Public Safety committee  This bill has more safeguards than a lot of legislation that exists in our allies' legislation.

Public Safety committee  In developing the bill, as I indicated...and this goes back to 2001. We looked at other laws in other countries. We also had regard to our own legal system, the Canadian Charter of Rights, the jurisprudence, and the existing provisions in the Criminal Code as to how persons who w

Public Safety committee  Obviously the crown prosecutors in the Air India case were of the opinion that the provisions on investigative hearings were useful for a witness they encountered who was not providing information, and therefore they made an application to use an investigative hearing to obtain e

Public Safety committee  In 2004.

Public Safety committee  That's a hypothetical because it's a negative: the provisions haven't been in place.

Public Safety committee  I think you would have to ask the investigative authorities whether they could have used an investigative hearing since 2004. I don't know what decisions have been made by individual attorneys general throughout the provinces or by the RCMP in terms of investigation. Those are qu

Public Safety committee  Again I repeat, you should ask other individuals, who were actually operationally involved in these cases, whether they would have used these powers if they had been available since 2004.

Public Safety committee  You're asking me for a hypothetical—

Public Safety committee  I'm not privy to RCMP or Toronto Police operational tactics, or decisions made by crown attorneys in British Columbia or even the federal government. The Public Prosecution Service is an independent agency. They don't tell me the decisions they make. They don't tell me the decisi

Public Safety committee  If you're asking me about certain things they told me or did not tell me, I'm not at liberty to tell you what the security agencies—

Public Safety committee  Yes, I speak to them, but if you're asking—

Public Safety committee  Yes, they do.

Public Safety committee  We consult the provinces. We consult the RCMP. We have a network of consultation in Canada to determine whether or not reforms are necessary.

Public Safety committee  I think if you ask the RCMP, they would indicate that they think these provisions would be useful.

Public Safety committee  In oral conversations? I think my officials have consulted with the RCMP and others. I personally haven't, but there are others who have.