Public Safety Committee on April 24th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Right.

And for those who are watching these proceedings, I think it's important to let them know that we will be preparing a report expressing our concerns, but also that we generally support this bill and would like to see the issue move forward.

I understand from the discussion and the procedures, where we had the witnesses before the committee, that this was in fact the case.

I think it's important that people realize there is strong support from all parties around this table and that we'll be preparing a report to explain our concerns.

Mr. Norlock.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

For record purposes and proper acknowledgement, Mr. Wallace worked very hard on this bill. We acknowledged that by having him come and speak before the committee.

Mr. Wallace has been, frankly, quite open vis-à-vis the jurisdictional issues and some of the attached fiscal issues. I just want to mention that I know Mr. Wallace is disappointed, but he sees the issues, as previously mentioned.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Okay. We'll now go over to the opposition for some comments.

Mr. Cullen.

[Roy Cullen, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

My sense is that there is strong support. I can't speak for all the committee members, but I think there is strong support for the need for a missing persons index.

There seems to be good progress being made at the federal-provincial-territorial ministers.... Their subcommittee is looking at some complex issues around privacy and jurisdictional questions that need to be clarified--very much so--and there seems to be good progress there.

Without those jurisdictional issues being clarified completely, and without resources to implement, I think it's prudent that we say no to this bill, but that we would be supportive of the government as they develop a response, because I think Canadians generally support the need for a missing persons index.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Comartin.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I would just echo what we've heard both from the government side and from Mr. Cullen: the widespread support for the approach to the missing person index.

In my mind, when I analysed the bill, I had a couple of concerns around the way they defined “relative” and who would be able to ask to have a sample brought forward. I think the categories need to be either clarified or perhaps expanded. So some work needs to be done on that. I would just put on the record that at some point when we look at this--either the government does through a government bill or we have another private member's bill--that this particular area be given some broader scope. It's a bit too limited, I believe.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Okay, thank you.

Ms. Barnes.

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

After listening to the officials and the member putting forward this bill, I also want to say that I would like to have in this report a statement that this committee would like the officials to come back after the federal-provincial-territorial ministers' meeting on this issue in the fall so we can get an update on government plans to move forward on the issue.

Again, I think the consultation that's been done with the public.... There have been recurring jurisdictional and some constitutional questions over time. It's very good that we heard from Justice Canada today that it thought that these could be overcome. So we look forward to seeing some law and a new government initiative on this as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Right.

Monsieur Ménard.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

I agree with much of what has been said, but I still do not understand why we have not opted for the ideal solution. To my mind, we are not choosing the best way to draft laws and harmonize them for the purpose of establishing a DNA data bank in Canada. I believe that this question should be put to the Uniform Law Conference of Canada.

Based upon the follow-up that would be done, we would be able to obtain not only a federal law that would be agreed to by all of the provinces, but also complementary laws for each province that would be in perfect harmony with each other as well as with the federal legislation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Okay, thank you.

Seeing as there are no more members wishing to comment, we will now go to clause-by-clause.

(Clauses 1 to 5 inclusive negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Shall the bill as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Shall I report the bill as amended to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Thank you. I think the last question I will not bother with, which is about reprinting the bill.

That concludes the public part of our meeting. We will now proceed in camera to discuss future business of the committee.

[Proceedings continue in camera]