Madam Speaker, I never was on the justice committee. I think the member is recalling days when he substituted on public works and government services. Perhaps it was the ethics committee that we worked on, the Bill C-43 committee.
Be that as it may, in answer to his question, where should jurisdiction lie? Is it provincial or is it federal? It is one of those areas where there is a crossover, as I understand it.
In general principle the closer to the people we have the jurisdiction, the better democracy is served. Sometimes it is very difficult to get politicians in distant Ottawa to hear the concerns of the people, whereas those who are in our provincial legislatures simply because they are closer geographically will sometimes be able to get the message a little better.
I give guarded support to saying let us have the legislation as close to the people as possible, in general principle in the provinces. Where a federal law currently has jurisdiction it is under the terms of parliament.
Perhaps the committee should look at how to devolve the issue to provincial courts, provincial child care agencies and so on, the people who deal with these issues, so that we get the absolute best expression of concern for the children and their welfare.