Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to the amendment to Bill C-3 proposed by the hon. member for Charlesbourg. I stand in the House today on behalf of the New Democratic Party indicating our support for the amendment put forward.
For those who will read Hansard or who may be listening to the debate today and who sometimes think of this House as one where there is no serious debate and no cohesion and no understanding of the principles of legislation, it is interesting to note that on both this amendment and the prior amendment, members of the New Democratic Party are supporting a motion put forward by the Bloc, supported by members of the Reform Party and by members of the Progressive Conservative Party.
In a most serious bill such as this Bill C-3, it is important that we be open to changes to the legislation that will make it better. The motion put forward by my justice committee colleague, the Bloc Quebecois member, indicates that any regulations that make significant changes to this bill be brought before the House for debate and for review and be referred, and I think this is particularly important, to the appropriate standing committee for review.
The public should know that at the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and other standing committees of this House we examine pieces of legislation. We call witnesses before the committee to understand the impact and the implications of changes.
The scope of this legislation is so far reaching. The methodology of obtaining DNA samples and the whole area of DNA are so new that there are provisions within the legislation itself to bring it back before the House for review. That is something which is telling because this is complex legislation. I think all members of this House are dealing with it in an intense way and in the best way they can, however there are provisions to bring this legislation back to the House for review to make sure that we can correct any defects.
The motion proposes to bring back before this House important regulations so we can continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation as we move forward.
I stand in support of it and indicate to the House that the NDP will be supporting it.