Yes, indeed.
My question is for you, Mr. Cannavino.
When Bill C-35 was tabled, I asked myself a number of questions. As you indicated earlier, currently, when an individual is arrested by the police, that person appears with his lawyer, and the Crown has to determine that the accused is dangerous in order for him not to be released. Of course, in the case of an individual without a criminal record, even if you do have information, the information cannot be used to detain the individual. You have no right to do so, and neither the Crown nor the judge would allow it.
I want to make sure I am properly understood. Bill C-35 adds a dozen serious offences. These are not minor offences, where reversing the burden of proof could create problems. I understand that the question I will be asking you, Mr. Cannavino, might be philosophical in nature, but it is important.
Many people, including senior citizens, watch television programs on TVA, Radio-Canada, TQS and other channels where stories of people shot in the streets are shown every night. For having worked in this field, I know that the problem is not security, but the sense of security. That is not only true for senior citizens. There are 50-year-olds who are scared, and there are 20-year-olds who are already scared.
Bill C-35 will ensure that people are brought before a judge, and as Ms. Jennings indicated earlier, will have to prove that they are fit to be released. Will the fact that an individual is not immediately released have an effect on people's sense of security? The Crown may postpone the trial by three days, as is currently done, and an arrangement can be made with the Crown on fairness issues to release the individual.
Could the fact that an individual is not immediately released, pursuant to Bill C-35—that does not mean he is guilty—create a sense of security? I call that philosophy, something you spoke about earlier. I do not want to speak about the case you alluded to where one of your police officers was killed, but I did see it on television. We all were shocked. I myself, as a defence lawyer, was surprised. I would like to know whether Bill C-35 addresses the issue of safety. The law is one thing; safety is another.