Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
When I'm confronted with a difficult problem, I try to use plain old common sense and I especially like using very vivid images to illustrate it. It has to do with the fact that I believe in God. I always try to follow Christ's example. We all know that, in the Scriptures, he used parables to denounce completely unacceptable social realities, in order to make them understandable to the people listening to him.
In my other life, I worked for Ameublements Tanguay for 12 years. I met an enormous number of people during that time. I learned a lot about life. As I listened to my colleague, Françoise, I was reminded of one person I met there. A security guard, who was taking very advanced training to become a security consultant, so that he wouldn't have to be just a salesman selling security systems and equipment, had developed an integrated security concept based on available means and a specific configuration. Working with his client, he saw what it could look like. That man, who also worked at Ameublements Tanguay, pointed to the Frost fence surrounding the warehouse transfer yard, which had barbed wire at the top. He told me it was a way of preventing honest people from inadvertently entering private property.
That example, which may seem ridiculous at first glance, was a very strong image. When it comes to public safety and security, the main problem is that the means used to prevent people from committing a crime have to be balanced. The purpose is perfectly legitimate, as is the case for our colleagues opposite. But we need to avoid security systems that are overly sophisticated, massive and brutal that end up placing tremendous restrictions on individual and collective freedom. People have to be able to move around, assemble and express themselves in public.
Colleagues opposite are poised to reject my colleague's amendment. They want to hide behind a false sense of security by putting up a Frost fence that will considerably limit the freedom of expression of honest people, and the legitimate right of assembly and the right to express one's views in public. That is very disappointing.
I am going to reverse what could be called the burden of proof. No one among the colleagues who have spoken this morning or the witnesses we heard in previous days—and I do mean no one—has been able to assure members of this committee that honest people attending a demonstration which unfortunately gets out of hand and turns into a riot, or who involuntarily end up in an unlawful assembly, will not suffer considerable harm as a result of the provisions of Bill C-309.
Unfortunately, we are not lacking even very recent examples of massive arrests made using the tools currently available under the Criminal Code. I cited the example of 49 arrests made at the Cégep de Limoilou in Beauport-Limoilou at a gathering of three people. That is a terribly high ratio of arrests for a gathering that was intended to be peaceful, yet where excessive means seemed to have been used. I won't make any predictions as to the results of future court summons. An enormous number of people were arrested, including one student who is totally opposed to the strike and is now forced to challenge a fine of about $500. I also reminded the committee of the assemblies, indeed, all the unfortunate events that occurred during the G-20 Summit in Toronto.
I did not intend to go on at length about this and provide a demonstration. I believe my examples were quite eloquent.
Unfortunately, the bill, in its current form, is far more likely to cause harm to honest people than allow our police to legitimately prevent people from committing crimes during unlawful assemblies or riots. What is truly unfortunate is that we are creating a public space that will increasingly be an obstacle course—a space that will be very difficult to access if you are someone wanting to express your opinion, assemble freely and exercise your legitimate right to live your life as a citizen. That is very worrisome. I will conclude on that note.
Thank you.