Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The shepherding process did take ten years originally, so I think it's quite clear that even sitting among a community of nations, when you're dealing with 180 countries all trying to herd those cats into one vision of what we should be doing, it's an accomplishment in and of itself.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Let me respond to the first question you posed, which is why these things take a long time. I don't think this is out of the ordinary in terms of international instruments that have a large federal and provincial-territorial aspect to them. Quite clearly, if we had an international instrument that was totally within the ambit of the federal government, things would go quicker.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  If I may just answer that, remember that this is a protocol to the Convention against Torture, on which we report fully right now. In fact, Canada has appeared a number of times before the committee, and there's a requirement that we not only report federally but on all the provinces and territories.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my colleague Ms. Eid, representing the Department of Justice, and I are pleased to appear before you to discuss the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture. I would like to start by explaining the role of the various departments at the federal level in relation to international human rights.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My colleague--