On Parliament Hill

On Friday November 13th, the world witnessed with horror the brutal attacks in Paris that claimed the lives of many innocent people and seriously wounded many others. On behalf of the residents of Provencher, I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and friends.

We in the western world have been fortunate to live in democratic countries that enjoy relative peace, security and stability. However, over the past number of years, the rise of violent groups such as ISIS has seriously compromised our safety.  The attack in Paris was more than an act of violence, it was also an attack against our values of freedom and democracy.

These attacks also undermine our security here in Canada. There have been attempts by terror groups to attack our country, fortunately many of them had been thwarted or were unsuccessful. However, we can never become complacent. As we all remember, just over a year ago, Canada’s Parliament came under siege by a lone gunman claiming to support ISIS. Had he been better organized and working in a group of other terrorists, the outcome would likely have been much worse.

Protecting Canadians here in our country must remain a top priority for the Government of Canada. In an uncertain world, we need to remain vigilant in protecting our country. Previous governments introduced a number of security laws aimed at defending Canada against the very attacks that occurred in Paris over the weekend. The anti-terror law introduced and passed in 2015 by the former Conservative Government further enhanced the laws passed by the previous Liberal Government in 2001. It gave law enforcement agencies tools and abilities to keep our nation safe by addressing the evolving terrorist threats our country faces. I urge the Government of Canada to continue to support crucial anti-terror laws introduced by both Conservative and Liberal governments in the past. The safety of Canadians must remain a government’s top priority.

Conservative Party leader Rona Ambrose called on Mr. Trudeau to continue with Canada’s airstrikes against ISIS. We need to stand in solidarity with our allies and friends, not abandon them at a time of crisis. I am proud that Ms. Ambrose has publicly stated that the fight against ISIS requires both a humanitarian and military response.