Information & Ethics Committee on Nov. 29th, 2007

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

This is very short.

Have we found out that...? He was talking about getting his records. I'm not very concerned about how well he sleeps at night, but he has concern about his records, which I think we all share, so he has the opportunity to look at his records. Are we saying we have heard directly that he is not eligible to have those records? Are we not able to get them to the place where he's being held at present? Does he have to be at home to be able to get access to them?

If the motion is to deal with making sure he gets his records, I'm fully in favour of that, but I'm with Mr. Thibault on this. We should make sure the law is obeyed, and if he's in jail for a certain reason, we don't look as if we're springing him for the weekend so he can go home under house arrest and look at his records. We should try to get his records to him where he is located.

That is my view.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Thank you.

Mr. Thibault.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I can support the motion if the motion doesn't pretend we have the power to do anything. All we do, as I understand from this motion, is recommend to the Speaker that he consider house arrest in this instance and show no objection. I think that is what we all did yesterday and said to the Speaker. I have no objection to that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Everyone understands the spirit of the motion, that it is a recommendation but that the decision-making authority is not this committee but rather the Speaker and the other policing authorities, who have a protocol to follow.

Does everybody understand the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

We are adjourned until Tuesday, December 4.