Thank you very much.
The government states that this bill is a balance between protecting the safety of Canadians and foreign nationals, on the one hand, and that of individuals who might be accused of terrorism, on the other. However, the bill indicates that the chief justice of the Federal Court should, in certain circumstances, hold a hearing in private in the absence of the applicant or their counsel.
In the event of a mistake, it seems to me that the defendant is not well protected. In fact, no one is there to defend the defendant's rights.
First, could you specify the circumstances in which a judge might decide to hold a hearing in private and exclude the counsel representing the defendant?