Mr. Speaker, we will be supporting the bill, but I do have a very serious question for the parliamentary secretary.
I have been solicitor general and really understand the reasoning behind giving the commissioner more power to demote individuals and discharge members in certain instances. However, one of the huge problems in the RCMP relates to the person who may become commissioner and whether he or she uses that power in the way in which it was intended. Power can be a good thing or a bad thing when in the wrong hands.
Therefore, are there safeguards within the legislation to protect the rank and file from a commissioner who may have a vendetta against a certain member or any other reason?
That balance is extremely important. I wonder if the parliamentary secretary could give us some advice on that.