“I'm proposing changes to delete parts of this bill. I want less government power.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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A long bill to modernize Canada's military justice system, mostly by changing investigation and trial processes for sexual offenses. Members split their time between discussing the bill's actual changes and trading partisan shots at each other.
“I want to change some details in this bill about who can represent people in military legal cases.”
“Everything the committee did was wrong. My allies and I know better. I want the bill my way. You should pass the version I prefer.”
“I want to look like I care about victims. My bill spends more money. We should spend money on my separate system.”
“Madam Justice Arbour is old news. Her report doesn't matter. I don't care what she thinks now. The military says it's fine. You should trust them, not her.”
“Do you want to change the bill? What is the most important change?”
“I want to keep clauses 7 and 8 the way they were. They let victims choose how they report. The Minister of National Defence is taking away military power to give to civilian courts. That's bad. It ignores victims' rights.”
“I'm praising a colleague. We think the government should spend more money to deal with military sexual assault cases.”
“I want to thank a colleague. The government should spend money on this program.”
“I'm saying nice things about the military to soften you up. This bill gives military more legal privileges. It moves some crimes to a separate justice system. That system can be more independent. It gives victims some help. We're trying to recruit more soldiers. We're making many rules and categories and road maps. It's a lot of work. This bill is a step forward. It's progress. It's very important. We owe this to Canadians. Let's pass this bill.”
“You say you're helping but it won't work. You're sending people to overloaded courts. You aren't doing enough. Do something real.”
“I'm filling time by reading a long quote from a report. I want the other party to look bad for supporting this in the past.”
“You did some work I don't like. I want you to feel bad about it. I think its very very bad.”
“I want you to know that I care about the troops. Someone talked to a lot of them. They said our plan is good.”
“I want to look concerned. I want you to attack Conservatives for not agreeing with that report. I want to force Conservatives to explain themselves.”
“I'm just reading from a report. That makes me look good. It says our military has been bad to minority groups in the past. That's sad. Things are better now but problems aren't all fixed yet. Women and minorities had it rough. The report says so.”
“I'm going to tell a long story about how the government isn't listening. I don't like that the government isn't doing what I want. The government should do what I want because I talk to victims and experts. The government isn't doing what I want even though some people agree with me. I don't like that.”
“Do you think we should ignore this judge's advice?”
“You don't listen. I already said this. The real issue is my amendment would make it automatic, but if experts decide there's a better way, that's allowed too. That's it. Justice Arbour could have come and said something too.”
“Public funds were spent on committee work. Now the government is ignoring our report. That frustrates me. What does it mean about democracy?”