It is our obligation to rise above that cynicism and give an honest debate on the issues before this House. Statements made without facts to back them up, statements made to inflame debate, do little to convince those people that we are seriously considering the needs and the laws that have to be in place for all the people of this country.
We take the recommendation of the Canadian Police Association seriously. We take the recommendation of the privacy commissioner, who is at the other end of the spectrum, seriously. We take the recommendations of the Canadian Bar Association seriously.
As parliamentarians it is our job to weigh each of those arguments, to balance them in the needs and interests of Canadians, after a thorough, informed, intellectual exercise. We have to be very careful when we stand up and say that the rights of criminals take precedence over the rights of victims when we are talking about accused persons. This country was founded on the rule of law. The rule of law has one tenant, that you are innocent until proven guilty. That is the purpose of this legislation, to allow the police the tools to help in determining whether someone is guilty. Once that determination is made then the rights of the criminal ought not to exceed those of the victim. I make those points for the people listening tonight.
I thank the House and I ask for support for my motion.