Brad Vis
Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, British Columbia · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, the third petition I would like to present today is on nicotine pouches. This petition is being presented on behalf of small businesses, including convenience stores.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present today. The first is petition e-7198, which has 5,746 signatures. It calls upon the Minister of Fisheries to not remove the recreational access to chinook and coho salmon in the allotment of salmon allocation.”
“Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I asked a Liberal member a very simple question: Could he confirm or deny the rumours in British Columbia that, under the new security partnership between Canada and China and the government's desire to sell federal airport assets, Chinese companies would be able to buy those assets?”
“Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is with regard to the elimination of the federal apprenticeship incentive. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to reinstate the apprenticeship incentive grant for Red Seal trades, index it to inflation, link it to the successful completion of technical training…”
“Mr. Speaker, Bill C-30 contains proposed new provisions under the Privacy Act and the Canada Transportation Act to assess the full value of our publicly owned airports. Rumours in British Columbia dictate that part of the new security agreement with China would allow Chinese companies to buy airports in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the life of Mel Zajac, a remarkable British Columbian whose compassion and generosity left an enduring imprint. Mel's life was marked by a profound tragedy that ultimately inspired a legacy of extraordinary philanthropy. In July 1986, he lost his son Mel Jr.”
The complete record
Every one of 622 lines we hold for Brad Vis, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 13.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to speak about Abbotsford, where last week there were three shootings in three days. It is devastating to have another member of our community, Mr. Darshan Sasi, killed. I want to thank the Abbotsford Police Department and our first responders for their quick action, but this should not be the norm. The pressures they face to protect our crime-ridden communities are evident. In September, the Abbotsford police launched a dedicated task force to combat a troubling rise in extortion, with 38 reports since 2023. It is not just Abbotsford; across Canada, violent crime is up nearly 50%, homicides nearly 28% and extortion 357%. The bail and sentencing reform act before Parliament must take these devastating numbers seriously. Public safety should not be a partisan issue.”
“Madam Speaker, what has become clear during our debate on Bill C-12 over the last number of days is that the measures in this bill respond to long-standing grievances outlined by the Conservatives, mainly on immigration and the open-door policies that Canada suffered under Justin Trudeau. With some of the provisions in this bill, we hope to see some improvements in public confidence about immigration in Canada. What would the member from Alberta like to see with respect to changes to immigration policy to improve public confidence in our immigration system?”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of small businesses, including convenience stores, asking to remove restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches. Many adult Canadians make use of nicotine pouches to help them quit other tobacco products by relieving cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Only allowing pharmacies to sell the product from behind a counter takes away the freedom to choose where and how adults can access such products. Small businesses have a track record of selling age-restricted products, including nicotine replacement therapies. The petitioners call on the Minister of Health to remove the restriction, and they would like to remind the government that in British Columbia, hard drugs are legalized, but they will not let convenience stores sell a nicotine pouch.”
“Mr. Speaker, if the industry minister had to be burdened with the paperwork and bills small businesses are facing today, she would act differently in this House. Take the food and beverage industry, for example. It runs on razor-thin margins, and after 10 years of Liberal deficits, food inflation continues to rise, to 4% this year. That is forcing restaurants to charge more and make less. Is the government willing to address any of the costs small businesses are facing, or will it keep borrowing, spending and driving inflation even higher while job creators are left paying the price?”
“Mr. Speaker, I represent one of the most trade-exposed regions in Canada, and Canadian manufacturers are being crushed by the industrial carbon tax and rising inflation. From steel, aerospace and auto parts to food processing, every step in the supply chain is costing more. Manufacturers cannot compete when the cost of everything keeps rising and businesses are burdened with more and more red tape. Will the Prime Minister finally admit his industrial carbon tax policy and red tape policies like the plastics registry are unnecessary burdens doing nothing to improve competitiveness or protect the environment?”
“We will keep doing everything we can to help small businesses grow, through red tape reduction and tax cuts. I encourage everyone this week to support a local small business. Know, on this side of the House, that we recognize the sacrifices entrepreneurs make and the taxes they pay to keep Canada going.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is Small Business Week, and I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible role small businesses play in our communities and across the country. These entrepreneurs are the driving force behind innovation, job creation and local economic growth. Small business owners are feeling the pressure, though, from rising costs, excessive red tape, unfair taxes, crime and ongoing economic uncertainty. Unfortunately, their struggles have been ignored by the Liberal government. In recent years, Conservatives have pushed for overdue carbon rebates and have pushed against tax increases on payroll, capital gains and excise taxes. We are also leading the charge on criminal justice reform so people can operate a business safely.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think the member from the Bloc Québécois raises a very valid point on asylum seekers. Many Liberals were celebrating 10 years of Justin Trudeau the other day. One of the worst legacies of Justin Trudeau was his policies on the border. Justin Trudeau said to the world, “Hey, come to Canada.” Frankly, we had a de facto open border policy under his reign. It destroyed public trust in immigration, and Quebec was burdened with the brunt of that. That is why Canadians do not trust our institutions as much as they did. We were not operating under an orderly and fair system. It was a free-for-all, and people were abusing the generosity of Canadians. That has to stop. The province of Quebec, and the rest of Canada where we saw this, has legitimate concerns with the poor failures of—”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola on his incredible work and his adopting some of the greatest parts of Canada into his new riding, especially the Fraser Canyon. The member has been working incredibly hard, and he was leading the charge in many respects on getting to Bill C-12 . Why did we need to get to Bill C-12? Bill C-2 included provisions that would allow our law enforcement agencies to look at our Internet data, our Internet traffic and our mail without a judicial order. For many people in Canada, that was a step too far. As I mentioned in my speech, we need to improve public trust in our institutions. Bill C-2 did not do that. Bill C-12 is a step in the right direction.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Scarborough—Woburn for his genuinely nice comments about my comportment in the House of Commons. I will note and re-emphasize that, in this Parliament, Conservatives have heard what Canadians had to say, and we are working to improve the lives of all Canadians. We ran on a platform that included strong taxation measures. We ran on a platform to improve public safety. We ran on a platform to improve border security. Imitation is often the best form of flattery, and I am thankful the Liberals have listened to the Conservatives and adopted many of our sound policies to improve the lives of Canadians. That is what collaboration in the House is all about.”
“From my first reading of the bill, I believe that by focusing on the three amendments, or things to be studied closely, we can hopefully strengthen the legislation to give our law enforcement the necessary tools to improve public safety and work toward improving trust in government institutions across our country. In British Columbia, I have seen containers ready for export to Asia full of stolen cars. I have seen the devastating impacts of fentanyl, which is destroying lives. Billions of dollars have been laundered into Canada's economy and, in some cases, it is driving up the price of real estate and increasing crime in our community. My hope is this bill takes some measurable steps to improve all the things Canadian society sees wrong with the way our institutions handle these critical issues.”
“Committee study must examine whether these powers could be misused and how to include clear safeguards, because Canadians deserve a fair, transparent and accountable system. Third, there is the CBSA's authority to inspect outgoing cargo. While these powers are essential for stopping criminal gangs and fentanyl traffickers, we must also ensure there is a balance. Trusted exporters, through the trusted exporter program, should not be burdened unnecessarily, and inspections must be targeted and reasonable. Again, we need to see this carefully addressed at committee.”
“That is why the Conservatives will support Bill C-12 to committee, but we need to insist on a couple of things that I believe should be looked at closely when the bill is brought to the committee stage. The first is FINTRAC. We need to ensure Canada's financial intelligence agency has the proper tools and oversight to effectively tackle money laundering, transnational crime and the illicit flow of fentanyl that undermine both our economy and our border. From this bill alone, we cannot tell if it does a good enough job. We need to study that in detail at the committee stage. Second, we need to look very closely at the broad discretionary powers included in this bill. For example, it gives ministers wide latitude, particularly on immigration and refugee files.”
“The Liberals have left too many details to regulation. Rather than writing clear, enforceable laws, they have chosen to permit future decisions through regulation, decisions that can be quietly changed by cabinet behind closed doors, with no parliamentary oversight. That means that the real power, in some cases, may remain in the hands of the ministers, not in the text of Canada's Criminal Code and accompanying legislation. (1215) There is a lot of public interest in how refugee and immigration claims are being handled, and people want to know how the system is being managed responsibly. This is a pattern we have seen time and time again with the government. Whether it is how they spend, how they tax or how they regulate, the Liberals do prefer a regulatory approach over clarity, and secrecy over accountability.”
“These are warranted powers for the minister. It would also give law enforcement officers clarity and legal protection while handling controlled substances during investigations, which makes sense from an operational perspective. The bill would expand the Coast Guard's authority to share information with security and intelligence partners, and it modernizes how departments handle immigration and refugee files. It strengthens penalties for money laundering and terrorist financing by reforming FINTRAC, our national financial intelligence agency. Real reforms are needed to fix what the previous government broke, to rebuild trust in a fair, secure and efficient system. I will note that it is a Liberal government that is fixing the problems of a previous Liberal government, but there are still problems with the bill.”
“In the first half of 2024 alone, fentanyl was involved in nearly 80% of accidental opioid deaths, a 39% increase since national tracking began. In the last two years alone, police have dismantled major fentanyl labs in Langley, Falkland and the Hatzic valley in my own riding. Strengthening CBSA's ability to track and intercept illegal exports, particularly precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production, is a necessary step if we are serious about disrupting the flow of deadly opioids, which are taking lives unnecessarily in our country. The bill would also amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to allow the Minister of Health to quickly schedule new precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production. Conservatives support this because we have been calling for tougher and faster action in response to the opioid crisis for years.”
“These are not included in the legislation, which many Canadians are thankful for. In fact, many of my constituents wrote to me, explaining that they did not want me to support a bill with such measures. In the new bill, in what we can see today, there are measures for the Canada Border Services Agency that would grant authority to inspect outgoing shipments in the same way that border services agents inspect imports. That is an important change. Canada has long monitored what comes into the country but not always what leaves. These new powers could help stop illegal exports, arms trafficking or the flow of fentanyl precursors across our borders. According to Health Canada, between January 2016 and June 2024, more than 49,000 Canadians lost their lives to the opioid toxicity crisis.”
“I think that what we are seeing here today, which is actually quite historical in the context of government legislation, shows to Canadians that, while we are willing to compromise, we are also standing firm in our principles about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. We supported the tax cuts the Liberals put forward. We supported measures to improve interprovincial trade, and today, we are supporting some long-standing measures in Bill C-12 that would improve public safety. The bill before us today covers everything from border measures and money-laundering rules to sweeping surveillance powers buried deep within it. Excuse me. That was in the previous bill. In the previous bill, there were provisions on Canada Post and sweeping new surveillance powers.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today on Bill C-12 . Bill C-12 touches upon immigration and border security, issues that matter deeply to the great people of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford. The bill is actually a direct result of Conservative leadership, our commitment to holding the government accountable and our pushing back against some of the divisiveness we saw in Bill C-2 . Let us not forget that, after the election, Canadians were very clear with everyone across Parliament that we needed to work together and that they wanted to see leadership from the Conservative Party to put the best interests of Canadians forward.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like the Bloc Québécois member to clarify his party's stand on part 7(a) of the bill's summary, which reads as follows: ...authorize the Governor in Council to make an order specifying that certain applications made under that Act are not to be accepted for processing, or that the processing of those applications is to be suspended or terminated, when the Governor in Council is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so;”
“Mr. Speaker, businesses across British Columbia, mainly in Surrey and Abbotsford, are sick and tired of the catch-and-release policies of the Liberal government. The petitioners are calling for immediate action to address the extortion and catch-and-release policies that have hurt their businesses, hurt their way of life and hurt their profit line unnecessarily.”
“Mr. Speaker, can the member acknowledge that when the Liberals changed Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 , there was an increase in crime across our country? Will the member acknowledge that the action taken by the government, specifically in my province of British Columbia, to decriminalize hard drugs was one of the worst policy failures in the history of Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, would the member from the Bloc Québécois agree that there is a direct correlation between the changes the Liberals made to bail provisions in the bail and sentencing reforms and an increase in crime in Canada? The reason the Conservative Party is putting forward motions, as we have been since the return of the House, is to address these very real concerns for small businesses and victims of crime. Women, especially, have seen an increase in the amount of sexual assault and intimate partner violence, which have been caused directly by the changes in the laws put forward by the Liberal government.”
“Mr. Speaker, the second petition I will present today calls upon the Government of Canada to reject recommendation 430 of the FINA pre-budget report, reaffirm Canada's commitment to an open culture and support each person's freedom to promote common good through the advancement of religion without punitive financial measures.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents. The first petition is in regard to MAID. My constituents are concerned that advanced requests could lead to coercion or undue pressure, especially among older adults or those with disabilities, to request MAID to avoid burdening families or the health care system. There are ethical concerns among some health care professionals that carrying out MAID based on an old request without current confirmation could be seen as involuntary. There is a risk that death could be seen as a benefit contrary to what a patient might have desired.”
“Madam Speaker, my number one responsibility as a parent is to feed my kids. It is not the responsibility of the government nor of anybody else but me right here. We have to take care of our family, and it is sad in Canada today that some parents cannot do that. The school food program, though, will not address that. It has to come through economic policies that give everyone a level chance to live their best life and to take care of their children.”
“We sequester a lot of carbon, but we need the infrastructure in place because the climate is changing, in Abbotsford probably more than anywhere else in the country right now.”
“Madam Speaker, as a member of Parliament, I have experienced more disasters and more impacts from climate change than any other member. In 2021, my community of Abbotsford was hit with a 33-day flood that wiped out the most productive agricultural land in all of Canada. One measure to combat climate change that I was advocating with government ministers today is to give British Columbia the infrastructure to adapt to a changing climate so we can continue to produce high-quality food in the Fraser Valley and not be fearful of the effects of climate change and other natural disasters. That is the number one thing we need to do. Canada is a big country. We have the largest boreal forest in the world.”
“Madam Speaker, this is the first time the member from Newfoundland and I are debating in this parliamentary session. I appreciate his comments in good faith. The Prime Minister set the stage for urgency, and I believe that urgency needs to be applied to food production and food sovereignty in Canada. There are many things available for the federal government to do right now that I do hope, in good faith, are included in the budget, because Canadians need relief. Canadians are suffering, and I do not think the member understands that any less than I do. I hope we see policies in place to reduce the overall tax burden on Canadian families to give them more purchasing power first and foremost.”
“It has to be done by broad economic policies that impact everyone equally, and that involves reducing the overall tax burden, the regulatory burden and the infrastructure burden to build the facilities and farm the land that we need to make sure that we can live our very best lives.”
“Today, I met with another representative of a company that is not in the food industry but who talked about how burdensome the plastics registration policies of the government are. In conclusion, Conservatives believe it does not have to be this way. The motion before us calls upon the government to remove some of the biggest barriers to more affordability and more ability for Canadians to take care of themselves and live their very best lives. We need to continue speaking about the cost of food in this chamber and we need to, in good faith, put forward policies that would give Canadians the ability to take care of themselves once again. The school food program will not do that. No government program will do that.”
“Just last week, Bimbo Canada, Canadian food grains, is a Mexican company that is one of the largest bakers of bread in Canada. It has a great socially responsible story to tell. One of the great stories of Canada's free trade agreement with Mexico is seeing Bimbo's presence in Canada and it making investments. A representative talked to me about the plastics registry and the undue burden that the plastics registry has put on businesses like theirs. What does that lead to? It leads to more administrative costs. That leads to higher overall costs for Canada. If the company did not have the economies of scale that it does, it would be hard to even make further investments in Canada.”
“I spoke to the president of Windset Farms, one of the largest conglomerate marketers of hothouse tomatoes in British Columbia, and he said that it took almost a decade to get a new facility expanded. This facility is creating a world-class suite of tomatoes and other vegetable products, which fly off the shelves in our grocery stores and that Canadians all across western Canada rely on, yet the government allowed almost a decade for a facility to be expanded, simply through red tape and various administrative and taxation burdens at all levels of government. If we want to build a stronger, more resilient and autonomous Canada, it needs to start with giving people the ability to buy Canadian goods. Right now, we do not do a good enough job of that.”
“When we talk about food taxation, it can come in many different forms, from all levels of government. I live in British Columbia, and we have the Agricultural Land Reserve. It is something I support a lot. It was put in place over 50 years ago to ensure that our key agricultural lands are protected for food production. However, when we take municipal government, the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission, different federal regulations on emissions, such as those on the natural gas that heats our greenhouses, and provincial rules as well, it is very hard to build the facilities we need to increase food production. I went to Windset Farms in Delta, a company that started in Abbotsford.”
“To the government members on the opposite bench, please recognize that. It was not like this before, and it does not have to be like this again. The government must make those hard choices to lower taxes and make a measurable difference in the lives of Canadians. We want to support policies that will reduce the overall tax burden to give more purchasing power to Canadian families. Those members heard the same stories I heard on the doorstep. The budget is upcoming. We need to be very careful with this budget. Yes, we are facing international pressures, but we all need to eat and to be able to afford a nutritious meal, and our children deserve those nutritious meals. The budget needs to reflect that in the coming weeks. (1800) We did not speak enough about farmers today.”
“In my own riding, the situation is overwhelming. Abbotsford's Archway food bank serves 6,000 clients a month, nearly double from three years ago. In Mission, a survey found 26% of households rely on assistance monthly or for most months. At St. Joseph's Food Bank in Mission, volunteers are stretched thin as new needs grow every single week. I will say that I am part of St. Joseph's church, where the food bank is, and the lines are horrible. We see the lineups on the days they allot food, and it is sad to see. It is really sad to see in a country as rich and prosperous as Canada that my church, the gurdwaras and many other churches in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford have to do so much when people were able to take care of themselves before, no matter their background, where they came from or how long they had been in Canada; it was just easier.”
“It is a real hit to the pocketbooks of so many people. That is why Canadians are turning to food banks in record numbers. There are over two million visits every single month, up 90% across Canada since 2019 and up 81% in British Columbia on average since that time. Daily Bread projects four million visits in 2025, and 25% of Canadian households are food insecure. That is up from 18% in 2023. The federal election was not too long ago, and we all had those experiences on the doorstep when we met with struggling parents and struggling families who are simply doing everything they can to get by, but things do not seem to be working in their favour. That is, in fact, why the hon. leader of the official opposition wanted us to talk about food today, because it is out of reach for more people than it should be.”
“They do so much selfless service to help new immigrant families, struggling single mothers, and children who need support above and beyond what their parents can give them, in many cases through no fault of their own. Despite our partisanship here, I do not think we should lose sight of the key fact that something has to change. The government has to do something different because the statistics that I am going to share, that many other people have shared, are moving in the wrong direction right now. Across Canada, families are being crushed by the cost of living crisis. Families are spending $800 more on groceries in 2025 than they were in 2024. That is like, for many, an entire month of the Canada child benefit that they had the previous year that is now just being used for groceries.”
“Madam Speaker, at some point, the government has to give. Canadians simply cannot continue at this pace. The Prime Minister himself said Canadians should judge him by the cost of groceries. By that standard, he is already failing. Food prices are up 40% since the Liberals took power, and food inflation is now 70% above the Bank of Canada's targets. Thinking about the debate today, and what I have heard from both sides, at the outset of my speech I want to recognize a lot of the people who work at food banks, in social services, the volunteers at churches and gurdwaras in my riding, who do so much to make up for our poor economy.”
“Mr. Speaker, I was intrigued by the comments the member for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan made regarding supply chains and infrastructure. I am wondering, in his time in elected office, and even before that, whether he has seen any major investment in railway infrastructure, or working with the private sector to see railway infrastructure improve. At a time when Canada needs to protect its supply chains, is the government really doing enough to get our goods to market, especially the Asian markets, where we are going to make money and see more Canadians prosper?”
“They have established themselves as the world leaders in rugby. They have inspired boys and girls across Canada to pick up a rugby ball and run with it. On behalf of Canada's Parliament, I say, “Go, Canada, go!””
“Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, Canada takes the field against England in the Women's Rugby World Cup final. This is the biggest rugby match in the history of Canada and the women's game. These athletes have shown true ingenuity, crowdfunding to reach the world cup and competing on a budget that pales in comparison to other nations. Canada sometimes plays unconventionally, generating opportunity and space with a speed, accuracy and discipline the world has never seen before. In their historic semi-final win over the New Zealand Black Ferns, I am told Canada played with the fastest average ruck speed of any team, men or women, ever. Behind this team stands an incredible coaching staff, led by Kevin Rouet. No matter what the outcome on Saturday, Canada is proud. We are behind them all the way.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for Kingston and the Islands outlined external factors that he said contribute to the high cost of food in Canada. Can the member outline what Canadian factors have contributed to the high cost of food in Canada? Is the Government of Canada to blame for anything?”
“What is it going to signal to small businesses about reducing red tape and the overall administrative burden put on them by the Government of Canada?”
“Madam Speaker, while I appreciate the Coles Notes version of CARM, which I think is welcome by many businesses, my question actually was referencing the tariff notices put forward by CBSA. When we had a government that said we were at economic war with the United States, many small business exporters in the region where we live were looking at the notices put forward. They had great difficulty managing what they had to report to the CBSA for the purposes of tariffs and what actually was covered under the tariff notices with the United States, in conjunction with CUSMA. It was not the current program I was referencing; it was the notices and the bureaucratic headache they have caused for so many businesses that were only trying to do the right thing. I will pose my initial question again: What is the government going to do?”
“Projections show Canada will see the weakest GDP per capita growth among advanced economies in the years ahead. Now, the solutions are not easy, but this month, the President of the Treasury Board outlined that the Government of Canada would start a red tape review, so in some respects, the government does agree with what I am saying here today. Tonight, on behalf of the 46.5% of private sector workers in Canada and on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of small businesses, what is the government going to do? What can it signal to Canadians that it is going to do to help businesses, not in a government program but by reducing the overall weight of government on small businesses in our country? I look forward to the government's response.”
“That is the equivalent of nearly 394,000 full-time jobs tied up in paperwork instead of producing the goods and services Canadians want to see from Canadian businesses. For example, last week I met with B.C. Food and Beverage and Bimbo Canada, and I heard first-hand how much they are spending on the government's plastics registry alone. Business owners are required to report, every year, on the quantity and types of plastics they produce or use, creating a heavy administrative burden. It is not just one regulation that makes this difficult; it is the cumulative effect of three levels of government, all demanding time and money from our businesses. This red tape takes time away from running the business, hiring workers and growing our economy. At the same time, our country faces one of the lowest rates of productivity growth in the OECD.”
“Madam Speaker, earlier this spring, I rose in the House to highlight how small businesses are struggling under the weight of red tape, particularly through, at that time, the customs programs at CBSA that were supposed to help businesses but have instead caused confusion, delay and unnecessary costs. In 2024, the average small business owner lost the equivalent of 32 business days, an entire month of productivity, just dealing with red tape. The cost of regulation across all three levels of government now stands at $51.5 billion. Over one-third of that, almost $18 billion, is wasted on pure red tape. Altogether, businesses spent 768 million hours filling out forms, waiting on approvals and complying with overlapping rules.”
“Mr. Speaker, after hearing the member's speech, I am very alarmed that the Bloc Québécois wants to take a position that increases the power of Ottawa. In British Columbia, we do not want the federal government to impose tanker bans on our coast. In fact, removing the tanker ban would allow Canada to fulfill its critical minerals strategy. It would empower first nations in the region, which are opposed to the tanker ban. Why can the Bloc Québécois not understand British Columbia for a change and understand that we want to see the economic development that is going to drive Canada forward and give Quebec more money through equalization payments? Can they not respect our sovereignty for a change?”
“Madam Speaker, in good faith to the member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, I have a couple of follow-up questions. How many Canadians were convicted of extortion in the last year? When will the government bring forward legislation on tougher sentences? Finally, the member referenced new tools to address these challenges. When will we see those new tools? I am pleased to see the member outline the gravity of the problem, but what Canadians want to see that member do, and what she has the ability to do, is signal when we are going to see that change, because she did outline the problem just like I did. She has an opportunity to make those changes. When are we going to see them?”