Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This again deals with evidence from the Canadian Bar Association and the Criminal Lawyers' Association, looking at the reality that we should expand the eligibility criteria for preliminary inquiries. They very rarely take place.
The effect of this, according to the evidence that the committee has heard, is that preliminaries are useful in eliminating weak charges, focusing the issues and closing cases earlier. It was submitted that:
...without a preliminary inquiry, the Crown will have often unfettered access to ask questions of witnesses prior to trial, and the defence, in most cases, will have no ability to do the same, further tilting the already significant power imbalance between accused and state.
My amendment attempts to redress that imbalance, at least slightly, by increasing the opportunity for the accused to seek preliminary inquiries expanding eligibility criteria.
Thank you.