Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Minister, thank you for the introduction of this information and for appearing in front of the committee.
I was a police officer during the time when reference to the onus being on the accused, at least to prove certain situations, was very prevalent. The Bail Reform Act changed all that. One of the provisions back then was that there was a necessity to have the trial expedited. Many times the accused pleaded guilty rather than going through a pre-trial portion of detention, which was not at that time factored into any sentencing provisions. Most of the time they were given a sentence upon conviction or a guilty plea.
The courts are very different now, and there's a real backlog when it comes to these detention issues. I don't imagine that's going to change any. There may not be a big increase--I agree--and this may not affect a whole lot of people. The detention side, when it comes to pre-trial, is not going to be an issue here.
The other problematic aspect when it comes to court is that many gun-related offences—and this still happens today—are being dealt away with prior to maybe a guilty plea. You'll never see a bail order or a violation of any bail order, and you'll never see a probation order. I'm curious how, if at all, those aspects are going to be dealt with.