In my capacity as Québec minister of justice and minister responsible for Canadian relations, I wish to express my support for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent initiatives to bolster the fight against crime and ensure public safety. In her February 10, 2025 letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, she emphasized the impact of recent legislative changes adopted by the Liberal government on public confidence in our justice system and, more specifically, the confidence of victims. We agree with this viewpoint.
Consider Bill C-5, which will allow so-called Netflix sentences in the community for sexual violence offences. Because of these legislative changes, a number of delinquents have received lenient sentences, which has aroused indignation among the public and Québec parliamentarians and goes against extensive efforts by all interveners in the Québec justice system to ensure that victims no longer hesitate to denounce offenders and file complaints.
Mention should also be made of the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision that invalidates minimum mandatory sentences for child luring when reporting of such offences has exploded in recent years. The Québec government and the National Assembly unanimously asked the Liberal government to reconsider and restore mandatory minimum sentencing. This legitimate request to protect young people has come to nothing.
It is also necessary to act to address the opioid crisis and the proliferation of illicit drugs by maintaining deterrent sentences to combat this scourge. Bill C-5 abolishes minimum sentences for drug-related offences. This is unacceptable.
In Québec, we believe that the sentences handed down must reflect the seriousness of the offences. The victims of these heinous crimes must live with the consequences for the rest of their lives. The lax approach that the federal Liberals advocate to suppress crime marks a major step backward and is hampering the recovery of far too many victims.
The position taken by Québec and Alberta is legitimate: federated states must be able to make their own choices to ensure public safety. In order to bolster our mutual autonomy, it is vital that we strengthen collaboration between our provinces and that we join forces to combat crime.
Quebecers are also demanding that the Liberal government abrogate two sections of the Criminal Code that allow for hateful, antisemitic speech when it presents a religious viewpoint. By maintaining this exception, the Trudeau government is perpetuating the legal shortcomings that are contributing to inward-looking attitudes, communitarianism, and social exclusion, thereby protecting behaviour and speech that leads to discrimination and violence. Such speech contributes to a toxic climate and threatens the safety and well-being of the individuals targeted.
Québec must remain peaceful and safe. The Québec government will ensure that it does so and no effort will be spared to protect Quebecers from crime and violence.
Simon Jolin-Barrette is Québec’s minister of justice and minister responsible for Canadian relations