Honourable senators, this speech is unplanned but, given the amendment was adopted, I’m still not convinced that a review that hasn’t been undertaken in five years can be done in the timeline that was given in the amendment. We heard about the concerns around a lack of consultation with Indigenous communities, the complexities of that and how much time that will take, and we heard from various vulnerable groups, including a vast majority of advocacy groups and those living with disabilities, about their concerns with Bill C-7.

I would absolutely want the review. Senator Tannas, I didn’t want to vote against it, yet what I heard senators say in their support of your amendment is that there was a lack of hard evidence. Our study of Bill C-7 was difficult, given the lack of evidence and questions unanswered.

So they supported your amendment, but they’re going to support this bill and we are going forward. We have opened it even further. I’m rising today to simply say that, in our consideration in the final vote with Bill C-7, the concerns that were just raised during this amendment debate should be carefully considered by all senators. As a nation, this regime is very concerning. I understand why we had to do it. We needed a federal framework, and we needed to have something in place so that it would protect those we wanted to protect. We all agree on that.

But with Bill C-7, there’s a lack of hard evidence that many have said we didn’t get to see because there was no review. It does still concern me, so I just wanted to put that on the record. I know we will continue debate at third reading, and I plan to speak to the bill again on Tuesday.