First, thank you for your welcome to the committee in 2013.
Again, as you've underscored, our justice legislation is very important to the government. Yes, you can expect more legislation to come before this committee, and of course I hope it will have everyone's support.
As you quite correctly pointed out, under section 4.1 of the Department of Justice Act, I have an obligation to examine bills that are presented—not just by the Department of Justice, but all government bills. I must satisfy myself that they comply with the charter and Mr. Diefenbaker's Bill of Rights.
That said, I do get advice on legislation. It is provided to me by the Department of Justice, and they do an excellent job of analyzing these bills to ensure they're constitutionally sound and comply with the pieces of legislation and the constitutional requirements that I have just indicated. The actual signing is done by a legislative counsel, but again, that analysis is carried out by the department, and on all the bills that come before Parliament, I am advised by the department with respect to their constitutionality.
With respect to this bill, in your analysis and your study of it I think you'll come to the same conclusion that I have: that it does not raise constitutional questions, that it's completely within the purview of the Parliament of Canada to pass this law, and that it's consistent with other parts of the Criminal Code. This bill does comply, as do the other pieces of legislation I will be bringing forward for your consideration in the future.