Thank you very much. Is there any further discussion?
Basically, what we are voting on now is the substantive amendment, which is the identical amendments PV-5 and X-35, to repeal section 173. I will now ask for a vote.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
That brings us back to clause 4. I will judge that as a result of the defeat of the substantive amendment, the amendments X-1 and PV-2 and all of the other consequential amendments have been defeated or are no longer valid as a result of the retention of the substantive section 173.
This means that we have, then, no other amendments proposed to clause 4.
(Clause 4 agreed to)
(Clause 5 agreed to)
On clause 6 there are two amendments, CPC-1 and X-2. There is a line conflict between them, so if one is adopted the other cannot be. However, the whole issue of amendment X-2 depends on clause 319 of the bill, which deals with changing what is the standard summary sentence from six months to two years less a day.
If clause 319 stays the way it is, then all of these amendments would not be receivable anymore, because they change back to “two years less a day” the hybridized provisions.
The Conservative amendments are still good, but the X amendments, which serve to put in “two years less a day” where the terms were left at six months in the other clause, would no longer be receivable.
Did everybody get that? Good.
We are going to go to clause 319 first.
Clause 319 is not an amendment. We're going to go to clause 319 of the bill. It's on page 137.
Basically, this has the effect of changing the general penalty of imprisonment on summary conviction in the code from six months to two years less a day.
First of all, does anybody have any amendment that they want to propose to clause 319? We didn't receive any.
If not, I'm wondering whether there's anybody who wants to debate, either in favour or against this clause, because I'd like to vote on this clause before going back to the amendment.
Effectively, this would be the question: Do you accept the change, for summary convictions, from six months to two years less a day, or not? If not, you would vote against this clause. If yes, you would vote in favour of this clause. Does everybody understand?
Mr. Clement.