Sitting 34 — October 6, 2025

The sitting was anchored by second reading debate on Bill C-11, the Military Justice System Modernization Act, introduced by Minister of National Defence David McGuinty. The bill would transfer jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences committed by Canadian Armed Forces members to civilian courts, implementing recommendation 5 of the Arbour report. The minister acknowledged the bill's long gestation—dating back to the Deschamps report a decade earlier—and stressed that the government aims to implement 47 of Justice Arbour's 48 recommendations by year end. Conservative defence critic James Bezan supported the bill in principle while questioning why the government had not acted sooner and why deployed personnel would remain under military jurisdiction for sexual offences committed abroad.

Question period was shaped by anticipation of the Prime Minister's departure for Washington later that day. Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government on what concrete outcomes Canadians could expect, noting that the Prime Minister had promised a deal by July 21 and that tariffs had since doubled. Government ministers defended the trip as an opportunity for direct engagement at the president's invitation, emphasizing that Canada currently enjoys better terms than any other U.S. trading partner. The Bloc Québécois urged the Prime Minister to address aluminum and forestry alongside steel in bilateral discussions.

Justice and bail reform dominated the domestic portion of question period, with Conservatives repeatedly citing the case of a woman killed in Saint-Jérôme by a repeat offender with 30 prior arrests who had been released under Liberal bail laws. The government promised comprehensive bail reform legislation in the coming weeks, while Conservatives demanded immediate passage of their jail-not-bail bill. Other topics included Canada Post reforms, the Driver Inc. trucking scheme, automotive sector job losses, forestry tariffs, and the government's new fiscal framework distinguishing capital investment from operating spending. Routine proceedings included introduction of bills on labour rights (Bill C-247) and daylight saving time (Bill C-248).