Mr. Speaker, the title of the bill is “An Act respecting the registration of information relating to sex offenders, to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts”.
That is one piece. The member related it to a sandwich, but that is one piece. I think the member is very good at giving rhetoric. I saw a sizzle but I did not see the steak. I did not see what exactly is missing. If it is the matter of retroactivity, he would have certainly listened to my speech in which I laid out that there are within the bill some problems with regard to retroactivity, which may be subject to certain charter challenges or justice principles or practices.
I am sorry that he is so cynical about the opportunities we have at committee. Members are all asked to make recommendations for witnesses to be heard. I think that the member will concede that no witnesses are ever denied, unless it is clear that they would be repetitive of other witnesses who have the same or better expertise.
With regard to his final question, I have talked to our own police chief about the sex offender registry. In fairness, he did not raise with me a concern about the retroactivity provision, but he did say that it is important for us to pursue the establishment of the national sex offender registry because it is in the best interests of Canadians.