Madam Speaker, as previous members have expressed, I am very pleased to take part in the debate.
The members previous have also indicated this is a very crucial and important piece of legislation that will certainly aid police officers and Canadians generally in their never ending fight against crime.
I want to address the motions in the order in which they appear. With respect to the first motion, which is moved by the member for Charlesbourg, although I certainly agree with the purpose for which he has brought the motion forward, I would suggest it is a motion or an amendment that is already addressed in the current form of the bill. Clause 4 of the bill is clear. Any further tinkering with this clause would only lead to potential misunderstanding, which of course could then lead to unnecessary litigation.
I find myself in the untenable position of having to agree with the government that the legitimate concerns are in fact met. Although there is always concern for misuse of this important technology, I believe the principles set out in the preamble will address that point. I certainly would not call it a pointless or irrelevant motion but simply duplicitous.
It is a very complicated bill. There can be no debate on that issue. We as members of the House, and particularly those participating in this debate, have an obligation to try to simplify where possible the legislation, not to complicate it.
Motion No. 2 was proposed by the member for Sydney—Victoria. For the reasons I previously stated I feel it may be a motion that is addressed in a more direct form in the current drafting of the bill.
It is not the principle that we disagree with but rather that the bill might become unduly complicated by making this amendment. Certainly there is evidence that this type of DNA data can and perhaps will in the future be used for other purposes.
With respect to how it will be used as it stems from this piece of legislation, safeguards are in place and sections of the bill will be addressed in other amendments which we will be debating on the floor today. It is perhaps duplicitous. Safeguards currently exist in the act. Any improper or illegal use of the DNA evidence would be addressed by existing sections of the act.
The third motion is proposed by the member for Charlesbourg with respect to the use of DNA, or how the commissioner would ensure that DNA was not being abused, is a motion that I embrace, a motion that I think is a good one.
It is aimed particularly at protecting the privacy interests of individuals. It ensures accountability and is aimed at correcting or addressing any misuse of information. It is a good motion. It is one that I hope all members of the House will consider and take seriously.
It would allow for a more complete and perhaps a more thorough investigation of the DNA databank. It is an important safeguard. As I have indicated earlier, it is a motion we should support. It would also ensure that improper use does not occur.
The fifth motion in this grouping proposed by my hon. friend in the Bloc is a motion that I believe in principle we should support. However, as has been indicated by the parliamentary secretary and the member from the Reform Party, there are provisions in existing legislation that would allow for an audit outside a defined three year period.
In essence this concern has been met. I am pleased to hear that the parliamentary secretary is supportive of that position. Therefore the legitimate concern raised by the hon. member is addressed. It is certainly there for a very crucial intent, that is to balance the protection of the public and the crucial need of law enforcement officers to use this trace evidence and DNA sample evidence for their legitimate fight against organized crime and crime generally, coupled with the need for the privacy concern interest.
We have an obligation to ensure that is what happens by the enactment of the legislation. There is a great deal of responsibility weighing upon us in that regard.
I conclude by saying that of the motions before the House in this juncture of debate, we support the last two but have some difficulty with respect to the prior two motions which appear in this grouping.