Conservative MP targets ＂two-tiered justice system＂ for non-citizens
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Summary
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel-Garner announced a bill to block lighter sentences for non-citizens, ending the two-tier justice system that favours immigrants. A new government housing report warns housing starts are set to sink below pandemic levels this year. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, confirms that he holds U.S. dual citizenship, but says he won t renounce it.
Transcript
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Conservative MP Michelle Rempel-Garner announced a bill to block lighter sentences for non-citizens,
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ending the two-tier justice system that favours immigrants.
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A new government housing report warns housing starts are set to sink below pandemic levels this year.
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The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson,
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confirms that he holds U.S. dual citizenship, but says he won't renounce.
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Hello Canada, it's Thursday, August 14th, and this is the True North Daily Brief.
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We've got you covered with all the news you need to know.
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Let's discuss the top stories of the day and the True North exclusives you won't hear anywhere else.
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A Conservative MP is seeking to change the criminal code to prevent judges from giving lighter sentences to non-citizens because of immigration concerns.
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At a Wednesday morning news conference in Ottawa, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel-Garner said her upcoming private member's bill
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would reverse a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that requires judges to consider immigration status during sentencing.
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Anyone seeking citizenship in Canada has responsibilities as well as rights.
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She argued the current system has led to what she calls a two-tiered justice system
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where non-citizens sometimes receive reduced sentences to avoid deportation.
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Rempel pointed to several high-profile cases, including one where an Indian foreign national received a conditional discharge
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after pleading guilty to attempting to buy sex from a minor so he and his wife could stay in Canada.
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She also referenced another case involving a visitor's permit holder convicted of groping twice,
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yet avoiding a permanent criminal record to keep appealing a deportation order.
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This offends all principles of fairness when it comes to our justice system.
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So, Jeff, does the 2013 Supreme Court ruling still reflect Canadian values,
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or is it time to revisit the balance between immigration consequences and criminal sentencing?
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Yeah, Isaac, some might say the ruling does not fully reflect Canadian values,
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as it has sparked debates about fairness in the justice system,
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particularly with cases where non-citizens receive lighter sentences to avoid deportation.
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Critics argue this creates a two-tiered justice system where individuals like the Indian foreign national
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who avoided a record for attempting to buy sex from a minor,
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or the visitor's permit holder convicted of groping who evaded a permanent criminal record,
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are benefiting from their immigration status in a way citizens cannot,
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challenging the principle of equal accountability.
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Supporters might contend that the ruling aligns with Canada's humanitarian values,
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recognizing the collateral impact of deportation on families and communities,
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which is a consideration some are arguing in favor of.
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However, the growing public and political push,
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exemplified by calls to prioritize responsibilities over rights for citizenship seekers,
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suggests a shift towards valuing uniform sentencing over immigration leniency,
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especially as high-profile cases fuel perceptions of inequity.
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Revisiting the balance could ensure sentences reflect the crime's severity rather than immigration outcomes,
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potentially restoring trust in a system where fairness is increasingly being questioned,
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though any change must weigh the human cost of deportation against judicial consistency.
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A new report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says Canada's housing supply is set to worsen,
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The Crown Corporation projects just 237,800 housing starts this year,
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and well short of the 271,198 homes built in 2021.
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The forecast sees no more than 227,000 starts in 2026 and 220,000 starts in 2027.
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This stands in stark contrast to the Carney government's campaign promise to build 500,000 homes a year over the next decade.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged $25 billion for a new Crown Corporation called Build Canada Homes,
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plus another $10 billion in low-rate capital for housing construction.
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as buyers and developers take a wait-and-see approach amid slowing growth and trade tensions.
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Montreal Economic Institute analyst Gabriel Jaguer said in April that the federal plan fails to address the real problem,
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Yeah, Jeff, so as you said, the CMHC's latest projections indicate that the Carney government's housing plan
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is already drifting from its stated goal of 500,000 new homes per year,
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and that housing starts are on track to decline annually, at least through 2027.
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Carney, in that sense, is following his predecessor, Justin Trudeau,
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who, despite making bigger and bigger promises, of course, also saw housing starts decrease year over year.
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And we've seen Carney similarly making big statements and big promises,
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but already falling behind when it comes to housing starts.
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On top of housing starts, we've seen the problem compound with immigration.
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For example, in 2025's first quarter alone, over 817,000 newcomers arrived,
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which is, of course, an annualized rate of more than 3.2 million.
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And if all new homes built went exclusively to newcomers,
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more than a dozen people would be vying for each unit, with, of course, none left for Canadians.
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We've also reported on recent data similarly showing that municipalities have built fewer than one home
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for every 10 new residents, so the numbers just don't add up.
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And Carney's signature solution, which is a $35 billion push into prefabricated and modular housing
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via the new Build Canada Homes Agency, has also drawn skepticism.
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Realtors and mortgage brokers have warned that these units often have high carrying costs,
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depreciate over time, are seen in the eyes of the bank and of lenders very, very poorly
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because what they value is the land, not this unit that falls apart.
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And, in fact, some critics have called Carney's plan altogether as smoke and mirrors,
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one that might just benefit firms like his former employer, Brookfield,
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who own modular housing companies instead of actually helping buyers.
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With the CMHC estimating that Canada needs 430,000 to 480,000 starts annually just to restore affordability,
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and with the federal housing minister signaling he doesn't want prices to fall,
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the projections suggest Ottawa's current strategy is ill-suited to the scale of the crisis.
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And without substantial policy changes, like cutting municipal red tape or aligning immigration levels
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to realistic home-building capacity, the government's housing targets are unlikely to be met.
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Canada's Energy and Natural Resources Minister has confirmed he holds dual Canada-U.S. citizenship
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and says he has no intention of giving up his American passport.
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Jonathan Hodgson made the remarks on Tuesday when speaking on the Vassie Capelow Show,
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explaining he became a dual citizen in the early 1990s while living and working in the United States.
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I have no concerns about being a dual citizen, adding that 700,000 Canadians share the same status.
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Hodgson noted he disclosed his citizenship to the federal ethics commissioner and national security officials
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and that his top-secret security clearance has been renewed.
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The muted media reaction stands in contrast to the sustained coverage that former conservative leader
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Andrew Scheer underwent in 2019, when his U.S. dual citizenship became a major election story.
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Hodgson also said he has not considered giving up his U.S. citizenship,
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even amid heightened tensions with Washington under President Donald Trump,
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citing family ties across the border and the convenience of travel.
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So, Jeff, is there a double standard in how the media treats dual citizenship issues for liberals versus conservatives?
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Yeah, Isaac, the contrast with the scrutiny that Andrew Scheer faced about his U.S. citizenship
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definitely appears to suggest a potential double standard here in the media.
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Scheer's case dominated headlines and fueled loyalty debates nationwide,
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while Hodgson's disclosure had drawn little attention,
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possibly reflecting partisan bias or a shift in public tolerance.
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This disparity could indicate that media outlets, often perceived as leaning left in general,
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are more lenient towards liberals like Hodgson, who frames his dual status as a practical benefit
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and notes 700,000 Canadians share it, compared to the harsher lens on conservatives,
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where Scheer's delay in renouncing citizenship was highly politicized.
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On conflict of interest, dual citizenship for ministers like Hodgson,
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especially with a top-secret clearance and oversight by the ethics commissioner,
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doesn't inherently create a conflict, as long as decisions align with Canadian interests.
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However, heightened U.S.-Canada tensions under Trump could definitely raise concerns
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if Hodgson's personal ties influence energy policy negotiations.
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Critics might argue that retaining a U.S. passport risks divided loyalties,
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though Hodgson's clearance renewal would suggest that there's no serious security breach.
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