I want to preface my remarks by saying I'm no draftsman, but proposed section 745.51 talks about making all of the relevant parole ineligibility periods consecutive. Let's not forget that that's all Bill C-48 does. It takes the existing rules in paragraphs 745(a) and (b), as I've explained, which call for a mandatory 25 years, and it allows the judge to make them consecutive.
In this particular instance we're talking about all of the parole ineligibility periods. But as I mentioned, the reference to section 745 confuses me. The periods in section 745 are mandatory, and proposed paragraph 745.51(1)(b) purports to make them optional as the judge deems fit in the circumstances. I see a contradiction there. As I went on to say in the case of a second murder and a second parole ineligibility period, if this is right, then the judge could theoretically give one year.