The Member of Parliament for Provencher says the Conservatives have introduced a bill aimed at defending freedom of worship and assembly.
Ted Falk says Bill C-411, or the Anti Arson Act, would create a specific criminal offence for causing damage by fire or explosion to a place of worship. It would also amend the Criminal Code to create an offence for causing a wildfire.
Falk says acts of arson against places of worship have become a problem in Canada. He notes that since 2021, 112 churches have been vandalized, desecrated and burned down by arsonists. Falk says this includes synagogues that have been fire-bombed, mosques that have been targeted, gurdwaras that have been attacked and other Christian churches hit.
He notes hate crimes have increased by 250 per cent over the last nine years and MP Marc Dalton is seeking to address this in his private member's bill.
Falk says if this bill becomes law, it will mean that someone found guilty of this offence will face a minimum of five years in jail up to a maximum of 14 years for a first offence. Any subsequent offences would result in anywhere from seven years to life in prison.
Falk says in Canada we have never experienced this same level of attacks against places of worship. He notes the Conservatives must address the sharp increase and the Liberals' soft on crime policies. But he says this legislation is also important to him because he is a man of faith.
"I take that very seriously and I know there are many faith groups that feel very threatened in our country, and it shouldn't be that way here," says Falk. "We want to respect people of faith, and we want to ensure that as Conservatives we'll defend the freedom of people to worship and assemble as they choose."
Falk says the bill has yet to be debated in Parliament but will be on the private member's bill calendar. He expects it will receive support from other parties.
Falk adds the Conservatives are committed to stopping crime. He notes a common concern he is hearing from Provencher constituents is how levels of crime continue to increase.