Thank you, Chair.
I'd like to start off by recapping how things progressed last Monday. I believe every member of this committee will recognize the efforts made by Conservatives to essentially deem movement of probably the last two dozen or two dozen and a half government amendments without the necessity of any explanation because I truly felt we were on a path to complete Bill C-16 clause-by-clause.
I'm not going to get into the circumstances that came up at the very last minute with respect to the deferral of two Conservative amendments—that's water under the bridge—but for the record, I want to telegraph that it was the Conservatives' intention all along to see the passage of Bill C-16 out of the justice committee. I strongly believe that there is a pathway to that today. To get to that pathway I wish to put on notice that I'm seeking unanimous consent for the following motion:
That, notwithstanding any motion previously adopted by this committee, following the completion of clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-16, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights prioritize its work as follows:
1. At the May 25, 2026, meeting, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General appear for no less than two hours regarding his mandate and priorities as per the motion unanimously agreed to on September 23, 2025, provided that the time allocated for his answers during this meeting not be greater than the length of time taken for the question;
2. The committee consider Bill C-231, an act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act, on May 27, 2026, provided that the sponsor of the bill be invited to testify, along with any other witnesses deemed relevant by committee members, and that, following the testimony, the committee immediately proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, and the chair only be authorized to adjourn the meeting after clause-by-clause consideration of the bill is completed;
3: The committee consider Bill C-235, an act to amend the Criminal Code, increasing parole ineligibility, on June 1, 2026, provided that the sponsor of the bill be invited to testify, along with any other witnesses deemed relevant by committee members, and that, following the testimony, the committee immediately proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, and the chair only be authorized to adjourn the meeting after clause-by-clause consideration of the bill is completed.
4: The committee proceed with drafting a report with respect to its study on the bail system, sentencing and the handling of repeat violent offenders, with an emphasis on measures it recommends beyond Bill C-14 and Bill C-16, provided that the testimony received during the studies on those bills be used as evidence for the purposes of preparing the report, and that the report be tabled in the House no less than five sitting days after it is adopted by the committee;
5. Prior to the summer adjournment, the committee dedicate two meetings for its study of the appointment of judges to courts under federal jurisdiction, as per the unanimous motion agreed to by the committee on September 23, 2025;
6. The committee schedule a meeting for the purposes of studying the main estimates 2026-27 with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for no less than one hour, and an additional hour with his officials, provided that the meeting take place prior to the completion of the relevant supply cycle, and that this ministerial appearance not be combined with any other appearance listed in this motion, and that time provided for his answers during this meeting not be greater than the length of time taken for the question.
I propose, Mr. Chair, that we suspend briefly so that this can be submitted to all committee members in both official languages.