Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) Committee on Nov. 1st, 2007

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

It's along the same lines. Looking at the list, and I don't think this is any secret, I have serious concerns about the Bill C-27 part of this bill, from a charter or constitutional standpoint. In both of those areas I think there's some infringement on provincial jurisdiction in some of this legislation.

Mr. Chair, I support Mr. Ménard's position with some of the witnesses he's mentioned, because they'll give us that perspective we need, which I don't see strongly represented in the other witnesses who have been put forward. I'd want a panel just on that, so those witnesses would go there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Dykstra]

I see what you're saying. You're saying there are priority witnesses, but there are also priority issues that you want to address. If there are priority issues based on who can present, I would ask that you submit that, and we'll certainly take that into account.

The clerk has just indicated, and I think you got this from our discussion, that you make sure she does receive some names so she's able to do that.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Of the names Mr. Ménard put forward, there are at least two constitutional charter experts in that group. I don't know if the judge is one of the ones Mr. Ménard would suggest should go on that panel.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Dykstra]

I guess the only question is, do those become your priority witnesses, or are the two that you have on there your priority witnesses?

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I'm quite prepared to take a second position to Mr. Ménard.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Dykstra]

All right, thank you.

Madam Jennings.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

For the Liberals, besides all of the witnesses who were included on the previous list of the previous committee, in response to the request that we provide names of the priority witnesses we would like to see, which we did, given your request now, I would like to inform you that the Canadian Bar Association would clearly be one of our three priority witnesses. I'm pleased to see that they've been confirmed for November 15. I would like to see L'Association québécoise des avocats de la défense, Quebec's association of defence lawyers. I would also like the Canadian Association of Crown Counsel. I think this would give us a really good overview of how the defence, the crown, and the legal profession in general would see it.

We're pleased with the suggestion of the Bloc Québécois.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Dykstra]

Thank you.

Just prior to adjourning the meeting, I'm going to make a request.

I thought we had a pretty good meeting this morning. I've taken all of the criticisms--I was thinking of hits across the back of the head, but I won't call them that--and certainly will endeavour to inform all of you if changes are required. Certainly the clerk and I are getting to know each other quite well, and we will endeavour between the two of us not to make any errors or omissions in terms of contacting you.

In terms of meeting process, I think it got a little personal towards the end of the meeting. I'm not going to name anyone, as that's not my point here, but I would simply ask if we can do our best to stick to the issues we are dealing with and try not to, across the table to one another, take some personal opportunities to speak on behalf of what someone else's position may be. I would simply ask that we do our best to stick to the agenda and to stay focused on what we've been asked to do here.

Thank you.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chairman, should our discussions ever become heated, I think the government would be obligated to amend the bill so as to create a new category, that of “long-term member”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Dykstra]

Mr. Moore, to wrap it up.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

I agree with what you're saying, and I certainly didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings, because I felt your comments might be directed at me. I think we also have to be careful about how we treat our witnesses. I think that would go a long way towards not getting other people hot under the collar. Everyone who appears here is doing so as a volunteer, and we have to be respectful of our witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Dykstra]

Points well made.

I would ask that all of you enjoy the break. We'll come back on Tuesday--because Monday is a holiday--and we'll see you then.

We're adjourned.