Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Senator Gold, in the question and answer document you sent to all senators late last night on Bill C-28, the government pointed out that, in the absence of a preamble, the courts will lean on “the parliamentary record” to learn the purpose of the bill. I would take that one step further to say that parliamentary proceedings have also been used as courts weigh any challenges to a law.

Senator Gold, do you not then feel it would be prudent to ensure that we have someone on the record other than the government to assure us that this bill will properly address the very narrow gap left by the Supreme Court of Canada decision and does not, in fact, create more loopholes?