moved for leave to introduce Bill C-393, an act to amend the Criminal Code (witness protection).
Mr. Speaker, with unfailing perseverance, I am pleased to introduce this bill today for the third time.
When first introduced, during the 35th parliament, this bill received majority support on second reading. Because the House was dissolved, however, as a result of the Spring 1997 election call, it died on the order paper.
Subsequently, during the next parliament, I introduced it again, this time to have it eclipsed by another bill introduced by the Minister of Justice.
The purpose of my bill is to amend the Criminal Code in order to give the same protection to any person testifying in proceedings in which the accused is charged with a criminal offence of sexual assault or in which violence against the person is alleged to have been used, threatened or attempted that is currently available under the criminal code to witnesses under the age of eighteen.
I hope my bill will receive the same reception from the members of this House that it did on the occasion of its first introduction.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)