Evidence of meeting #11 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was offence.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
David Lametti Liberal LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC
That doesn't mean that, if the circumstances are serious…
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, the last three or four minutes have been very difficult to understand. The interpreters are speaking over each other. Quite frankly, I could not follow the line of questioning or the responses.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Mr. Fortin, I would ask that once you ask a question you allow the witness to respond, and then let them know you're asking the next question. When there is crosstalk, it's very difficult for translation services as well. The echoing also overlaps on that.
Conservative
Rob Morrison Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
On a point of order, though, Mr. Chair, I think that Mr. Fortin asked a question, got a response, and was good with that, and the minister kept talking. If we are limited to five minutes, and we get one answer and we want to carry on with another question.... Otherwise, the minister could likely continue to talk for the entire five minutes, and I don't think that's correct either.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Chair, we need some respect in the line of questioning.
Mr. Fortin, the reason why the minister doesn't have the time to answer your questions is that you've spent all your speaking time asking your questions. If you really want an answer, you absolutely have to allow him a few seconds to answer the question.
Committee members must show respect for the witnesses.
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you.
Mr. Fortin, let me just get to Mr. Anandasangaree, and then I'll return to you.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think there's a general convention in Parliament that the response time equates very closely to the time for the question. When Mr. Fortin asks a question, he needs to give adequate time for a response. He cannot cut off the minister and go to the next one.
We all recognize time limitations. I think we've all generally been very much in adherence to these conventions. I hope we can continue the meeting and give adequate time for a response, without interruption, so we can actually hear both the question and the answer, and understand. It is a bit more difficult, especially, for our interpreters, who have been working around the clock.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I entirely agree with the remarks we've just heard, particularly those of Ms. Diab. I have a great deal of respect for Minister Lametti. He is both a gentleman and a scholar, a justice expert. I know it would be a pleasure for me to chat with him all day long. However, I have only five minutes to ask my questions, and I've already lost time as a result of the interpretation.
We've often discussed this situation, and I've suggested more than once that speaking time be extended when questions aren't asked in the language of the witness. The idea is to allow everyone a fair amount of time. I'm having that problem. As I previously said, I agree with Ms. Diab. As a result of this situation, I'm asking the minister specific questions to which he can answer with a yes or a no.
I'm asking him if he thinks that firearms trafficking is a serious crime, if armed robbery is a serious crime and if discharging a firearm with intent is a serious crime. These are questions that he can answer with a yes or a no. If every question results in a four- or five-minute speech, I won't have time to ask more than one or two questions over the entire afternoon, and I'll have lost my time on this committee.
I believe we're entitled to clear answers. The minister had five minutes for his opening remarks and to tell us how he viewed his bill. We took note of that. That's not the problem. Now it's time for members to ask the minister questions. However, with all due respect to him and the citizens watching us, I think we're entitled to expect short answers when the question asked is short and can be answered with a yes or a no.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Mr. Fortin.
I'll go to Mr. Naqvi next.
Mr. Fortin, I'll ask you to respect the amount of time you take to ask a question and give at least the same amount of time to answer the question. I know you're expecting perhaps a yes or no, but if you have a 10-second or 15-second question, at least give the witness 15 to 20 seconds. Because of interpretation, it takes a few seconds longer, and it goes both ways with interpretation. We all want to listen to your questions and have them on the record.
Go ahead, Mr. Naqvi, and then I'll try to resume after this.
Liberal
Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I just want to make one point, and this has been on my mind for some time. We're dealing with some complex criminal justice and legal issues here. There is no such thing, as Mr. Fortin knows, as a yes-or-no answer. These are nuanced issues that require thoughtful, nuanced answers, and I think time should be given to all our witnesses, not just the minister, to articulate their thoughts properly.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
I have a point of order. I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, but all this discussion about how we ask questions and how we answer questions is taking up a lot of question time. We get the minister here only so often, so I'm hopeful the minister can stay for maybe an extra 15 minutes to make up for some of the delays we're experiencing by debating how questions are answered and asked.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Mr. Moore.
I can't control the minister's schedule or itinerary. We are here as members, but I'll leave that to him. Hopefully, we'll be able to get in a round of questions for everyone. This committee has done a very good job in the past, and even though this is the first time the minister is coming here and I know we're all excited, I'll ask that we stick to decorum. I think we should be okay.
Mr. Fortin—
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Mr. Chair, on a point of order, in furtherance of my colleague Mr. Moore's commentary, and in reflection on my colleague Mr. Naqvi's commentary that these are nuanced questions and, more importantly, nuanced responses, perhaps the committee can consider inviting the minister back for a further hour at a future date. Obviously there are a lot of questions that all members from all parties wish to ask the minister, and he has lengthy responses, so perhaps a further one hour might be warranted in the circumstances.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Mr. Brock.
I think we'll look at that afterwards. We still have an hour of department officials who have a high level of expertise on this, and we should listen to them.
I'm going to resume, so Mr. Fortin can continue his questioning.
I've added some time for you, Mr. Fortin, for the disruption. You have about two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for your previous answers. I'd like to reiterate my respect for you, but we are unfortunately limited in terms of time. I accept the chair's decision about allowing the same amount of time for the answer as it takes to ask the question.
So, I'll go back to where I left off.
Do you consider robbery with a firearm to be a serious offence?
Liberal
David Lametti Liberal LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC
The seriousness of the offence is determined by the judge. It could be serious or less serious, depending on the circumstances.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay.
Is extortion with a firearm serious or not, in your opinion?
Liberal
David Lametti Liberal LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC
The seriousness of the offence is always determined by the judge, and it can vary with the circumstances.