BILL C-15 WILL BE CONSIDERED IN FALL

Re: Justice minister slams Senate for stalling tough drug law July 23, by Kim Bolan.

In reference to Bill C-15, the article said, "when it got to the
Senate at the beginning of June, we found it impossible to even get
them to debate it." Bill C-15, a government bill, concerns drug
offences. This allegation distorts the truth.

Bill C-15 took more than three months to pass in the House of Commons,
not an unreasonable time. It arrived in the Senate on June 9. A week
later, the Conservative government's sponsor of the bill opened the
second-reading debate with a speech on June 16.

The opposition critic is the first speaker after the government
sponsor of a bill, but it is normal for the opposition to take a few
days to consider before speaking.

In this case, the government tried, on June 22, to have a bill sent to
committee without hearing from the opposition, counter to normal
practice and the Senate voted to reject the government's manoeuvre.

The next day, the Senate rose for the summer recess. When we resume
sittings in the fall, Bill C-15 will receive normal consideration. No
one has suggested the Senate not proceed with it.

SENATOR JOAN FRASER

Ottawa