Justice  Mr. Speaker, once again, I can assure the hon. member, this House and all Canadians that the Public Prosecution Service is an independent service in Canada. It is managing the prosecution of this case. We do not interfere with such prosecutions as a government. The ministry of the Attorney General is in fact fulfilling all of its obligations with respect to documents made under third party applications.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, once again, the trial is being handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. That agency runs independently of the government and makes its own decisions. As a government, we are fulfilling all our third party obligations for records.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, the prosecution in question is being handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, which operates independently from the Department of Justice, from my office and from our government. Counsel for the Attorney General of Canada is fulfilling all of its obligations before the court regarding applications for the records in question.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, I can report to the hon. member that the Department of Justice has co-operated and given all appropriate documents to the trial in question. We continue to collaborate on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that all sides in the trial have the information they are entitled to.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, the prosecution's case in question is being undertaken by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Counsel to the Attorney General is fulfilling all its obligations in that instance before the court with respect to third party records applications. It is improper for me to say anything more than that, but we are fulfilling our obligations—

Ethics  Mr. Speaker, Canadians can have confidence in our government's contracting procedure and legal services, which follow a rigorous and responsible process. The contract in question was managed by the Department of Justice, and the awarding process complied with all of the department's policies.

Ethics  Mr. Speaker, although the Department of Justice approves tenders, some approvals are delegated to the deputy minister or to other senior Department of Justice officials. This contract was approved by the deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general. All contracting rules and policies were followed in the awarding of this contract.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, our government has taken significant steps to make sure that we have in place a process for appointing judges that is transparent, that is merit-based and that enhances the diversity of the Canadian bench. The new process is effective. We are at 296 judges appointed or elevated at this stage.

Ethics  Mr. Speaker, our government brought in strong measures to ensure that the judicial appointment process is open and transparent and accountable to Canadians. These measures also seek to encourage a greater diversity within the judiciary. Our new process is effective. We have appointed nearly 300 judges, and the diversity of these appointments is unprecedented.

Ethics  Mr. Speaker, we implemented a transparent, merit-based process for appointing judges. We will continue to appoint judges using a very rigorous process, and we will continue to have a judiciary that reflects the diversity and quality of Canadian society.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, while the Minister of Justice approves tenders, some approvals are delegated to the deputy minister and other senior Department of Justice officials. Regarding these two contracts, one was approved by my predecessor and the other by the deputy minister of Justice and deputy attorney general.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, our government has taken significant steps to ensure that the process for appointing judges is transparent and accountable to Canadians. Our new process is effective. We have made almost 300 appointments since taking office. The diversity of these candidates is unprecedented; 55% of these judicial appointments or elevations are women.

An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, Youth and Families  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, a charter statement for Bill C-92, an act respecting first nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, our government has taken significant steps to ensure that the process for appointing judges is transparent and accountable to Canadians and promotes a greater diversity on the bench. Our new process is effective. To date, we have appointed or elevated over 290 judges, and the diversity of these judges and the diversity of the bench is becoming unprecedented.

Ethics  Mr. Speaker, I assure the hon. member, the House and all Canadians that all of the rules were followed. In fact, a number of firms are working with the Department of Justice. This decision was made by the department, and the rules were followed.