Some MPs are in disbelief after the Department of Justice told Parliamentarians it's not its job to give them legal advice, says Blacklock's Reporter..“Some have been in civil service for far too long,” said Sen. Leo Housakos (Que.), chair of the Senate transport and communications committee. .The comments came during committee hearings on Bill C-11 An Act To Amend The Broadcasting Act that proposes first-ever federal regulation of legal internet content. The bill would see YouTube videos, Netflix films and other internet content regulated like TV broadcasts by the CRTC..“It’s always open for somebody to challenge the legislation,” testified Tariq Qureshi, senior counsel with the justice department..“It’s the courts that decide whether a particular provision is constitutional or not.”.“Have you advised the government there are freedom of speech issues or freedom of thought and belief or expression issues?” asked Sen. Pamela Wallin (Sask.). “Are there red flags?”.“As officials of the Department of Justice we are responsible for advising the government and government departments so I cannot go into the nature of discussions, the legal advice that was provided to the Department of Canadian Heritage on this bill in particular,” replied Counsel Qureshi..“Department officials won’t be able to provide you with legal advice. The Department of Justice certainly won’t provide you with legal advice.”.“But you also work for us,” said Wallin..“We are here on behalf of Canadians to assess legislation. That is literally the definition of what the Senate does.”.“God forbid our Department of Justice being able to provide legal advice to parliamentarians,” said Housakos. “It’s not their job? It is their job.”.“The Parliament of Canada is the ultimate authority and it’s incumbent on bureaucrats, civil servants. They’re not accountable only to government. The executive branch is accountable to Parliament and ministries fall under the executive branch. Some have been in civil service for far too long.”.The justice department in an April 1 Charter Statement said it considered the bill constitutional..“The bill would further the values and principles that underlie freedom of expression,” it said.
Some MPs are in disbelief after the Department of Justice told Parliamentarians it's not its job to give them legal advice, says Blacklock's Reporter..“Some have been in civil service for far too long,” said Sen. Leo Housakos (Que.), chair of the Senate transport and communications committee. .The comments came during committee hearings on Bill C-11 An Act To Amend The Broadcasting Act that proposes first-ever federal regulation of legal internet content. The bill would see YouTube videos, Netflix films and other internet content regulated like TV broadcasts by the CRTC..“It’s always open for somebody to challenge the legislation,” testified Tariq Qureshi, senior counsel with the justice department..“It’s the courts that decide whether a particular provision is constitutional or not.”.“Have you advised the government there are freedom of speech issues or freedom of thought and belief or expression issues?” asked Sen. Pamela Wallin (Sask.). “Are there red flags?”.“As officials of the Department of Justice we are responsible for advising the government and government departments so I cannot go into the nature of discussions, the legal advice that was provided to the Department of Canadian Heritage on this bill in particular,” replied Counsel Qureshi..“Department officials won’t be able to provide you with legal advice. The Department of Justice certainly won’t provide you with legal advice.”.“But you also work for us,” said Wallin..“We are here on behalf of Canadians to assess legislation. That is literally the definition of what the Senate does.”.“God forbid our Department of Justice being able to provide legal advice to parliamentarians,” said Housakos. “It’s not their job? It is their job.”.“The Parliament of Canada is the ultimate authority and it’s incumbent on bureaucrats, civil servants. They’re not accountable only to government. The executive branch is accountable to Parliament and ministries fall under the executive branch. Some have been in civil service for far too long.”.The justice department in an April 1 Charter Statement said it considered the bill constitutional..“The bill would further the values and principles that underlie freedom of expression,” it said.
