I would like to understand the scope of your question. In fact, if I understand correctly what was said, there is a certain nuance. No one is challenging the very notion of professional privilege, because, in my view, that would affect the entire justice system and everyone's basic rights. What we are saying, in specific terms, is that this can sometimes be difficult and could require more in-depth investigations.
I have to say that there is a rationale behind all this. There must be a presumption that people are acting in good faith and that the majority of professionals are acting in an appropriate and correct manner. If we believe that a professional is acting criminally—because this is what we are talking about here—those are activities where professional privilege does not apply.
However, this can be difficult. At first glance, it could involve a professional with, for example, his own law firm. So, on the surface, everything seems legitimate. As I understand it, from the discussions that have gone on, professionals who are involved in that kind of activity are not exclusively involved in that kind of activity. For us, it is much easier if everything a lawyer does is illegal. When illegal activities are mixed in with legal ones, it becomes trickier. This is when the protections and the safeguards that our system has put in place become important. Protecting the professional privilege is important for the other clients, the other people whom the professional represents. So, when there are reasons to believe that some of a professional's cases involve criminal activity, with or without his knowledge, it is possible to obtain search warrants and investigate those cases, though clearly, there must be reasonable grounds to do so.
I understand that this can be difficult. I am not casting any doubt on that, hence the first point I made in my statement. I do not think that we are in situations like that. I listened carefully to the presentations that were made, and I believe that sometimes it is a matter of resources and means. It is difficult to collect and identify enough evidence to convince a court, and people in general, including myself. It is a matter of resources and means. This cannot be resolved by amendments to the Criminal Code, in my opinion.