Mr. Speaker, I heard a couple of comments and I would ask for some clarification from the previous speaker.
The member said that civil servants and bureaucrats would have the opportunity to reduce and waive fines. That to me seems to destroy the whole system of credibility, trustworthiness and fairness.
If we are to allow people who break the regulations, break the law, to be able to negotiate with public servants about whether or
not they will be fined for doing so opens a whole situation for bribery, corruption and puts the whole regulatory process into question.
I wanted the member to comment on another point. She said small fines for small offences. Last year a I saw bill passed in the House that required a book publisher to send two books to the national library. Failure to do so used to account for a fine of up to $200. That was changed to a fine of $25,000 for failure to send two books to the national library.
When the member says small fines for small offences, could she clarify what she means?