Justice Committee on Nov. 27th, 2006

Evidence of meeting #35 for Justice and Human Rights in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was violent.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum penalties for offences involving firearms) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ian Lee Professor, Carleton University, As an Individual

Tony Cannavino President, Canadian Police Association

Lee Stuesser Professor of Law, Robson, Hall, University of Manitoba, As an Individual

Paul Chartrand Professor, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, As an Individual

David Griffin

Clerk of the Committee Ms. Diane Diotte

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

We'll deal with one at a time. Let's deal with the motion you submitted last Thursday.

Is there discussion? None? Then we'll go to the vote.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Myron Thompson Conservative Wild Rose, AB

I just wonder what the rush is, Mr. Chairman.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Well, the motion has been—

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Myron Thompson Conservative Wild Rose, AB

We have so much legislation to deal with before Christmas that I'm just trying to figure out why we're rushing this one.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Be that as it may, Mr. Thompson, I know that's part of debate, but I think we moved into the vote on the issue, so if I may....

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC

Mr. Chair, I quickly give notice of the second motion, which reads as follows:

Whereas various important witnesses have indicated to the Committee that there is a significant link between armed offences, street gangs and organized crime;

Whereas parliamentarians have an obligation to legislate on the basis of meaningful and conclusive information;

It is proposed that the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights not begin the clause-by-clause review of Bill C-10 until it has devoted two more meetings to the issue of street gangs, and two more meetings to examine the overall effect on gangsterism of Bills C-95 and C-24, adopted in 1997 and 2001;

It is also proposed, with respect to gangsterism, that the research assistants produce a summary of the case law and provide Committee members with a file comprising the court judgments in full.

We could discuss it at the next committee meeting. I hope to have the support of all committee members.

Mr. Thompson, I'm a friend.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Okay. Notice of motion has been served.

Mr. Lee, go ahead on a point of order.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, there's been some chitchat on this side of the table about the meeting coming up on Wednesday. A number of us are going to have a very difficult time to attend the meeting. There are some really important witnesses.

I have been able to arrange it so I will be here for at least a portion of the meeting time, but there are colleagues who have not. It's a very difficult thing to deal with, because we don't have a lot of time. The best I could think of was to reschedule the meeting, but rescheduling pushes out the time for clause-by-clause consideration.

I wanted to make that point to see if there are any creative ways of accommodating the apparent absence of some of the members from the committee on Wednesday.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Will all members be here?

Monsieur Ménard, will you be here on Wednesday?

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC

I can be present, but it can be cancelled as well. I know there's going to be a Liberal leadership conference. I don't see any problem in cancelling it.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Monsieur Lemay, what do you think?

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

There's no problem; we can cancel it.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Mr. Bagnell, what is your position?

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

I'd prefer to cancel it.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Mr. Comartin had a difficulty as well.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

You have agreed to attend, obviously, but you're concerned about the length of time.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

I don't think there's any easy way to solve the problem.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

No, I don't think so, not at this short notice.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

If there were, I'd surely be presenting it. We'll do our best.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

We will work with it as well as we can, Mr. Lee. If it means possibly concluding a little early, we might end up doing that, too, if there aren't a sufficient number of members around.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

It was a coming together of two separate problems for members on the opposition side. There are different causes and different solutions, but thank you for considering it.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Art Hanger

Understood.

Mr. Petit.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative