Mr. Speaker, let me make very clear that I understand the notwithstanding clause. I understand that it is not an either/or. The appeal can proceed. We can do both, and that is what Canadians want. Why? Because the member himself said that adjournments were currently being sought. He also said that it would be expedited. Expediting something in a court is akin to watching molasses trying to drip out of a container in the Arctic in January.
I do not care how much expediting is going on. This case will drag on for one or two years at least. The member is not prepared to acknowledge that.
Furthermore, at this time it is not enough that the police in Canada have had the tools of their trade taken out of their hands in so many other instances. In this case the member knows full well that if the police were to go to a judge today and ask for a search warrant on the basis of this law they would not receive it. I read what was said, that the search warrant would have not been granted for Sharpe if this law was not in place.
In British Columbia the law is not in place and search warrants cannot happen. The police are being restricted in being able to stop this most reprehensible of all crimes.