Justice and Human Rights

The committee met to study the mandate and priorities of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Sean Fraser, and later to examine the 2026-27 main estimates of the Department of Justice. Minister Fraser outlined a three-pillar public safety strategy: strengthening criminal laws through bills such as C-9, C-14, and C-16; supporting frontline law enforcement with resources and tools; and making upstream investments in housing, mental health, and youth programs to prevent crime. He emphasized that public safety and charter rights are not mutually exclusive and that the government’s approach aims to balance tough laws with constitutional compliance.

During questioning, Minister Fraser defended Bill C-14’s bail and sentencing reforms, including a residual discretion clause for mandatory minimums to avoid grossly disproportionate outcomes, arguing this protects the laws from being struck down. On Bill C-22, he stated that metadata retention requirements are akin to modernizing tools for law enforcement and are not a breach of charter rights, though he deferred to the public safety minister on specifics. On Bill C-16, he highlighted updates to address AI-generated deepfakes and trauma-informed supports for victims. He declined to speculate on the Clarity Act’s application to hypothetical referendums in Quebec or Alberta, stating it would be inappropriate to project legal opinions without real-world facts.

The committee did not take any decisions or votes during the meeting. The minister’s appearance was for discussion of priorities and estimates, and no motions were moved or resolved. The second hour on the main estimates proceeded without further substantive debate or decisions recorded in the transcript.