Justice committee  One of the concerns is the definition of a public place, and whether the Internet would be encompassed as a public place, as a place where youth are likely to be. It's a public domain. It's online communication. It's a wild, vast universe out there. Arguably it could be interpret

Justice committee  I'd like to try to address your question briefly. But before I do that, I was wondering if I could briefly respond to something that Professor Benedet said. I think it's important to note, when we're looking at the purpose behind this legislation—and there are laudable aspects o

Justice committee  I'd like to address that question if I may, on behalf of the Criminal Lawyers' Association. If I understand Professor Benedet's view, I think it's that a person who is engaged as a sex worker is essentially always operating from a position of inequality. I understand the argumen

Justice committee  On behalf of both of us this afternoon, we did not think it reasonable to expect a lawyer to only be able to speak for five minutes—

Justice committee  —so he'll be encompassing my comments as well.

Justice committee  But who's counting?

National Defence committee  I would endorse the recommendations Justice LeSage made in his report. The complication is not just a criminal record but, as I understand it, the information that is put on CPIC, which can be prejudicial to an individual. I would endorse the recommendations that he made at the

National Defence committee  Yes. As I said, I'm not an expert in this area, but based on the reading that I did prior to my attendance here, my understanding is that the court martial provides many more procedural protections in terms of the rights of the accused; however, an individual is deployed in order

National Defence committee  I would not say that. I know what they are, but I would not in any way say I'm familiar with them, no.

National Defence committee  You're asking a lawyer to be concise. I'll do my best.

National Defence committee  I would say that the problem is, yes, there is a right of review by a superior officer. The same problems with perception of fairness would exist, given the chain of command. None of the individuals reviewing what might potentially be a wrongful conviction—and it's a criminal con

National Defence committee  No, but we recognize that it has to be a flexible approach, because military justice is different from civilian justice.

National Defence committee  There should not be. It should also be noted that in a trial, an accused person has to stand throughout with their assisting officer, and they're not even able to take notes. There's no record of this proceeding, so if a review is requested by a supervising officer, there is no

National Defence committee  Justice must not only be done, it must appear to be done, and in order to have procedural fairness, you must have an impartial tribunal that also appears impartial, particularly to an accused person.

National Defence committee  They deserve no less.