Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 18 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, December 4, 2006
(44)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 1:03 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Cowan, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Nolin, Oliver, Ringuette and Stratton (9).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Di Nino and Downe (2).
In attendance: Margaret Young, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 26, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-1001, respecting Scouts Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)
WITNESSES:
SCOUT eh!:
Michael P. Reid, Chairman;
Edward (Ted) Claxton, Treasurer.
Scouts Canada:
Rob Stewart, Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer;
Robert Laughton, Legal Counsel;
Glenn Armstrong, Chief Commissioner.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Reid and Mr. Claxton made statements and answered questions.
At 1:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:59 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Laughton made a statement and, with Mr. Stewart and Mr. Armstrong, answered questions.
At 3:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:07 p.m., pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, September 26, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-213, to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals). (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association:
Dr. Paul Boutet, President;
Dr. Alice Crook, Past Chair of the CVMA Animal Welfare Committee.
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters:
Greg Farrant, Government Relations Manager.
As an individual:
Dr. Bessie Borwein.
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies:
Shelagh MacDonald, Program Director;
Mike Draper, Acting CEO, Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The Chair made a statement.
Dr. Boutet, Dr. Crook and Mr. Farrant made statements and answered questions.
At 4:19 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:23 p.m., the committee resumed.
Dr. Borwein and Ms. MacDonald made statements and, with Mr. Draper, answered questions.
At 5:35 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 5, 2006
(45)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 1:45 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Campbell, Day, Hays, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Nolin, Oliver, Ringuette, Rivest, Stratton and Zimmer (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Banks, Cowan, Fairbairn, P.C., and Peterson (4).
In attendance: Katharine Kirkwood, Director, Law and Government Division, and Kristen Douglas, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 23, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of the motion, together with the message from the House of Commons dated November 21, 2006, concerning Bill C-2, providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 17.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Wheat Board:
Ken Ritter, Chair of the Board of Directors;
Jim McLandress, General Counsel.
Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada:
Alan Leadbeater, Deputy Information Commissioner;
J.G.D. (Dan) Dupuis, Director General, Investigation and Reviews;
Daniel Brunet, Director, Legal Services;
Nadine Gendron, Legal Counsel.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Ritter made a statement and, with Mr. McLandress, answered questions.
At 3:08 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:13 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Leadbeater made a statement and, together with Mr. Dupuis, Mr. Brunet and Ms. Gendron, answered questions.
The committee agreed to proceed in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 4:37 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:45 p.m., the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain during the in camera portion of this meeting.
It was agreed that the committee would meet at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 6, 2006, to proceed to clause-by- clause consideration of Bill S-213, to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals) and of Bill S-1001, respecting Scouts Canada.
It was agreed that the committee invite the Honourable Robert Nicholson and government officials to appear in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 6, 2006, in relation to the committee's study of Bill C-16, to amend the Canada Elections Act.
At 4:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 6, 2006
(46)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:02 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Oliver, Ringuette, Stratton and Zimmer (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Bryden and Di Nino (2).
In attendance: Margaret Young, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, September 26, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-213, to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals). (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-213, to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals).
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that clause 2 not carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, as amended.
It was agreed that the bill be reported with amendment.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 26, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-1001, respecting Scouts Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-1001, respecting Scouts Canada.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
It was agreed that clause 4 carry.
It was agreed that clause 5 carry.
It was agreed that clause 6 carry.
It was agreed that clause 7 carry.
It was agreed that clause 8 carry.
It was agreed that clause 9 carry.
It was agreed that clause 10 carry.
It was agreed that clause 11 carry.
It was agreed that clause 12 carry.
It was agreed that clause 13 carry.
It was agreed that clause 14 carry.
It was agreed that the preamble carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the Bill carry.
It was agreed that the Bill be reported without amendment.
At 10:12 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:13 a.m., the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda.
It was agreed that the Honourable Robert Nicholson and government officials appear before the committee at 5:00 p.m. this day.
At 10:15 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 6, 2006
(47)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 5:00 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Joyal, P.C., Milne, Oliver, Ringuette, Stratton and Zimmer (7).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Bryden, Cowan and Di Nino (3).
In attendance: James Robertson, Principal, Law and Government Division and Douglas, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 23, 2006, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-16, to amend the Canada Elections Act.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Robert Nicholson, P.C., M.P., Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform.
WITNESSES:
Privy Council Office:
Dan McDougall, Director of Operations, Legislation and House Planning;
Douglas Wolfe, Senior Policy Advisor, Legislation and House Planning.
Department of Justice Canada:
Warren J. Newman, General Counsel, Constitutional and Administrative Law Section.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Nicholson made a statement and, with Mr. McDougall, Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Newman, answered questions.
At 6:47 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:13 p.m., the committee dispersed for want of quorum to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 7, 2006
(48)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 9:25 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Cowan, Day, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Oliver, Ringuette, Stratton and Zimmer (9).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Bryden (1).
In attendance: Katharine Kirkwood, Director, Law and Government Division and Kristen Douglas, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 23, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of the motion, together with the message from the House of Commons dated November 21, 2006, concerning Bill C-2, providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 17.)
WITNESS:
Treasury Board of Canada:
Joe Wild, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Treasury Board Portfolio.
The Chair made an opening statement.
The committee considered a draft report on the motion, together with the message from the House of Commons dated November 21, 2006, concerning Bill C-2, providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability.
After debate, Mr. Wild was invited to the table to answer questions.
The committee agreed to adopt the draft report as amended and agreed that the Chair present the report to the Senate this day.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report taking into consideration today's discussion and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes required.
At 10:00 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee