Evidence of meeting #9 for Justice and Human Rights in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I recall seeing the list of chemical substances used in the production of methamphetamine. I should have re-read it this morning. Regardless, let me read you recommendation 16 in our report:
The main disadvantage of creating such an offence would be the need to prove knowledge of the future use of the equipment or the intent that the equipment be used to produce a drug.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I'm in the middle of page 45, just before recommendation 17.
We realize that this is not the solution to all of our problems. It is a merely a tool that can assist us from time to time. It is a step forward, but it is not the be all and end all.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
I would like to clarify one point before turning the floor over to the sponsor of the bill.
If I understand correctly, this is a unanimous report. Therefore, we can assume that Quebec's Department of Justice supported this recommendation.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I believe it was in July 2007.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
I see. So then, we can tell our constituents that the Canadian Federation of Municipalities supports Chris' bill. As a lobby group, the Federation is rather...
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
In so far as conducting investigations is concerned, an area of interest to Mr. Aubin, this means that it will be possible to intervene at the start of the process, before chemical synthesis occurs and the substance is produced.
I believe “en amont” means at the start, or beginning. Is that right, Ms. Jennings?
Bloc
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
I think we understood that you meant to say at the start of the process.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
If the bill has any merit from the standpoint of the administration of justice, surely this is it.
We will think about it. We will suspend the proceedings for two minutes a little later to find out where our Bloc Québécois colleagues stand. You have persevered in your efforts. We appreciate how important this is for ordinary MPs. You do not appear to me to be the biggest redneck in the caucus. Therefore, I tend to look favourably upon this initiative.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
Perhaps I should not have used the word “redneck”. Maybe I should have said “the most conservative” instead. I'm not trying to embarrass you.
I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
Monsieur Ménard, you must have had lots of time to reflect over the Christmas season.
I would like to ask a question of Mr. Culver. Are the precursors in crystal meth designated under class A?
Sergeant Doug Culver Chemical Diversion Unit, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Most of them, yes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
But so is ecstasy. Then there are combinations of LSD, PCP, and maybe even heroin and cocaine.
Conservative
Sgt Doug Culver
I don't think there's a problem to that extent. Canada doesn't actually have a problem with cocaine production or heroin production. Certainly we have ecstasy production in the country and some other synthetic drugs, but methamphetamine certainly stands out at the forefront of some of the problems we're having. It's not just how that drug is used to make money for organized crime, but also how it affects the children in our communities, the addictiveness of it. We need to take into account the drug-endangered children associated with some of these clandestine labs.
I think what has to be realized is that class A precursors are only a finite group of chemicals, which are very prevalent in the manufacturing of some synthetic drugs. A variety of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine are class B precursors, and quite a few do not exist in any legislation whatsoever. Some of the very common household products, such as iodine, are yet to be legislated, but are a crucial component of manufacturing methamphetamine in some recipes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
You were at a crystal meth conference in Florida. The U.S. Justice Department made it very clear that as they cracked down on the super-labs along the west coast, some of them moved farther north and ended up in B.C.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
And some of these operations, of course, are presently running out of there, I would assume.
