Thank you. I think those are all good questions.
In terms of just the political side you made, it's an important one. It indicates a different approach to who needs to be involved in getting independent research. There are often times, as the Attorney General, that I ask for independent research in particular cases, independent legal advice, where it would appear that the Department of Justice could be perceived to have a conflict. And that is done as a matter of course.
With respect to whether the work will be done, I taught at a university on a part-time basis for eight years, and I did so basically, if not on a pro bono basis, pretty well on a pro bono basis. The professors there--and I think it's standard right across the country--are given one-third of their time for teaching, one-third of their time for community issues, and one-third of their time for doing research in their field. They are paid to do that by the taxpayer of Canada. I'd be surprised to say that simply because $4.2 million wasn't available to these professors they would not carry out what they are, either under the conditions of their tenure or under the conditions of their contract, obliged to do. They do it on a regular basis.
You've indicated if we want specific advice. If we want specific advice, there are independent people who can do it. And I'm very surprised to hear that the CBA can't provide independent advice. They have always provided independent advice for all the years I've been coming to this committee. I haven't always agreed with it, but it certainly has been independent advice critiquing government bills. That has been an absolutely important function. And so for the CBA to say that they don't carry out that type of research, I find amazing when I look at all the publications that the CBA has done. You'll have to ask the CBA why they are discounting all of the independent legal research that they have done, not only for the House of Commons but in fact for the legal community in general. I find that a startling comment on behalf of the CBA. I haven't read the full context, so it might be taken out of context.
I see the Law Commission of Canada as simply being an administrative mechanism to hire individuals to do research. Well, I can tell you, we have people who are competent to hire those individuals inside the Department of Justice. It doesn't mean the Department of Justice lawyers will be doing the work. We will still, I anticipate, continue to hire people outside to do some of that work.