Thank you very much for the question.
I liked the amendment when it was brought to my attention, and for the following reason. We constantly have a challenge with the Criminal Code to make sure it's up to date and stays in touch with the changes in technology. I have other legislation before Parliament that updates a number of provisions within the Criminal Code. Why? Because the present provisions are stuck in another era. I mean, there are references to telegraphs and telegrams, and a recognition within the Criminal Code that most electronic communication is done by telephone. These references are obviously out of date. When was the last time anybody received a telegram? Does anybody here remember the last time they got one? Again, we have to constantly update these.
Now, there were a couple of amendments. You mentioned the one with respect to the list of government documents. There is a provision for a review after five years. Again, that wasn't in the original bill that I tabled in Parliament, but it provides an opportunity to make sure that technology doesn't outpace us on these.
When I saw the amendment, it said “or any similar document”, which I think has to be read in conjunction with the words around it, including “issued or purported to be issued by a department or agency of the federal government or of a provincial government”, and “issued or purported to be issued by a foreign government”.
To me, that is the saving provision. If we come up with a similar document....
I mean, I'm in a border community, as you know. We have seen a number of changes in the kinds of government-issued documents. The latest one we have now is NEXUS, but that's only a few years old. Again, we want to make sure that all of these get covered.
So I had a look at it, and it seemed to me that it was reasonable. As I say, following those words, you have the specific description that these would be governments, with the different levels of government listed from which these documents would be coming. I think it's good. It keeps it tight, but not too tight, so that we're not overtaken by changes in either government policy or technology.