DeRico Symonds, Christine Van Geyn, Lucia Flores Echaiz, Lynda Khelil and Kyla Lee made statements and answered questions.

Larry Brock moved, — That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and incorrectly ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; and given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; the committee call on the Government to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to re-instate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:15 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the committee continue to sit.

At 5:03 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the committee continue to sit.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the amendment in order as it respects the scope of the motion.

Whereupon, Larry Brock appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

The debate resumed.

Larry Brock moved, — That the meeting be suspended.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

At 6:30 p.m., the meeting was suspended to the call of the Chair.

At 3:45 p.m., on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Larry Brock moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and incorrectly ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; and given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; the committee call on the Government to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to re-instate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House.

and of the amendment of Patricia Lattanzio moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing the words after “invoke the notwithstanding clause to reinstate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House” in the third paragraph with the following: “table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows".

and of the subamendment of Andrew Lawton moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That the amendment be amended by adding after the word “allows” the following: “provided that the Government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House”.

At 3:48 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 4:07 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Patricia Lattanzio moved, — That the committee proceed to the witnesses hearings on the study of the bail system, sentencing and the handling of repeat violent offenders in Canada.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 1.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair affirms that the committee resume its study of the bail system, sentencing and the handling of repeat violent offenders in Canada and hear from witnesses.

Whereupon, Rhéal Éloi Fortin appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 1.

Patrick Brown and Robert Johnson made statements and answered questions.

At 4:48 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:00 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Cate Alexander, Jacqueline Beisel-Cobb, Brent Broadfoot and Lozanne Womback made statements and answered questions.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Larry Brock, moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and incorrectly ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; and given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; the committee call on the Government to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to re-instate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House.

and of the amendment of Patricia Lattanzio moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing the words “invoke the notwithstanding clause to reinstate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House” in the third paragraph with the following: “table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows".

and of the subamendment of Andrew Lawton moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That the amendment be amended by adding after the word “allows” the following: “provided that the Government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House”.

At 6:06 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 6:12 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Andrew Lawton moved, — That the meeting be suspended.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

At 6:25 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 3:40 p.m., on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Larry Brock, moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and incorrectly ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; And given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; The committee call on the Government to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to re-instate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House.

and of the amendment of Patricia Lattanzio moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing the words after “invoke the notwithstanding clause to reinstate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House” in the third paragraph with the following: “table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows".

and of the subamendment of Andrew Lawton moved on Thursday, November 6, 2025, which read as follows:

That the amendment be amended by adding after the word “allows” the following: “provided that the Government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House”.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Larry Brock which read as follows:

That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and incorrectly ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; and given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; the committee call on the Government to table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows, provided that the Government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House.

The debate arose thereon on the motion as amended.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair rules the amendment out of order as it is introducing a foreign concept to the motion.

The debate continued.

On motion of Rhéal Éloi Fortin, it was agreed, — That the motion as amended be amended by deleting the word “incorrectly”.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; and given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; the committee call on the Government to table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences that our justice system allows, provided that the Government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House.

The Chair informs that the members of the committee submit to the clerk all of their proposed amendments to Bill C-9 no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, November 24, 2025.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.