Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 18 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday November 28, 2001
(35)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 3:42 p.m., this day, in room 257, East Block, the Honourable Senator Milne, Chair, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Biron, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Moore, Nolin, Pearson, and Rivest (12).
Other senator present: Honourable Senator Wilson (1).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Nancy Holmes.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2001, the committee proceeded to study Bill C-24, An Act in respect of Criminal Code (organized crime and law enforcement) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. (For complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15, November 8, 2001.)
WITNESSES:
From the Montreal Urban Community Police Department:
Mr. Denis Asselin, Counsel, Deputy Chief, Head, Legal Affairs Division;
Mr. Marc St-Laurent, Deputy Chief, Division of Investigation.
From the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP):
Mr. Frank Ryder, Detective, Chief Superintendent;
Mr. Dennis Moore, Detective Superintendent, Organized Crime Unit.
From the Organized Crime Agency of B.C.:
Mr. Mike Ryan, Inspector.
As individuals:
Mr. Guy Ouellette, Specialist in Criminalized Biker Gangs;
Mr. Yves Lavigne, Journalist.
From the Université de Montréal:
Ms Louise Viau, Law Professor.
From the Department of Justice:
Mr. Richard Mosley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Mr. William Bartlett, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Mr. Shalin Sugunasiri, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section
From the Department of the Solicitor General of Canada:
Mr. Paul Kennedy, Senior Assistant Deputy Solicitor General, Office of SADSG, Police and Security
Mr. St-Laurent made a statement. Mr. Ryder made a statement. Mr. Ryan made a statement. Mr. Ouellette made a statement.
Together, the witnesses answered questions.
Ms Viau made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:10 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 6:35 p.m., the sitting was resumed.
Mr. Lavigne made a statement and answered questions.
Mr. Mosley made a statement.
After debate, the Chair read a press release into the record.
Mr. Kennedy made a statement. Together the witnesses answered questions.
The following organizations / witnesses submitted briefs during the committee's hearings on Bill C-24: The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Antonio Nicaso, Canadian Police Association, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Montreal Urban Community Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers, The Canadian Bar Association, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, Ms Louise Viau, University of Montreal.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 6, 2001, the committee proceeded to review the regulation proposed by the Chief Electoral Officer, tabled in the Senate on October 16, 2001 (for complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15, November 8, 2001).
At 9:17 p.m., the committee went in camera for the purpose of the consideration of a draft report.
After debate, it was agreed, - That the Chair table the report at the next sitting of the Senate, with the changes made.
At 9:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Josée Thérien
Clerk of the Committee