I didn't realize that quoting members disrespected them, Chair. I appreciate that nudge in a different direction here.
On Bill C-16, Minister, you have put a safety valve in this bill that allows judges to basically decide on their own if they believe a mandatory minimum sentence is going to be “cruel and unusual punishment”. I delved into this with some of the officials from your department during the clause-by-clause review, and I want to get your clarification on this.
Could a judge use a convicted offender's immigration status as justification to waive a mandatory minimum penalty if that penalty would jeopardize their status as a non-Canadian?