moved for leave to introduce Bill C-235, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table my private member's bill today, an act respecting families of murdered and brutalized persons. I have the utmost respect for my colleague, the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, who originally tabled the bill. I am honoured that he is here today to second the important bill before us, which speaks to the most heinous cases, where criminals abduct, sexually assault and murder their victims. Think of Bernardo, Pickton, Rafferty and McClintic, or Wellwood and Moffat. The act would increase parole ineligibility from 25 years to 40 years for these types of cases.

The bill is fair. It would not change the outcome; the offenders are unlikely to ever be released. The bill is just; courts and judges would retain their discretionary powers based on the circumstances of the case.

Most importantly, the bill is compassionate; it is about sparing the victims' families and loved ones from appearing at unnecessary parole hearings year after year. The hearings feed criminals' depraved nature to revictimize as they describe their heinous crimes in detail. Victims' families are dedicated to attending, to advocating and to giving a voice to their loved ones who can no longer speak for themselves. Families relive the experience and trauma of their loved ones over and over.

The bill previously received wide support from the members opposite and was set to pass to committee in 2021. However, an early election was called.

I look forward to continued broad support from across the House as we look to prevent the revictimization of the families of murdered and brutalized persons.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Jeff Kibble

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