Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, Mr. Minister.
You properly anticipated that we would be a little bit preoccupied with the constitutional aspects, and I appreciate your remarks with respect to the mandatory minimums and the discussion we've had to date on that.
I'd like to add another element as we talk about the constitutionality of the bill, and that is within the new proposed section 445.01, the creation of a defence of lawful excuse. I raise that with you, Minister, for the discussion or the prospect that this has the potential of imposing a reverse onus. Certainly, the courts have had something to say on reverse onus provisions infringing on paragraph 11(d) of the charter.
We've had the discussion around mandatory minimums. I'm asking you about the existence of this lawful excuse defence and the possibility that it infringes on paragraph 11(d).
My question is whether you have sought and obtained legal opinion with respect to the constitutionality of this bill and, in particular, the two areas that I've raised.