Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I would have been very sorry to not have input to this committee. I have an opportunity before me. Mr. Cotler will come back.
The amendment reads as follows: “That Bill C-10, in Clause 115, be amended by deleting lines 4 to 6 on page 66.” These lines read as follows: “4(5) The Governor in Council may, by order, amend Schedule 1 by adding or deleting a reference to an offence.”
We propose that the current situation remain, meaning that Parliament make this kind of decision and not the Governor in Council. This is the recommendation of the Canadian Bar Association.
The Canadian Bar Association is concerned and is recommending that, and if I may, I will just read the rationale for this amendment:
...clause 115, section 4(5) which permits the Governor in Council, rather than Parliament, to determine further offences for which pardons may not be granted. ...decisions regarding which offences may not receive pardons from criminal convictions should only be made after open debate in Parliament. Decisions regarding which offences are eligible for pardon is fundamental to the criminal law, and should only be decided by Parliament.
It makes so much sense that I expect everybody will vote for it—if I understand well the dynamic of this committee.