I totally agree with many of the things that were said regarding the importance of the credibility of our justice system. Indeed, incidents such as these can undermine it. But that is not the issue. In any case, it is important to understand that, over the years, this credibility may be thrown into question by some, sometimes rightly so and other times, not. That is not the issue concerning us today.
We live in a federal system where there are indeed elements that are very connected, especially in terms of criminal law. That law comes under the federal Parliament, but the administration of criminal justice is the responsibility of the provinces. It is true that certain aspects of the administration of the criminal justice system can come under federal jurisdiction, and that can change from time to time. But it is important to understand that both levels of government are sovereign in their activities.
Basically, this motion asks us to call on an Ontario government official to appear in order to explain, and I would even say defend, his position. We are members of a federal parliamentary committee. Personally, I can tell you that if I had been the justice minister and one of my employees was asked to come and justify a decision that he made before a House of Commons committee, I would not have allowed that employee to do it. I think we have a great deal of authority, but when a provincial government exercises its jurisdiction by administering the criminal justice system, the province is sovereign, even if the jurisdiction can be shared.
It is a fact that certain drug prosecution cases are handled by the federal government and others by the provincial government. As a former crown prosecutor at both levels of government, I prosecuted such cases for both. But when someone does so within their own jurisdiction, that person is sovereign in that area and does not have to be accountable to a House of Commons committee.
I respect the reasons for which this motion was moved, and I understand them. I agree with everything that the person who moved the motion said, except for one thing. In my opinion, a provincial official should not have to defend a position of theirs before a House of Commons committee.
That is why we will vote against this motion.