Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The Liberal position on Bill S-6 is that the desire of the government and some stakeholders to put effective controls on the system for current offenders with life sentences for first-degree murder on their application for the faint hope clause is not objectionable. The government is not removing or attempting to remove a right that is already being enjoyed by inmates who have been convicted of life sentences without the possibility of parole before 25 years but who would benefit from the faint hope clause that allows them to make an application for early parole after they've served 15 years.
Therefore, the Liberals do not in any way find this government's attempt to put in controls objectionable, in the sense of saying that inmate X has that right after 15 years. There should be a window during which time the inmate can make that application. We feel, and we heard testimony, that the delay the government is offering is too short in some cases, and perhaps there should be a little more flexibility. That's why Liberals have tabled amendments on the issue. I'll speak to that when those amendments come forward.
On the issue of repealing the faint hope clause for those convicted on the day of or after the coming into effect of this piece of legislation, Liberals do not support that. However, the Bloc knows very well, as does the NDP, that neither one of them.... One has no pretensions or desire to form a government; the other has never formed a government and probably won't, at least in the near future. Also note that the repealing of that clause will only take effect 15 years from the date the legislation comes into force. So there has to be a little bit of honesty on that as well.
The Liberals don't support clause 2, but we will abstain from voting because we believe there will be a window of opportunity of 15 years in which to correct that piece of legislation.
I agree with Monsieur Lemay and thank him for his comment that this was one criminal justice procedure that actually worked well, and it was put into place by Liberals--exactly. And in the repealing of the faint hope clause going forward, hopefully Liberals will one day have the confidence of the Canadian public, form the government, and overhaul not only this but the whole criminal justice system to bring it into the 21st century.
On that note, as I said, the Liberals will not vote in favour of or against clause 2. We will be abstaining.