Feds, Quebec to discuss crime bill

TOBI COHEN
Postmedia News

OTTAWA — Quebec Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier has happily accepted an invitation to meet with his federal counterpart to hammer out their differences over a controversial omnibus crime bill poised to clear the Commons in a matter of weeks.

In a three-paragraph letter issued Friday, Fournier said he’s “very happy” with the offer of a meeting that Justice Minister Rob Nicholson proposed a day earlier.

It’s expected to take place Monday or Tuesday of next week, before committee debate on the Safe Streets and Communities Act concludes Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Fournier took the unusual step of proposing amendments to federal legislation.

He argued Bill C-10 favours incarceration over rehabilitation and that the successful Quebec model had always leaned the opposite way, particularly in matters involving young offenders.

He also said he wants Quebec to be able to opt out of a provision that would allow the publication of the names of young offenders.

In response to the proposals, Nicholson sent Fournier a letter Thursday that indicated the federal government has taken the concerns of Quebec and others into consideration. As such, amendments have been made to some of the provisions involving youth.

The Conservatives also have proposed to change some of the language in the bill in order to stress the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration in the criminal justice system.

Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Nicholson’s parliamentary secretary, affirmed the government’s position during question period Friday.

“We are always happy to work with our provincial counterparts. . . . We have responded to Quebec’s concerns with a series of past amendments, as well as a new amendment that is tabled at the justice committee now,” she said.

“We are taking a balanced approach. We are listening. It is time for the opposition to end its grandstanding, support victims and support our measures on Bill C-10.”

The federal Liberals have taken up Quebec’s cause and this week tabled some 50 amendments to the crime bill, many of which took into account the province’s position.

When the Tories sought to limit committee debate on C-10 Thursday, the Liberals mounted a filibuster.

It was eventually decided that there would be two more days of debate before it wraps up next Wednesday.

The omnibus crime bill, which gets tough on young offenders, drug producers, child sex offenders, those seeking a pardon and Canadians jailed abroad, combines nine bills that failed to pass in the last Parliament due to the Conservatives’ minority status.

The government hopes the bill will pass before the Christmas break.