Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My thanks to the witnesses for being here today and for your very touching testimony. It really brings home to us the practical nature of a bill and the results it can have in real life. Thank you very much.
My question goes to Mr. Carrière and Mr. Kaye. The third clause of the bill talks about intent. The word “wilfully” is used, but also the expression “without lawful excuse”. At the previous meeting of the committee, I asked the minister and the officials what kind of lawful excuse could be considered a defence.
You seem to be aware of it and you seem also to have witnessed actual cases of cruelty to animals. Could you explain to me a little about how this would be applied? What would a lawful excuse be in a case like the one we are studying today?