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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“They will not examine it in committee. They will fight it here. They will go back to their constituents and say they supported a non-binding motion. Where are they? They say this is their issue. They talk about it time after time. I would like to believe the Conservatives have some legitimacy in this space, but where are they? If these bills are so terrible, why are they not getting them to the committee to amend them and make them better in their minds? They are just leaving them here on the floor of the House of Commons. They are not speaking to the Conservative members of their caucus in the Senate to make sure the bills are expedited. Premier after premier is screaming to get these pieces of legislation passed, whether it is Bill C-2 , Bill C-8 or Bill C-9 on combatting hate.”
“The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police stated that Bill C-2 is “a timely and necessary step as part of a sustained commitment to modern laws, modern tools, and modern collaboration.” This will give law enforcement the tools they need to dismantle and prosecute increasingly sophisticated organized crime networks threatening our communities. Again, the chiefs of police are calling for action, and what do the members have on the other side? They have a non-binding motion, a non-binding resolution. Where are they in their committees? When are they saying to their leaders, “We need action on this. Our chiefs of police, our police associations are demanding action on this. They are demanding action on lawful access.” They will get up and say that terrorism and child exploitation are problems, but they have concerns with the bill.”
“His leader sent a letter to the Prime Minister saying he's ready to co-operate. These are words on paper. Yes, on one of the pieces of legislation, the Conservatives have moved forward. On Bill C-14 , we have seen some movement. After months of holding it back, after months of filibuster, we have finally seen some movement on that. My understanding is it finally passed committee after, again, mayors and chiefs of police begged the Conservatives to let these pieces of legislation through. We still see a lot of work ahead of us. We can look at Bill C-2 .”
“The Conservatives have had opportunities since the start of this Parliament to act on legislation, to act on things that matter and act on a piece of legislation, while mayors, police chiefs and constituents have begged them to stop their obstructionist tactics. Whether it is Bill C-2 — Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member from Manitoba is going to sit there and heckle, and the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman is just going to heckle. He has nothing to add. He has been part of this obstruction from the start. He has been here for 10 years, but he has brought nothing to the table in terms of this problem, except yelling, screaming and pounding his desk on a non-binding motion. He has an opportunity. He is still yelling. He has an opportunity to go to his leader 's office.”
“Mr. Speaker, I hope you can give me a bit of latitude. This is my first opportunity to rise since the passing of Kirsty Duncan, and I want to offer my condolences to her family. Very few people in this place have fought as hard as Kirsty for the most vulnerable in their community and across the country. The Olympics are going on, and the women's team is playing right now. I know she would be glued to that, because there was also no one who fought harder for safety in sport in this country than she did, so my condolences go to her family. I am here to speak today on the Conservative opposition day motion. It is really telling that, for a party that claims to want to have an impact on law and order and to be tough on crime, the only thing it has brought to the table is a non-binding motion of Parliament.”
“Investing in ALS research is an investment in innovation, in better health outcomes and in hope for families across the country. Together, we can work toward a future free of ALS.”
“Mr. Speaker, ALS is a progressive neurological disease with no cure. Nearly 4,000 Canadians are currently living with ALS, and each year about 1,000 more will be diagnosed, while another 1,000 will lose their lives to this devastating illness. An ALS diagnosis is life-changing for patients and their loved ones. I recently met with my constituent, Christopher May, who was recently diagnosed. Despite the challenges ahead, Chris remains hopeful because Canada is home to world-class researchers and clinicians dedicated to improving treatment, care and outcomes for people living with ALS. We have the expertise and the capacity to lead. By strengthening national research efforts and supporting collaboration across institutions and sectors, we can accelerate discovery and expand access to clinical trials.”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, it being later this day, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 13th 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 13th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 13th report later this day.”
“Mr. Speaker, I hope you will allow me a bit of latitude to wish my constituents very happy holidays and a very merry Christmas in St. Catharines. I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Question of Privilege Related to the Member for Wellington—Halton Hills and Other Members”.”
“Mr. Chair, I like that he says criss-crossing. My riding is not geographically that large, but I do get across it as much as possible. There is an apprehension that I think exists in all of our ridings. The closer we get to the border, the closer that is, because that friendship and trust have been broken. Since the Second World War, we have looked to the United States and the United States has looked to us as a partnership. Canadians are taking that harshly and buying less. They are looking at the shelves and looking to see the red maple leaf is there before they buy. This is something I know will continue. That apprehension exists, but at the same time, we have to be there as a government to show that we support them in times of uncertainty.”
“Mr. Chair, I do not think anyone has given up on electric vehicles. As I mentioned, as of right now, there is a billion-dollar battery separator plant being built in the Niagara Region. This is as we speak; it is transformational. The automotive industry has jumped leaps and bounds over the last few years, and that is continuing as ranges are getting higher. We are seeing some of the old tired talking points from the Conservatives that EVs do not work and they are not going to be the future. They are the future. Canadians are buying them. Canadians are accepting them. The technology is getting better and better. Niagara is reaping those rewards, and we will see that when the plant opens, hopefully very soon.”
“Mr. Chair, that is nonsense, and this is what we have been seeing from the Conservatives for years. The carbon tax had nothing to do with this. The auto sector was increasing, and it is ridiculous for that member to even point to that. Now he brings up the EV mandate. As of a few months ago, the EV industry was continuing to grow in this sector. It had nothing to do with that, yet he refuses to blame Donald Trump. I wonder why that is. It is shocking from the Conservative Party. It is unbelievable that its members would stand in the House with smoke and mirrors. There is one reason for this. It is tariffs by one administration, one government. That is the reason we find ourselves in this situation, not the smoke and mirrors that Conservatives bring to this debate.”
“In the absence of that control, the government is going to stand up and be there for workers. We have done it before, time and again, year after year, and we will continue to work with the Government of Ontario to ensure we maintain many auto jobs and produce more auto jobs into the future.”
“There is a battery separator plant related to the Honda investments in Ontario, Asahi Kasei in Port Colborne, a billion-dollar factory being built in Niagara. This is transformational for that region. Despite the uncertainty, despite the issues, that factory is being built today. The construction continues. That is because of this government and the Province of Ontario stepping up to defend workers. It has been the case, whether in Brampton or Windsor, that this government is there. We cannot stop an American government from putting on tariffs, even though it is hurting its workers. I saw a headline in an American paper yesterday that Americans are buying fewer cars because cars are too expensive. We have the solution for that, which is lower tariffs on automotive steel and aluminum. However, we do not have control now.”
“The fact is that Canada and the U.S., since the Second World War, had a good deal going on both sides. My understanding is it was practically an equal trade balance with respect to cars being exported and imported, as well as parts and whatnot. This whole relationship has been upended by one administration. It is a frightening thing. However, this government will always be there for our workers. We cannot force an American government to accept a deal. It worries me that the Conservatives would accept any deal just to get one done. It needs to be a good deal because, as another member mentioned, if a certain level of tariffs exists it is going to be devastating for the sector. All is not lost in Niagara. I know there is a great deal of fear in Niagara and beyond.”
“It closed. When my dad started there, there were thousands of workers and good-paying jobs. My grandfather and my great-grandfather raised a family on a job at that paper mill. They were similar to the jobs we see at General Motors, Stellantis and Ford. That emotion is there and is understandable because our communities are hurting. Our communities are afraid. I heard that at the doors in St. Catharines. We went to the polls and I have heard it since. We have a capricious American administration down south. We do not know what is going to happen next. What is strange to me here is that the blame is not going toward a capricious American regime; it is being spread around by, and I get it, the opposition. That is its job. Let us look at the facts.”
“Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my hon. colleagues who have participated in this debate. I understand the emotion on all sides that we heard. We heard some emotional speeches. There has been a lot of finger-pointing and blaming, but I understand where that comes from. St. Catharines has a long tradition of automotive manufacturing. The largest private sector employer in my riding is General Motors. That is not something new. Like many of the communities that have been represented here tonight, it is something that, in many of these communities, goes back decades, if not a century if we are talking about Windsor, Niagara or Oshawa. This is deeply embedded into our communities. It is generations of workers and families. There was a similar experience with a paper mill in Thorold. I was the fourth generation to work at that plant.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th 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 move that the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be concurred in.”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 10th 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 Order 104 and Standing Order 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 10th report later this day.”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth 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 orders for the second reading of private members' bills originating in the Senate and recommended that the items listed herein, which have been determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House.”
“Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the eighth report later this day.”
“It is okay to be disappointed, but years from now, we will still be talking about this team, the one that played with heart and determination. We will have to wait a little longer for that next championship, but what a ride this was. How can we not be romantic about baseball?”
“Mr. Speaker, in baseball, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains. What we are feeling this week comes from caring so deeply about this incredible Blue Jays team, a team that finished last just a season ago and somehow gave us a magical run that no one expected. Sure, the other night hurt, but this season was special. These were players who gave everything, who understood what it means to represent an entire country. For a few weeks, they united Canadians coast to coast and reminded us of why we love this game. Even in the World Series, our American League champion Jays were called lucky, underdogs against a powerhouse Dodgers team, but we knew they belonged there. They fought hard and held their own, but a couple of bad bounces made the difference. That is baseball.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 115, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth 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 sixth report later this day. I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Pilot Project to Include Inuit Languages on Federal Election Ballots in Nunavut”. It now being later this day, if the House gives it consent, I move that the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in. Motion for concurrence”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth 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 items added to the order of precedence on September 23, 24 and 25, and recommended that the items listed herein, which it has determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House.”
“Mr. Speaker, it now being later this day, if the House gives its consent, I move that the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in. Motion for concurrence”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 104 and Standing Order 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the membership of committees in the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the fourth report later this day.”
“His great strength was knowing what mattered to regular folks, not just to what he called the chattering class. I will miss my friend. I will miss our phone calls, his sage advice and our bemoaning about our beloved Blue Jays. Rest in peace, Jim. He served St. Catharines with distinction, dignity and heart.”
“Mr. Speaker, to borrow a line, Jim Bradley was as “constant as the northern star”. From when he was first elected to city council in 1970, few can remember a time when Jim was not serving our community. He was elected to Queen's Park in 1977, becoming the second longest-serving MPP in Ontario's history, and served as Niagara's regional chair until his death. As environment minister, he shaped the province by securing agreements to end acid rain and introducing the blue box program. In St. Catharines, his legacy is everywhere, from the widening of the QEW to our new hospital and the Performing Arts Centre, and so many others. Jim's dedication was unmatched. He went to everything. If someone was at a community event over the last half century, the odds are that Jim was there.”
“Motion for concurrence Madam Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.”
“Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third 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 third report later this day.”
“Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the second 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 am honoured to present, in both official languages, the second 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 in the second report later this day.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would love for the Conservatives to take that energy and apply it to all of their policies with respect to criminal justice and bring a rights-based approach first. This legislation complies with the Charter of Rights. We will continue to comply with the Charter of Rights. I hope the Conservatives engage in the future with respect to all of their policies because it has been absent from their arguments since I have been here.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know if I will have enough time to get to all of that, but I will sum it up. Being a member from the Niagara region, my house is only about a 10-minute drive from the border. I think everyone in my community understands that safe borders lead to safe communities. It is fundamentally important that we take action as a government to ensure that CBSA has the tools it needs, and that the RCMP and local police have the tools that they need: the tools that they have been asking for, and the tools that frontline officers have said are in Bill C-2 , and they are urging Parliament to get this passed as quickly as possible. We heard it from our constituents. We were elected as Canada's new government and we are getting to work. This is fundamentally important. I hope to see this get passed as quickly as possible.”
“I do not know how these members pay for things at their local stores. If it is about $10,000 in cash, that is a different world than I operate in.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not understand this item that is out there. I have seen it, that we cannot pay cash anymore. I cannot pay $10,000 in cash for an item at a local business. I do not know what local businesses Conservative members are going to. These things are solved. As a member of the Law Society of Ontario, we were told years ago to never accept that amount of cash, as we then may be complicit in something we do not want to be complicit in. We can go and get a cheque or a money order. These are easy ways around it to ensure that people are in compliance and they can still engage in gift-giving. We can still buy things. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Chris Bittle: Money order, as the hon. member said on the other side. Mr. Speaker, these are things we can get. A bank draft is typically the most common.”
“I have never seen a government bill in my 10 years that has made it through unamended to the end, but let us ensure that we move this legislation forward so that perhaps the Conservatives' actions will match their rhetoric during question period. I hope we can achieve that.”
“The effect of this in the past month since this decision came in, according to frontline RCMP officers who are working in the integrated child exploitation units across this country, is that telecommunications companies, in compliance with the Supreme Court of Canada's decision, are now denying this critical information that police are using to track down and prosecute child sex offenders and child predators. The member for Parkland says we need to take action, and I agree with him, but I guess this is the member for Parkland from last Parliament. Where are the members now? Again, I hear it in question period, time after time, day after day. Let us expedite this. Let us move this forward and get it to committee. I can appreciate that there are concerns.”
“I appreciate the concern when we are dealing with issues like this, but I would like to quote a colleague of his, the member for Parkland , when he was asking questions of the RCMP in regard to this particular issue. He said: Imagine a phone book that has phone numbers listed, but no names. The only names that are listed are the ISPs and the telecom companies that service those phone numbers: the Teluses, the Rogers and the Bells. Police are being told now that they can't even look in the phone book of those IP addresses. They can't even know who the service providers are unless they have a warrant.”
“Transnational organised crime groups are exploiting this gap to victimize our communities across the country through serious crimes such as human, drug and firearm trafficking, auto theft, and violent profit-driven crime. The provisions contained within the Strong Borders Act are an important step in advancing Canadian law enforcement’s ability to effectively combat the ever-evolving nature of transnational organized criminal groups. The chiefs of police have spoken. Frontline officers have spoken. Where is the outcry from the Conservative Party to get this passed as quickly as possible? I hear crickets, which is disappointing. I would like to address a point that just came up, I believe from the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola , with respect to IP addresses.”
“I would also like to add a quote from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, another great organization: The proposed Bill demonstrates a commitment to modernizing legislation and equipping law enforcement with necessary tools to combat transnational organized crime in an increasingly complex threat environment. In particular, the Bill sets out several important law amendments which will address systemic vulnerabilities within the justice system, providing critical tools for law enforcement, border services and intelligence agencies. Canada’s legislation related to lawful access is significantly outdated and urgently needs to be revised to align with modern technology. Canada lags behind its international law enforcement partners in the ability to lawfully access electronic evidence associated to criminal activity.”
“(1755) I heard during the campaign, and I hear it a lot during question period, that we need to stand up and give police officers the tools they need. At the same time, I am hearing doubts from the opposition members, who are trying to pour cold water on this. On the one hand, they say that we need to do something, but at the same time they do not want this, even though police support it and it will make communities safer. I do not really understand the rhetoric versus the action, the rhetoric during question period versus the rhetoric we are hearing now. I appreciate the concerns being raised by some members of the opposition, but again, it does not match their rhetoric to get things done in those 30-second sound bites they like during question period.”
“New provisions allowing Canadian law enforcement to share information collected under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act would...[provide] more effective cooperation in cross-border investigations. Additionally, the proposed mechanism to access data held by service providers in other countries acknowledges the reality that modern criminal investigations rarely stop at the border. These updates would help ensure that Canadian police have the tools and intelligence they need to hold offenders accountable, regardless of where they operate. If passed, Bill C-2 would give police services the legal tools needed to respond more effectively to evolving threats. This is the organization advocating for 60,000 frontline police officers.”
“These steps, combined with new authorities for front-line law enforcement across the country, would help disrupt criminal operations at key points of entry and within domestic supply and distribution chains. The proposed steps to disrupt the importation of illegal fentanyl and precursor chemicals are also crucial. A faster scheduling process will [also] allow for a more agile response to substances that fuel the opioid crisis and continue to cause immeasurable harm in communities across...[the country]. Bill C-2 would also strengthen the ability of police to investigate and disrupt...criminal networks by enhancing anti-money laundering enforcement, expanding data-sharing with trusted domestic and international partners...[while] improving access to information across jurisdictions.”
“The Bill includes important updates that would strengthen information sharing between federal and local agencies, which is essential to the success of multi-jurisdictional investigations and recognizes the reality that border security is increasingly not the sole responsibility of the RCMP. In many communities located near border crossings, local police services are called upon to play a central role in enforcing our border-related laws. Giving these agencies access to better intelligence and more timely information will significantly improve public safety outcomes. We are also encouraged by measures that would support the work of the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Coast Guard by closing long-standing gaps in inspection and enforcement capacity.”
“Following the introduction of the bill, we heard from the Canadian Police Association, the largest law enforcement advocacy organization in Canada, and the national voice for over 60,000 frontline law enforcement personnel serving across every province and territory. I would like to take a moment and read what it said. It states: ...this proposed legislation would provide critical new tools for law enforcement, border services, and intelligence agencies to address transnational organized crime, auto theft, firearms and drug trafficking, and money laundering. It’s important to emphasize that these are not abstract issues, our members see first-hand that they have real impacts in communities across the country and require a coordinated and modern legislative response.”
“It is not what we hear in question period, but oftentimes question period is a little different from what we hear at other times in this place and at committee, where I hope this bill will go very soon. Fundamentally, I believe this bill will keep Canadians safe by ensuring law enforcement will have the right tools to keep our borders secure, to combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of illegal fentanyl and crack down on money laundering. It will bolster our response to increasingly sophisticated criminal networks and enhance the integrity and fairness of our immigration system, all while protecting the privacy and charter rights of Canadians.”