Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that when the focus is put on saving jobs instead of protecting people, it is an inappropriate way of phrasing the argument. I think we all understand that from the reading of the law.
I also categorically reject this phrase “get out of jail free”. A deferred prosecution agreement does not suspend a criminal charge. It defers the prosecution if the penalties are not adhered to. In other words, the charge stays and a settlement is negotiated. It is tantamount to a plea bargaining situation in a court, except that the difference here is that the charges are not discharged. They stay on the record. Every single one of the punishments that the party must submit to and admit to because of its guilt is part of the process.
There is no removal of the criminal process. There is no get out of jail free card contemplated in a deferred prosecution agreement. The member opposite has a responsibility to reflect that law properly, not to confuse Canadians.