Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, as always, to Mr. Moore for his comments.
I'm reading now from the brief from the Canadian Teachers' Federation, because the Canadian Teachers' Federation is what we're talking about here. They represent the majority of teachers across the country. They're asking the Government of Canada, not the committee, to ensure the continued protection of teachers and students in their care while respecting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. That is their number one request.
Then they're asking us to amend section 265 of the Criminal Code of Canada. It is not within the committee's purview under this bill, unfortunately, to amend section 265, or I would have proposed an amendment to amend section 265, but the Government of Canada, to whom they're making the appeal, can amend section 265 or another part of the code to deal with the very valid concerns raised by teachers. That is what we have had an undertaking from the Minister of Justice to now do.
In my view, opposite to trying to play two sides or anything, as Mr. Moore is saying, we're responding to exactly what the teachers have asked. We're fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action. We understand that there are stakeholders who, for whatever reason, symbolically believe that section 43 needs to go from the code. That is what was in the TRC recommendation. At the same time, we will be having a bill or part of a bill that will deal with the protection of teachers, which, again, the committee cannot do in the context of this private member's bill. It cannot amend a section of the code that's not referenced in the bill.
I also welcome Mr. Maloney's comments. I look forward to more clarity on it, but I am comfortable that we are doing exactly what the CTF asked us to do.
Thank you, Madam Chair.