Evidence of meeting #164 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
I could make it more heart-rending if you would like it to be.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
4:25 p.m.
Green
4:25 p.m.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Thank you.
On this one, I believe, as we've gone forward we've had some conversations, and I do want to acknowledge that I think we may have a way forward on this that will allow it to be passed. Rather than take up any time right now in terms of how we're going to deal with the exception to revocation and exempt records, I'm going to ask Julie if she wants to chime in right away, because I think we have a shared approach.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Thank you. I appreciate that.
I'll let Ms. May speak to the motivation behind this amendment and why it stands, but there was a concern that it might have too much breadth as it's currently worded and might apply to convictions well beyond the simple possession of cannabis.
I would like to move a subamendment to PV-3, which reads:
(1.2) A record suspension ordered under subsection (1.1) may not be revoked by the Board under paragraph 7(b).
That was really eloquent, wasn't it?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
It is.
I can read the proposed text in French if you wish.
(1.2) La suspension d'un casier ordonnée en vertu du paragraphe (1.1) ne peut être révoquée par la Commission en vertu de l'alinéa 7b).
4:30 p.m.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Again, since Julie has left it for me to speak to the rationale behind this—and it was in the evidence that was before the committee, particularly from Solomon Friedman, who represents the practice of criminal defence—there is a real injustice in having a criminal record hanging over one's head for an offence that is no longer a criminal offence. This lifts the requirement to prove good conduct and to obtain the suspension in the first place.
This subamendment complements that. I am very grateful that we have found a solution in a tweaking of the language in my amendment.
Thank you very much.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
I have a similar amendment at NDP-9, which says:
The Board may not revoke a record suspension in respect of an offence referred to in Schedule 3 on a ground referred to in paragraph 7(a) or (b).
Since we're just getting to this now and we can't run through the whole thing, I'm wondering about the distinction between, first of all, the consequences of schedule 3 no longer being mentioned—whereas it is in both my amendment and Ms. May's amendment—and why we're exclusively mentioning only paragraph 7(b) in this subamendment. I referenced paragraph 7(a) also in my amendment.
I'm wondering if someone can walk through why—
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
I can't, but I am concerned about order here and doing things in sequence.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
When we get to NDP-9, I'm sure you'll wish to raise that very point, but I—
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
The only relevance at this point would be if it is consequential.
Let me just ask the clerk, if the subamendment and the Green Party amendment are moved, is there a consequential impact on any other...?
4:30 p.m.
Legislative Clerk
Because they address the same thing, yes, they're tied together.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Okay, so is it appropriate that we deal with both together, or should we just keep to the order that we have?
4:30 p.m.
Legislative Clerk
I think it would make sense to at least answer Mr. Dubé's question and then see how he can proceed at that point.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Okay.
I see Ms. Dabrusin waving her hand, but I take the point of the clerk, which is that he thinks it's appropriate to answer Mr. Dubé's question sooner rather than later.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
If I may, the legislative clerk can advise, but my understanding is that PV-3, NDP-8, CPC-2, NDP-9 and NDP-10 all seek to.... Maybe NDP-10 might not fit after line 10, but each of the other ones that I mentioned, up to NDP-9, seem to be amending the same space.
If we do it once, can we keep doing it with the other amendments, or do we have to...?