Mr. Speaker, it is always interesting when the government pivots off to another issue instead of addressing what are really the square and central problems and issues of a particular piece of legislation.
I never heard the member provide the government's response to this. Currently, a conviction of a service offence from a summary trial in the Canadian Forces may result in a criminal record. Right now in the Canadian Forces, summary trials are held without the ability of the accused to consult counsel. There are no appeals or transcripts of the trial. The judge is the accused person's commanding officer. Why will the hon. member not address those points?
We all know the serious implications of a criminal record. Why will the government not explain why a Canadian Forces member who is charged with an offence that could result in a criminal record would be deprived of the simple right to consult a lawyer, which is a charter right? Why will it not explain why it proposed legislation that does not allow a simple transcript to be kept of the proceeding so that if there were a wrongful conviction, there would be a basis from which to launch an appeal?
I am a lawyer by training and I know the importance of having due process. The real question is this. Why will the government not give due process to our men and women of the Canadian Forces to make sure they have the charter and constitutional rights that all Canadians deserve?