Justice Committee on April 29th, 2026

Evidence of meeting #27 for Justice and Human Rights in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ruling.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-16

Members speaking

Before the committee

Levman Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice

Burt Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice

Taylor Senior General Counsel and Director General, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice

Wong General counsel, As an Individual

Legault Legislative Clerk

Ellison Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Policy Sector, Department of Justice

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

I don't think any of this is funny.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

There's nothing funny about any of this.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

Nothing is funny about this. I'm seeking clarification from the officials.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

Mr. Baber, nothing is funny about any of this.

I asked you a very simple question and you gave me a vague answer, so I'm asking for clarification. You said it might be. You're the only one who has that information.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

It depends on the answer.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

No, it doesn't work that way.

Do you have a submission to make on my ruling? I'll give you that much.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

Yes. I appreciate that. My submission would involve a question for the officials.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

No. The ruling has already been made, Mr. Baber.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

You have not given me an opportunity to speak or clarify in advance of your ruling. You've heard from Mr. Brock—

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

I said at the beginning, on the first one, that we're going to be doing this more than once, because I've gone through these proposed amendments and—

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

Maybe I—

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

—the rulings are all for the same reasons.

In deference to Mr. Brock and your entire team, I thought it would be appropriate to hear from him. I'm not going to sit here and listen to arguments over and over again on the same issue.

The ruling has been made. If you want to challenge the ruling, you're entitled to do so.

Okay. CPC-4 is out of scope.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON

I challenge that.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

You're challenging it. Okay.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON

Yes, I challenge the ruling.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

We have a challenge.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 6; nays 5)

CPC-5 is also ruled out of scope for reasons that I already provided earlier.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON

I challenge the ruling.

You know, it's really interesting how the tone of this justice committee has changed within two days with a majority. It's just ramming through this piece of legislation.

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

It's a yes-or-no vote, Mr. Brock.

April 29th, 2026 / 5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON

The answer is absolutely no.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 6; nays 5)

5:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney