moved:
Motion No. 2
That Bill C-16, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 2 on page 6 the following:
“529.6 For the application of section 529 to 529.5 inclusive, and without referring to the Interpretation Act, the word “dwelling-house” shall be deemed to include “dwelling- houses” when the circumstances arise.”
Motion No. 4
That Bill C-16, in Clause 3, be amended by
(a) replacing line 27 on page 7 with the following:
“house or houses);”
(b) replacing line 29 on page 7 with the following:
“to enter the dwelling-house or houses for the purpose of”
(c) replacing lines 32 and 33 on page 7 with the following:
“dwelling-house or houses unless you have, immediately before entering the dwelling-house or houses, reason-”
(d) replacing line 36 on page 7 with the following:
“dwelling-house or houses.”
Motion No. 6
That Bill C-16, in Clause 3, be amended by
(a) replacing line 21 on page 8 with the following:
“in (here describe dwelling-house or houses);”
(b) replacing line 23 on page 8 with the following:
“enter the dwelling house or houses for the purpose of ar-”
Madam Speaker, I am proposing in this amendment a very practical common sense solution that would go a long way in assisting police officers when encountering a situation where they are looking for an escaped criminal, breach of parole individual, or looking for a person wanted by the police for a serious or indictable offence.
In its present form this amendment speaks of the naming of a single dwelling house. I know the government's response may include the Interpretation Act wherein the singular includes the plural. One of the purposes of parliament should be to create new, wordy and mellifluous sounding legislation and to simplify for the police, and as I said in the House yesterday for the purpose of the general public, understanding of the legislation that directly applies to them.
This amendment is quite simple in its drafting. It includes dwelling houses rather than dwelling house. It would allow a police officer faced with a situation where he had to seek a warrant to go and speak to the justice of the peace and explain. It also allows him to name specifically the areas where he is looking.
For example, if a criminal was believed to be harboured in the home of a friend, at a clubhouse or at a residence that he was known to frequent, the police could quite simply place on the warrant a number of dwelling houses or house in which they were searching for him. It gives the police more flexibility in their ability to investigate. It is a very straightforward amendment. I would be surprised if the government were not quick to embrace it.
I also want to address a question posed by my hon. friend from the NDP with respect to why this is the forum in which to make these amendments.
As I indicated earlier, what occurred in committee was a simple ramrod railroad approach to clause by clause discussion of these amendments. There was no opportunity to discuss or to put these amendments forward. It was done in the blink of an eye without any ability to put the amendments forward in any substantive way, to the point where we were so rushed in the compromise of this committee that we did not even have the opportunity to speak of the ground rules that would govern the committee itself. This was done after the fact.
We brought this piece of legislation to the committee level without having set the rules to govern the committee that was going to be making decisions on the amendments. This causes me great concern.
I do not blame the parliamentary secretary. I have empathy for her and the chairman of the justice committee who found themselves in this position and were doing the government's bidding in a very uncomfortable situation.
I put this amendment forward in all god faith and in all seriousness. I encourage hon. members of the House to look at it. I have tried to explain it in a very straightforward way. It is one which would assist police in their very necessary and very public duty to carry out and exercise arrests throughout the country.
Once again I encourage members to support this amendment and I thank the House for its indulgence.