Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have given some thought to this, and I was discussing it with some constituents last week. I had a group from our local MADD chapter come in to discuss the topic of the judicial advisory committees. They had always assumed that police would have a role in the selection process. They were shocked to hear this balance wasn't there. That was the word they used: “balance”. They're certainly supportive of the new initiatives. I think that's what these changes bring: a sense of balance.
I also heard, why a representative of police and not unions? Well, if you're putting together a hockey team, you're going to involve hockey players; you probably wouldn't pick a basketball player, a football player, or a politician for that matter. When we're dealing with justice issues, we should involve those people who deal with the administration of justice. It could be lawyers; it could be judges. It should certainly be police officers. To suggest they do not have a role in justice, I think, is short-sighted.
I too was a bit surprised in hearing comments today that the judicial advisory process was merit-based, was taken seriously, because the inference there is that it's not going to be merit-based, that it's not going to be taken seriously. I think those comments would certainly be degrading to the representatives of police who are going to be involved in this process, because I am certain they would take it seriously and that it would be merit-based.
I have a few other things to go through, but that's something I'd like to get some comment on. How, in any fashion, would involving a police representative take away from it being merit-based? Would you seriously suggest to this committee that a police officer wouldn't make his advice on a merit-based process?
There was some reference--and I'm glad Mr. Russell clarified it--that a police representative would not be a special interest. I appreciate that. I thought we went down the wrong track when we began this hearing by suggesting that. We're always going to get different perspectives. I think all the groups involved in the judicial advisory committee bring good things to it. You can always look for small faults, but at the end of the day they all represent different sides of the justice system and they provide valuable advice.
I agree with the assessment of Mr. Moore that there's no difference in getting input from a representative of police than there would be from the Canadian Bar Association. There are obviously going to be different perspectives.
Mr. MacCarthy, I have a quick question for you. You mentioned the cooling-off period. Would you suggest a similar cooling-off period for members of the Canadian Bar Association who have a role in this process?