Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be brief. Since we met last, there has been a change in portfolio for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Emerson is the minister responsible now. We had an opportunity to question Mr. Emerson in the committee of the whole recently and asked a question on the issue of the government's response.

Foreign Affairs committee  Can I clarify something?

Foreign Affairs committee  They might have taken the strategy that President Clinton took vis-à-vis the military: Don't ask, don't tell. My next question was going to be on the Communist Party, but you've just established for us that you are able to be an openly practising member of the faith community in the public service.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Doctor, for your presentation and for making yourself available to the committee today. I have some questions pertaining to people who are members of the government being employed by the government, be they in the civil service or in fact in the police, etc., and their ability to be practising Christians, or practising any other religion.

Foreign Affairs committee  Okay. I think I'll leave it there, and thank you very much.

Foreign Affairs committee  But this would depend on the religious sect. Are there certain religions that aren't approved?

Foreign Affairs committee  Let's imagine that I'm organizing a community-based religious group. I decide to follow a particular religion. I get beyond twenty, and there's an investigation. Let's say that I then apply for recognition. If I'm recognized by the government, is there a limit to how far I can grow my religious community?

Foreign Affairs committee  Would some of the people who are employed by the Department of Religious Affairs have a background in investigations, or are they more cultural liaison types? Who are the people who work for the Department of Religious Affairs? Do they work in tandem with the police? In other words, do they have separate offices?

Foreign Affairs committee  I wanted to probe a bit on numbers. Are there thresholds that are acceptable with respect to a religious community? If the religious affairs bureau is looking into something, they might be looking at disruptions within the community. If a particular religious sect started to grow beyond a certain number, would that be a reason for investigation by the religious affairs bureau?

Foreign Affairs committee  That's the criterion.

Foreign Affairs committee  So they would see this as more of a cultural organization than a religious group.

Foreign Affairs committee  Is there a list? Maybe we wouldn't be privy to it, but does a list exist of religions that aren't recognized by the state? Would people be aware of it before they applied to be recognized?

Foreign Affairs committee  So there would be an assumption if it wasn't in these categories that you shouldn't bother applying because it wouldn't be recognized. Is that correct?

Foreign Affairs committee  If the group was not willing to register, it would follow that the police would be involved. Is that correct?

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I apologize to our guests as I came in late and didn't catch all of your presentations. I just came from another part of the world. I was in Afghanistan and got back only yesterday. I apologize for my tardiness. I was interested in your comments and the back-and-forth in questions.