Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 24 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 28, 2007
(60)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:59 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Bryden, Fraser, Grafstein, Hays, P.C., Joyal, P.C., Milne, Nolin and Oliver (9).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator McCoy
In attendance: Margaret Young and Jack Stilborn, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 20, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-4, to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure). (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 23.)
WITNESSES:
British House of Lords (by video conference):
Lord Howe of Aberavon, Member of the Conservative Party;
Baroness Deech, Cross-bencher;
Lord Tyler, Member of the Liberal Democrat Party.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Lord Howe of Aberavon, Baroness Deech and Lord Tyler each made a statement and together answered questions.
At 1:14 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 28, 2007
(61)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:14 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chairr, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Bryden, Fraser, Hays, P.C., Joyal, P.C., Milne, Nolin, Oliver, Rivest and Stratton (10).
In attendance: Margaret Young and Jack Stilborn, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 20, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-4, to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure). (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 23.)
WITNESSES:
As an individual:
Jennifer Smith, Chair, Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University;
Alexandra Dobrowolsky, Chair, Department of Political Science, Saint Mary's University;
Richard Simeon, Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies, Harvard University;
Alan Cairns, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Smith, Ms. Dobrowolsky, Mr. Simeon and Mr. Cairns each made a statement and together answered questions.
At 5:47 p.m., Senator Milne took the chair.
At 5:52 p.m., Senator Oliver took the chair.
At 6:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 29, 2007
(62)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:50 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Deputy Chair, the Honourable Lorna Milne, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bryden, Fraser, Hays, P.C., Joyal, P.C., Milne, Nolin, Rivest and Stratton (8).
In attendance: Margaret Young and Jack Stilborn, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 20, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-4, to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure). (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 23.)
WITNESSES:
As an individual:
Errol P. Mendes, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa.
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP:
Henry S. Brown, Q.C., Partner.
The Deputy Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Mendes made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:05 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Brown made a statement and answered questions.
At 1:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee