Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll be very brief in my remarks. First of all, in looking at this bill, Mr. Speaker, I did have some concerns on some of the details of the bill. I certainly support the intent of the bill, however, I do want to state for the record that I don't believe this bill should only reflect on criminal offences that are done by MLAs, with respect to violent acts that are committed by MLAs. I believe that it should pertain to criminal offences, period. Whether it's impaired driving or other types of criminal
offences they are charged with, if we're going to get right into disciplining MLAs I don't think we should be specific. That's why I have concerns with the bill as it is. I think it's only piecemealing the intent of what the mover of this bill is attempting to do.
I did have a couple of concerns because I think of some of the circumstances that could happen in small communities. I think back, for an example, if you did -- and I know that if I did -- see any type of violent act being performed, such as a woman getting beaten up or whatever, particularly a woman, I probably would, being a woman, attempt to help her. I sort of wonder, if this bill is passed, if you're going to sort of institute southern attitudes and try to walk by and ignore it. I think that's wrong.
I'm concerned about the bill as is because if you attempted to help someone in a fight, the person could counter-charge you and charge you with a criminal offence even though your intentions were good. I'm concerned about some of the details of that particular bill.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the principle should be passed to allow for public consultation because I believe the public are the ones who should let us know whether they think this bill is good, whether it's a piecemeal bill, whether it should be expanded, or whether or not these types of things should be determined by another process.
However, I do know that we do have rules in our Legislature to be able to discipline Members accordingly, and I believe that sometimes Members certainly are reluctant to impose the rules accordingly. Just for the record, I do want to state that I certainly support the principle of it, but I have concerns with the details. I will deliberate those when we go into third reading of the bill. Thank you.