Evidence of meeting #42 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pardons.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
Just to be clear, you can't support the entire contents of the bill. In circumstances where the entire contents of the bill would prevent somebody like Mr. Myette or the person on your board of directors—
President, Victims of Violence
I think that maybe I'm answering that wrong, then. It's somewhat confusing.
I did come in and say that we support the bill in its entirety, the way it stands right now. We agree with the part on sexual offences against children, but what about all sexual offences? What I'm saying is that I agree with the ten years. I agree with the five years. So I'm not sure where the discrepancy would come in.
This would not prevent Mr. Myette from ever seeking to have his record suspension or pardon. If it's going to be more clear to society, then definitely I'm in support of it.
November 24th, 2010 / 5:20 p.m.
Conservative
President, Victims of Violence
I'm not too sure, did I answer that correctly?
Conservative
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
I would simply like to ask committee members something. Since we took 30 minutes to go and vote, would it be possible to hear the witnesses at least until six o'clock, to allow them those 30 lost minutes?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Madame Mourani, the bells will begin at 5:30. We have a vote at 6 o'clock. You're right that these are somewhat different circumstances, because of the interruption we had earlier. I'm not certain if all guests would be able to stay. It would take unanimous consent from the committee in order to extend it. We wouldn't extend it until 6 o'clock, but we might extend it for the 15 minutes, or whatever, that we had before.
Are you making that motion, then?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
She makes the motion.
Are we all in favour of extending...?
Mr. MacKenzie.
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
I have a concern, Mr. Chair. In a number of other committees, we've had similar circumstances. I don't want to cut short the panel, but I think Mr. Kania has made it clear in the past, and I agree with him, that if it's scheduled at 5:30 and the bells interrupt, the committee should still end at 5:30, for consistency.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right. There's really no response to that.
Are you denying...?
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
He just said something that isn't accurate, so I think I should be able to respond.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We aren't going to be extending anyway.
We'll go to Mr. Rathgeber.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and my thanks to all the witnesses.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
If I'm misquoted and my name is used, I should be able to clear it up. What I said was that at all times we need unanimous consent to extend past the hour. There's a difference between saying we have to have unanimous consent and saying whether we would give it. In these circumstances, we would give it. If the Conservatives aren't prepared to give their consent to extend, that's a different issue.
Conservative
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses for your attendance today.
Like my colleagues on both sides of the table, I make a special acknowledgement to Mr. Kennedy for coming here and telling his story.
I was curious, with respect to your position on this bill, do you see a difference in your mind between the words “pardon” and “record suspension”?
Co-Founder, Respect Group Inc.
I see a difference. I think what had the hair on the back of everybody's necks standing up when they heard that Graham James received a pardon was the word “pardon”. It seems like he was excused for what he had done, with that word, to me. That's my opinion.
The way that I understand it, “record suspension” seems to sit a lot better with me than the word “pardon” in these situations. When I look at sex offenders, it's never really wiped away. There is that red flag. So their record really is suspended. It's not pardoned.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
We live in a secular society, but some people who have certain religious leanings believe that the word “pardon” somehow is synonymous with forgiveness. Is that a view that you would share?
Co-Founder, Respect Group Inc.
Well, aren't the victims supposed to be either forgiving or finding a place within themselves to move on, and not let the perpetrator have that power in their lives any more?
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
I think so, and that's why I believe that the term “record suspension”, which does accommodate some perpetrators in turning their lives around and getting employment, is more appropriate terminology than “pardon”. I guess I'm asking, do you agree with my assessment?