OTTAWA –
The Green Party is pleased the
government and other opposition parties have agreed to a compromise, allowing
expedited hearings on the so-called “mega trials” legislation.
“Legislation like this,
which has the potential to profoundly affect vital aspects of our system of
justice, should not be rubber-stamped,” said Ms. May. “I am
pleased that the bill is moving to
expedited hearings. This was the result I was seeking. Credit to all sides of
the House for agreeing hearings are the right thing to do. This is an example of
our Parliament working the way it should.”
Earlier this week Green MP
Elizabeth May denied unanimous consent to the legislation, citing concerns with
some provisions of the bill. In particular, the Green Party was concerned about
how the legislation would affect the right of defendants to request bail in
preferred indictments, and the move to more anonymity for jurors. The Green
Party felt Parliament needed to hear from legal experts before proceeding on the
legislation.
With the compromise, the
legislation will get a day of hearings by a Parliamentary committee, while still
allowing time for the bill to go to a vote in Parliament before the
Parliamentary session is over.
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Contact:
Kieran Green
Director of Communications
613-614-4916
kieran.green@greenparty.ca