberal and Conservative, stopped building that housing. The hon. member has a smug look on his face. He thinks it is so funny. Would the constituents back in Alberta find it amusing that he would stand up here and mock co-operative housing? It is unbelievable. I should not say that it is unbelievable, because it is truly believable. That is all we are seeing here today as legislation, again, is stalled. (1805) The previous speaker said that there were no experts that side with this. The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association is an organization that provides affordable housing across the country.”
“As Canadians continue to face an unprecedented affordability crisis, today’s commitments are a positive signal; building more homes that people can afford is an essential part of remedying the crisis. In particular, we are pleased to see the government recognize the value of growing non-market housing, including housing co-ops, through Build Canada Homes. With its robust pipeline of cross-country projects, the co-operative housing sector is ready and able to partner with Build Canada Homes to continue to build co-op housing at scale, as we have been doing through the Co-operative Housing Development Program and beyond. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, again, the Conservatives are just heckling me through this speech, and they laugh. This is an organization that provides co-operative housing throughout this country.”
“Speaker, they say that we are the government, but they know how the math works. They know it is a minority government. They know they can talk out the bill, and that is what they do on all the bills. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, I am hitting too close to home, because all they want to do is chirp. Let us go to the actual housing experts, because they see themselves as housing experts over there, but not many of them are, as I look across. However, let us talk about the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada on Bill C-20 . It said this: Canada’s housing co-operatives welcome the federal government’s continued focus on housing in Budget 2025.”
“They talk about the government's plans and say that what the Liberals put forward in their platform has not come forward. Well, it is not just in the bill before us, but in the budget, which was tabled in the fall and I understand has finally gone through committee. There are other bills that have been delayed, such as affordability measures. However, this bill is not the entirety of the plan. It is great for the Conservatives to cherry-pick and say that they are on the side of freedom, but all they are doing is standing here in the House of Commons, preventing people from moving forward. They can shout and say, “This is democracy,” but there is a difference between being the opposition and just being obstructionists. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr.”
“How dare he bring something forward? He was laughed at and mocked. It was his first time being elected as a member of Parliament, and he was right at the top of the private members' list, but all he got was mockery from the Conservatives. When the Conservatives get up for their speeches, they say, “Well, there is no plan. The Liberals have no plan,” and then they mock someone who is stepping forward to lower housing prices for young people in his riding. The Conservatives do not have a plan. All they have is obstruction. The last Conservative speaker, the member for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek , said something to the effect that they're not obstructionists and this is freedom. I cannot believe it. I do not know if they hear themselves. All they do is delay.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here. I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst . I appreciate the opportunity to speak about the importance of the Build Canada Homes act, which is truly a holistic approach to housing. Access to safe, affordable housing is the cornerstone of healthy, growing communities and economic opportunity. It provides people with stability and a place to raise their families. Housing costs continue to rise, which is something we heard about on all sides of the House. It is consistent with what we heard while knocking on doors. At the same time, I think it was the member for Sackville—Bedford—Preston who got up and talked about his private member's bill and having a plan for housing, and he was mocked by members of the Conservative Party: How dare he have a plan?”
“Motion for concurrence It being later this day, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented in the House earlier this day be concurred in.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 15th report later this day. While I am on my feet, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(a)(viii) and section 30 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Forms and Procedural and Interpretative Guidelines from the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner”.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I kept my comments to the thrust of the Conservatives' non-binding motion, but they are engaging in attacks. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, again, they have nothing except talking points and a non-binding motion. I hope the hon. member—”
“Mr. Speaker, again, it is a non-binding motion that the Conservatives have brought forward. Tomorrow is their caucus day. They can go to the Conservative senators who are sitting in their caucus and say that they need to move quickly on this, but despite the letter from the Leader of the Opposition , their only plan is to obstruct, stall, delay and deny. All of them are yelling, but again they have nothing except a non-binding motion for clips on Facebook. That is all they have, when police chiefs and police associations are begging— An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman just keeps yelling, because he knows he has nothing. He has absolutely nothing except a non-binding motion.”
“Mr. Speaker, a lot of the Conservative talking points ignore Supreme Court jurisprudence, which is interesting, because their justice critic often tells us that he is a lawyer and a former prosecutor. They ignore Supreme Court precedents and ignore the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The hon. member is right; we do need to move forward. There is a pile of pieces of legislation that we can move forward on. Are they perfect? They are probably not. They need to be studied. They need to be amended. We need to move on them because Canadians deserve to feel safe. Again, all the Conservatives have are talking points and the slowing down of things in this place.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct the hon. member on one thing. He said that I said he did not have any talking points. He is full of them because that is, again, all they have. It is just ludicrous to suggest that the government is stalling its own legislation. Do the Conservatives hear themselves? It blows my mind that they have finally given up. They have nothing. The emperor has no clothes. I do not know that anyone could believe that the government is stalling its own legislation. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the member is yelling because he cannot believe he would say something so ridiculous in this place.”
“They tried nothing and are all out of ideas. It is the Conservative way on this: to pound their fists and demand action but do nothing when the chips are down. I hope they put their actions into effect and ensure that these pieces of legislation get passed, because they are doing nothing.”
“Can the member go back to the premiers and say the Conservatives tried to put forward a non-binding motion? That is all they have. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are still yelling at me. They are mad because I am pointing a mirror to them. They have an opportunity right now to advance these pieces of legislation, but they are using their opposition day to stall. They could have used it to schedule hearings in committees, to direct these committees to study, or to call on the Senate to expedite studies of these pieces of legislation, but what did they do? They did none of that. The Conservatives actually had some power to move this agenda along, but again, all they are going to go to their constituents with is a piece of paper that says that they have a non-binding motion.”
“It is a neat trick so the Conservatives can again show their non-binding motion but then hold up all legislation to make it happen. The member has been here since before I was here. What is shocking through his heckles is that I do not know that he knows how this place works. We need to pass the budget. It is genuinely shocking how there is a lack of understanding of how this place actually works. The only gear the Conservatives have is heckling, shouting and obstruction. Again, a non-binding motion is not going to get this done. This is about immigration. Premier Eby of British Columbia said there was a wave of extortion in this country. He called it “a terror attack in slow motion”. He wants loopholes closed in Bill C-12 . He wants the passage of Bill C-12, but again we have obstruction. We do not see action.”
“I am sure he is going to go to the chief of police in Brantford and say that he has a non-binding motion. Is that going to reduce crime? That is all he has. It is truly unfortunate that a party that used to fight for law and order is silent. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, it says a lot that all the Conservatives are doing is heckling. Again, they have nothing. At its core, the non-binding motion before us is about making people afraid. Canadians have an expectation of safe communities, whether that is passing the budget or ensuring that we move forward on our commitment to hire 1,000 new RCMP officers and 1,000 new CBSA officers. An hon. member: Where, where, where? Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the member asks where, but he will not ensure that the budget gets passed.”
“member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations , who still keeps going. Perhaps you should have a review of the Standing Orders. It is not his turn to speak. Again, all the member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations has is a non-binding motion. Perhaps that it is why he is mad at me; he wants to tell his leader to pass consequential legislation, the consequential legislation that is before us. I am sure that he, as the justice critic, meets with police chiefs and police associations, because he talks about it in this place. He is hearing from those associations, “Pass the legislation.” An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, at the same time, why does the member come forward with this, because he is yelling at me right now that he has a non-binding motion?”
“At the same time, they are clutching at their pearls. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, how dare the member say that? He should probably read the Conservatives' own motion. I am sure none of them have gotten up to say that crime is down the last couple of years, but they are going to ramp up the fear. We have said from the start— An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the member for Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations is the biggest hypocrite of them all as he stands there yelling at the top of his lungs and not listening. This is nothing new for him; it goes back to the last Parliament, where he sat in committee and obstructed. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, even now he is trying to obstruct my speech and trying to shout me down, but I will keep going if it is all right with the hon.”
“The Conservatives are just fundraising off their obstruction of Bill C-12 , Bill C-14 and Bill C-16 . We even heard the member wanting more mandatory minimums. At the same time, he is obstructing Bill C-16. It is unbelievable, but again, they have a non-binding motion. That is their solution. I am sure that when they meet with chiefs of police and with mayors, they are going to say, “Well, we have this piece of paper.” When they are asked why they would not support other legislation that we have been calling for, they will have no answer. They have had no answer here. (1530) The only thing the Conservatives do have, which I am sure they have not mentioned, is that crime is actually down, but who are they going to blame? They have a non-binding motion to blame immigrants and refugees for the problem.”