I categorically refute what Ms. Damoff has said. To suggest that a vote against this particular clause means that somehow you're in favour of torture is somewhat disingenuous. There are plenty of reasons to have concerns about an entirely new piece of legislation being introduced into another piece of legislation at committee stage.
However, I was heartened by what Ms. Damoff said, and that was going to be my question to the government side. What assurances can you give the members of this committee about this?
We find ourselves in the peculiar situation where this committee is studying a bill before it has been voted on at second reading in the House of Commons. It could go back to the House and be deemed at report stage that it has already passed second reading and that it be adopted as such. It could then go straight to third reading. It would mean that this piece of legislation that's being added to an already existing piece of legislation would have never been debated in the House at second reading.
If I can get some semblance of a recorded assurance from my colleagues across the way that this bill will indeed go back to the House and get fulsome debate at second reading, it might allay some of the concerns I have of a technical and procedural nature. That's notwithstanding that I'll be coloured as a supporter of torture should I choose to vote against this as a matter of principle and procedure.