Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to the gentlemen from the Barreau du Québec. My congratulations on your brief, which is very useful for the committee. Well done, and thank you.
I have two questions.
The first is about the removal of the preliminary inquiry. On page 6 of your brief, you say:
In addition, the Barreau du Québec proposes an additional measure, to add to the Criminal Code the possibility of replacing, with the consent of the accused, the holding of a preliminary inquiry with out-of-court questioning. Pilot projects in this area have been set up in several judicial districts in Quebec and have proven their worth.
What are the results of those pilot projects? Did they really save time and protect the rights of the accused simultaneously?