Justice Committee on March 6th, 2013

[Karen Audcent]

No, the report that Parliament gets is on the federal. The provincial has the responsibility to make their numbers public. It could go to a provincial legislature. But we don't dictate to the province on that level of detail. We just say to make it public. So the province could table it in the legislature. They could put it on the Internet. They can publish it however they see fit.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

But they would have to publish it.

[Karen Audcent]

They would have to publish it. That's the requirement.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

I see, but it wouldn't necessarily be reported to Parliament.

[Karen Audcent]

Not necessarily, no.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Mr. Mai.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Basically, what you're saying is that this amendment doesn't really add much to the reporting being already done, being already public, so we don't really need to have an amendment like this that would give us more information as parliamentarians. Is that correct?

[Karen Audcent]

The amendment wouldn't give anything more in terms of the information if what you're looking for is the global number per province. That information is already going to be required as part of the reporting. The information about the level of breakdown of police forces isn't provided right now in any of the reporting schemes.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Maybe Mr. Scarpaleggia can answer if he has consulted with provinces with respect to asking them in terms of work that they would have to do in terms of reporting by agencies. I don't know if that has been discussed with provinces.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Are you asking staff that question?

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

No, it was more—

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

No, I haven't done any consultations with the provinces. I'm prepared to actually withdraw this now that I understand that the information is available. It will be available on a province-by-province basis. I'm quite satisfied with that answer. I have no problem requiring the provinces to report these numbers to the federal government, but if it's already out there, then that allays my concerns. I take your point, Madam Audcent, that reporting by police force might provide some information to organized crime that would bolster criminal efforts. I certainly don't want to do that.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

We'd be the first to point it out.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

I will withdraw the amendment.

(Amendment withdrawn)

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Thank you very much.

(Clauses 5 to 7 inclusive agreed to)

Shall the short title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Shall the bill carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

I'll do that—

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Can you do it on the 14th of April?

[Voices]

Oh, oh!