Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, Mr. Minister. This is your first appearance before this committee in 2013. That is the case for several other witnesses, I am sure. Given the announcements you regularly make, we expect to see other bills come before us.
The NDP has supported the bill. We are fully aware of the fact that this piece of legislation will help us fulfill our international obligations under various agreements. You did explain that.
Before we start discussing Bill S-9 as such, it would be important to talk about how bills are analyzed by your department. Some matters that were made public during the parliamentary break have made me seriously concerned as the justice critic for my party. Your answers may alleviate those concerns. However, it is clear that, under the Department of Justice Act, the minister must ensure that bills are consistent with the purposes and provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I will not go into details when it comes to courses. I will let the courts do that. Nevertheless, some important concerns have arisen. They have to do with our actions, as a committee, when we study bills from your department. Rightly or wrongly, that situation makes us doubt the seriousness and thoroughness of your department's approach. I am talking about your department's lawyers complying with that legal obligation.
Regarding Bill S-9—I will remain within the context of that bill—it is clear that you, as minister, have to sign a certificate. In fact, that would apply to practically any other bill introduced by the government or submitted to us by the government through the Senate.
I would first like to know whether the examination provided for under section 4.1 of the Department of Justice Act has been carried out regarding Bill S-9. Also, as what we are hearing at different levels makes the whole situation somewhat unclear, I would like to know what steps are taken before you sign the certificate.
Finally—and this question follows up on my previous one—I would like to know if you have indeed signed the certificate of compliance with the charter. Before we begin the study of Bill S-9 or any other bill, we need you to clarify this situation.