Justice Committee on Nov. 29th, 2007

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Do you have the budget for each province?

[Brian Saunders]

Not in the annual report.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Is it possible to know the number of cases handled, their nature and importance by means of a breakdown by province?

[Brian Saunders]

Yes.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

I'm going to ask one final question.

It was said that $5 million was allocated to increase the number of positions at the RCMP and the number of federal prosecutors “to focus on law enforcement priorities such as drugs, corruption and border security”.

What do you mean by corruption?

[Brian Saunders]

I think they previously said that was part of it, but most lawyers, prosecutors that we're going to hire under this budget will handle drug cases.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Corruption and drugs are the same thing?

[Brian Saunders]

Corruption is organized crime and a little of that as well. Drugs are often linked to organize crime.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

That's good, thank you.

Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Bagnell.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Thank you, Madame Freeman.

Again, thank you for appearing in front of our committee. It's very much appreciated.

Perhaps I could call the committee's attention to the supplementary vote. There should be a copy in front of you. Does everyone have a copy of the votes for the supplementary estimates?

[An hon. member]

I'm ready.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Okay.

JUSTICE Department Vote 1a--Operating expenditures, and, pursuant to section 29.1(2)(a) of the Financial Administration Act, authority to expend revenues received in a fiscal year, and to offset expenditures incurred in the fiscal year, arising from the provision of mandatory legal services to Government departments and agencies and optional services to Crown corporations, non-federal organizations and international organizations provided they are consistent with the Department’s mandate and the payment to each member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada who is a Minister without Portfolio or a Minister of State who does not preside over a Ministry of State of a salary not to exceed the salary paid to Ministers of State who preside over Ministries of State under the Salaries Act, as adjusted pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act and pro rata for any period of less than a year – To authorize the transfer of $547,509 from Health Vote 1, and $426,000 from Transport Vote 1, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$17,812,007

Vote 5a--The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions – To authorize the transfer of $330,000 from Justice Vote 1, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$109,475,415

Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Vote 20a--Operating expenditures..........$395,601

Courts Administration Service Vote 30a--Program expenditures..........$3,223,830

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Vote 35a--Program expenditures..........$14,226,320

(Votes 1a, 5a, 20a, 30a, and 35a agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Shall I report the supplementary estimates (A), 2007-2008, to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

That has been carried.

Thank you, committee.

We have an issue on some witnesses. The issue, of course, is that some of the previous witnesses who were submitted were unable to attend, one of them, of course, being the automobile manufacturers, dealing with Bill C-343. They will submit a written submission. There has been a request from the dealers association, and it would be good. Since the manufacturers were unable to attend, I would suggest that the dealers association take their place.

Is there agreement?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

And also the National Association of Fleet Administrators.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

The same kind of thing. The same time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

At the same time.

It is agreed that those two will replace the manufacturers.

Professor Thomas Gaybor is unavailable.

Do we have some other suggestions?

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I think we should give you the mandate. Someone has to come and tell us aboutminimum mandatory sentencing and an evaluation. Regardless of the university he or she comes from, we have to hear a witness who covers this aspect of the bill.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Okay.

You will leave that authority with the chair?

Mr. Dykstra.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

I have a suggestion. We've had Professor Gary Mauser here before as an individual. We could put him forward as a potential replacement.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Mr. Mauser?

Madam Jennings.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I'm going to recommend Nicole Crutcher, of Carleton....

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

She can't make it.