Justice Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2011

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Chairman—

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

I'll tell you, I'm very pleased about that.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Chairman, could you please tell the minister that if he wants to speak to the representatives of the Liberal Party, he not do so during the time I have for questions? Therefore, can I get back the 44 seconds which I lost? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

But to be fair, the problems with proroguing, when we did the proroguing—

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Chairman—

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

—were the problems we were having with the Liberal-dominated Senate.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Chairman, once again—

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

I don't want to be blaming you, Monsieur Lemay—

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

No, but—

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

—for something you're not to blame for. Good heavens, I wouldn't do that.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Chairman—

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Order, order.

Could I have just one moment of your time?

I think now is the time for us to dial down the rhetoric and get back to the bill that's at hand. So I ask all of us now to sort of treat each other a little bit more civilly, and let's get to the nuts and bolts of the bill itself.

Monsieur Lemay, continue.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I have not done anything, Mr. Chairman. The Liberal Party and the minister are arguing. Can I have my minute? I will be specific.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Monsieur Lemay, I wasn't just referring to you. I was referring to all of us here. I think we need to tone down the rhetoric a little bit so we can get something done.

You've got the floor again.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Minister, I carefully read Bill C-54. Someone from Quebec City might soon come into my riding and say the opposite, but this is a good bill, apart from some provisions which would impose minimum prison sentences for offences which already exist.

Is the purpose of these minimum prison sentences to prevent the courts from imposing conditional sentences, yes or no?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Among other things, we don't want to have conditional sentences or house arrest in these areas. But I'm pleased to hear you say that this is a good bill.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

No.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

I know you had some problems with the mandatory sentencing, but....

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

So you agree with me.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

We'll see.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

No. Not so fast! That was a double-edged compliment.

I would suggest that you split the bill.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

My goodness.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Hold on. You want us to—

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

I'm so sorry, and this is such great legislation.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

No. This is what I am suggesting. Listen to your officials. You want us to catch sexual predators who operate on the Internet. I agree with that. And if you agree with me, we will quickly pass section 13, which would create section 171.1 in the Criminal Code.

Could we just do that and discuss the rest later?