Urgent Call for Action: Poilievre Demands Fast-Track for Domestic Violence Bill

UPDATE: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, alongside the grieving family of Bailey McCourt, has made an urgent appeal for all political parties to fast-track a critical domestic violence bill. This plea comes just days after McCourt’s tragic murder, allegedly at the hands of her estranged husband, bringing a shocking focus to the issue of intimate partner violence in Canada.

During a press conference on October 3, 2023, Poilievre called for immediate action from Members of Parliament (MPs) to support the proposed legislation, known as Bill C-225, which seeks to impose tougher penalties for intimate partner violence. “We want to work with any party to get this bill passed. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit. Let’s do the right thing,” Poilievre stated emphatically.

The bill, introduced by Conservative MP and former Crown prosecutor Frank Caputo last month, aims to amend the Criminal Code to classify the murder of a current or former intimate partner as first-degree murder. It also seeks to create specific offences for intimate partner violence, making it significantly harder for offenders to secure early release from custody.

Caputo emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The government has the ability to get this bill through the House of Commons and to the Senate in a matter of weeks, if not days.” He is pushing for the Liberal government to advance a motion of unanimous consent to expedite the legislation’s progress through Parliament “in the coming days.”

The backdrop of this urgent call is the heartbreaking story of Bailey McCourt, a 32-year-old mother of two who was brutally murdered in broad daylight last July in a parking lot in Kelowna, B.C.. Her ex-partner, James Plover, charged with second-degree murder, had just hours prior been released from custody after serving time for domestic violence charges. “If Mr. Plover had been in jail where he belonged, she would still be alive today,” Poilievre asserted, standing alongside McCourt’s family members.

As the emotional weight of McCourt’s murder reverberates through the community, her family is calling for widespread support for the bill. “We’re demanding change. There’s no need to wait,” said Debbie Henderson, McCourt’s family member. They encourage Canadians to contact their MPs and advocate for the bill, highlighting the risk of such tragedies affecting any family.

The Conservatives are positioning this legislation as non-partisan, advocating for cooperation across party lines to address the growing crisis of intimate partner violence. Caputo criticized the current government policies, claiming that past Liberal bail practices have contributed to the rise in domestic violence incidents. “There are countless who have lost their lives because Liberal laws have turned their perpetrators loose on our streets,” he declared.

In response, Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser has indicated that the Liberal government plans to introduce its own legislation addressing intimate partner violence. This announcement follows Poilievre’s critique of Prime Minister Mark Carney for inaction on crime since taking office.

Caputo is set to meet with Fraser soon to discuss potential collaboration on the legislation, as both sides recognize the pressing need for reform. “When you have an NDP premier supporting a Conservative private member’s bill, we know we’re on the right track,” Caputo remarked.

As these developments unfold, the urgency for legislative action has never been clearer. The call for enhanced protections against intimate partner violence resonates deeply with families across Canada, reinforcing the need for immediate and effective legislative measures to prevent further tragedies.

Stay tuned for more updates on this critical issue as it develops.