Thank you, Chair and Clerks.
Thank you for being before us today and providing this very useful advice on our deliberations. I have two questions. The first is for Mr. Walsh.
With regard to the constitutional difficulties you've identified with respect to the privileges of members of Parliament in particular, is it your opinion that it is within the powers of this committee to amend this bill so that it can cure any of these constitutional difficulties that you raise? That's my first general question. In some points it's quite clear that it can be. I'm interested in, and will be considering, if we follow that advice, whether that will impair the more general objectives or specific objectives of the bill to the extent that it's not worth it. I'm interested in knowing to what extent this is curable.
Second, I'm interested in knowing whether, as a normal course or in this situation, when there are issues of legislative drafting that do touch upon the business and the privileges of Parliament, and particularly the House of Commons, it is appropriate and common, or appropriate but uncommon, that you are consulted by the counsel at the Department of Justice who is drafting legislation. Did this happen in the case of bill C-2?