Thank you.
Thank you for the introduction to your amendment. I have a draft ruling from the chair before the rest of you intervene here.
It's a ruling, not a draft ruling; it's a ruling.
Bill C-54 amends the Criminal Code to increase or impose mandatory minimum penalties for certain sexual offences involving children. This amendment proposes to allow for the court to exercise its discretion and select a lesser punishment than the minimum provided for by the bill.
As the 2009 second edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice states on page 766, Principle and Scope: An amendment to a bill that was referred to a committee after second reading is out of order if it is beyond the scope and principle of the bill.
In the opinion of the chair, the introduction of the concept of discretion is contrary to the principle of Bill C-54 and is therefore inadmissible.
That's my ruling.
Go ahead, Monsieur Ménard.