As many Canadians are well aware, we're here discussing the budget implementation act. It sounds rather innocuous, but what most Canadians wouldn't be aware of is that it's a 600-page omnibus bill.
Buried on page 300, in part 5, division 5, clause 208, is a provision that allows you as minister and other of your ministerial colleagues to exempt any individual, corporation or organization from being subject to federal laws, with the exception of those that fall under the Criminal Code. From my understanding, those exemptions don't require parliamentary approval. They can last up to six years. They're being justified with vague terms like “public interest”, “innovation” and “competitiveness”.
Minister, do you believe your government should be able to selectively suspend laws behind closed doors, passed by Parliament?