Evidence of meeting #112 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was interference.
A video is available from Parliament.
7:15 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
If, in a bill like Bill C‑70, I find four significant semantic differences between the French and English versions, should I be concerned?
7:15 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
In that case, I think we'll have to do a more in-depth review, because just after my colleague's comment, I found four.
Would you like to use the minute and a half I have left to tell us more?
7:15 p.m.
Attorney, As an Individual
I'll be brief.
Actually, I'd like to apologize for the question Ms. Zahid asked me. Intimidation is covered in section 423 of the Criminal Code. However, this clause details the techniques that can be used and that constitute intimidation. To answer Ms. Zahid's question, I'd say that I'm not sure to what extent the description of intimidation in the Criminal Code could apply to another piece of legislation.
In closing, I would also like to talk about the Canada Evidence Act. As set out in the bill, leave to counter-appeal under subsection 37.1(1) of the Canada Evidence Act is being removed. Since it is required that the accused be previously found guilty to complain about the interim decision, they will only be able to do so at the end of the trial. Your predecessors realized how important these decisions are and decided that it was an interim appeal. I see no reason anywhere in the bill for removing this interim appeal.
7:15 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
I'm nevertheless concerned to see so many omissions and oversights, so much lack of precision and differences in translation in this bill, which we are having to study at lightning speed. So I will take just five seconds to express my concern, quite simply.
Thank you very much.
7:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Villemure.
Mr. MacGregor, please bring us home. You have two and a half minutes.
7:15 p.m.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Rheault, I want to talk to you about the Criminal Code amendments in this bill. This bill largely follows the theme of combatting foreign interference. You then get to the section about the Criminal Code, and it just seems to have been thrown in there. It doesn't seem to flow with the rest of the bill.
I was trying to follow your remarks about the sections you found problematic and too broad. In the time I have left, where do you think we, as a committee, should focus if we're considering amendments to fix the problems you addressed?
Should it be the sections that clarify for greater certainty and provide an out for someone so that they're not committing an offence if they're involved in advocacy, protest or dissent? Is that probably the best focus for us? I'd like to hear your thoughts.
7:15 p.m.
Attorney, As an Individual
That's one of the best things to focus on, especially in the last three lines of that paragraph. Proposed section 52.1 needs, in my humble opinion, to be looked over again by the committee. It's the one that adds a section to the Criminal Code. It's more problematic. It's too large. It doesn't focus, I think, on what the committee wants to focus on, and it would create a section whereby a lot of infractions would be thrown in, disregarding the purpose of that bill.
7:15 p.m.
Attorney, As an Individual
Also, with proposed section 52.3, if the the committee wants the federal government to stay in control of those articles, 52.3 needs to be changed by adding “Attorney General of Canada”.
Otherwise, you would lose all control. The provinces would get control of those.
7:15 p.m.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Okay. I appreciate that.
I think I have only a few seconds left, so I'll just thank all three of you for helping guide us through this study. I appreciate it.
7:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. MacGregor.
Thank you to all of our witnesses for appearing today, especially on short notice. It's been most helpful.
With that, we will adjourn. Thank you all.
To the committee, I'll see you tomorrow morning at 8:15.