Public Safety Committee on April 25th, 2018

[John Davies]

That's right: amicus curiae.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

To the officials, can you help me understand how a special advocate works? Just from a curiosity perspective, is the cost covered by the system, by the government, or is it covered by the individual who is having this appeal?

[John Davies]

The cost is covered. The Department of Justice has a special fund and a roster that names people as special advocates.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Thank you.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Just in terms of the merits of the amendments themselves, I have the same amendment, so I would echo the points that Ms. May has already made.

I just want to ask something. Ms. Damoff talked about Liberal amendments coming up related to the Secure Air Travel Act and special advocates, but I don't see those amendments.

Just for the sake of understanding the back and forth of debate, I'm perhaps wondering what was being alluded to.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Sorry?

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

You said there were amendments coming up dealing with special advocates.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I thought your NDP-82 and NDP-83 also dealt with special advocates, do they not?

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

They do.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I just wanted officials to comment on special advocates, that's all.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

I apologize—

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I know we're not debating them right now.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

—I heard wrong.

I misunderstood. I thought the Liberals had some, but they....

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I understood the same way Mr. Dubé had understood, that there were, somehow or another, Liberal amendments coming up.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

No, I'm sorry—

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

It was the collective “we”, not the Liberal “we”.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

That's right.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

I understand. Thank you.

I would echo what Ms. May said, and I find it unfortunate that, for such a broken system, my sense then is that the belief is that we've gotten it right on the first try with C-59 on the government side. That's really too bad, because there are going to continue to be injustices caused by the system, but I'm pleased to support Ms. May's efforts, which mirror my own.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We are on PV-39.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Chair, I spoke to this already, because it was of the same part and parcel in terms of why we need a special advocate for these secret hearings on being on the no-fly list, so I'll leave it with my previous comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I understood you did speak about PV-38 and PV-39, but I still have to move them.

Is there any other debate?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

On NDP-82, we have Mr. Dubé.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

NDP-82 is simply my attempt at the same effort that Ms. May made, which is to allow for special advocates as part of this process. I think the purpose has been presented eloquently, so I will content myself with that statement.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there any debate on NDP-82?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We move to NDP-83.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

As in the case with Ms. May's amendments, this is a complementary amendment to NDP-82. It's so moved.