Health committee  The bill criminalizes cannabis possession more strictly for minors than for those who are of legal age. In fact, it sets a possession limit of 5 grams or less for minors, while, for those 18 and over, the limit is 30 grams or less. The Quebec bar points to the importance of not c

Health committee  Yes, I can answer. Please correct me if I'm wrong, Anne. If you're charged under the Criminal Code, the normal regime would apply. If you're charged under the YCJA, the maximum punishment is still the same, but for the principles in terms of sentencing objectives it's a differen

Health committee  That's why we are in doubt and that's why we recommend having the same kind of philosophy toward youth—to penalize without exposing young persons to true penal consequences, namely, imprisonment.

Health committee  I agree. Our position is, from five grams to 30 grams, to not have criminal consequences attached to it. To reduce it to zero, that is up to Parliament to decide, but there's an English expression, “There are many ways to skin a cat”. I think what's important is that we want, fro

Health committee  The Quebec bar will not be expressing an opinion on the minimum age. We are assuming that it will be 18. However, if that age goes up or down, there is the risk, as you say, that someone will challenge it on the basis of age discrimination. The federal government and the provinc

Health committee  We increase the risk of challenges a little. Whether that means that the legislation would not survive a constitutional debate is another question.

Health committee  Perhaps it would be simpler, but I feel that the objective is to educate the public and make young people aware.

Health committee  As I said earlier, it is one of the possibilities that exist in law.

Justice committee  Good afternoon.

Justice committee  Our analysis of Bill C-46 focused on part 2. We identified two themes. I will deal with the first theme and Mr. Gariépy will deal with the second theme. My theme deals with the reliability and precision of results from the approved screening devices, and with issues related to a

Justice committee  We are talking about powers given to police officers in the bill and we are wondering whether the police will use them systematically. Now, it is as though we were warning about police powers. The bar would be less concerned about this, except that it does not appear in the bill

Justice committee  I see that a part has been done. With regard to the communication of information, it says that if that information is provided, the results of devices are reliable. Very well. That is a step in the right direction in that this requires the prosecutor to provide those documents to

Justice committee  Yes, sir. The list must be expanded and greater latitude must be given as to the documents and information about breath-testing instruments and approved screening devices.

Justice committee  Thank you.

Justice committee  As for routine police evidence, Mr. Cooper, we understand the desire to make police work easier. But when our committee considered the notion of routine police evidence, we were of the opinion that it could lead to confusion as to what is being requested and what that implies. Th