Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 1 - Evidence for November 22, 2007

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 22, 2007

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, to which was referred Bill S-203, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals), met this day at 10:50 a.m. to give clause-by-clause consideration to the bill; and to examine and report upon the implications of including, in legislation, non-derogation clauses relating to existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada under s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Senator Joan Fraser (Chair) in the chair.

[English]

The Chair: Good morning, honourable senators. The agenda formally posted has two items on it. Before I move to the first of those items, the committee agreed last night, when we were in camera, that it would probably be appropriate to adopt a generalized motion today for the balance of the session, permitting staff to attend in-camera sessions. It has apparently become a practice in a number of committees to adopt such a motion.

Senator Di Nino: I so move.

The Chair: I have some suggested language that you might wish to consider, Senator Di Nino. My suggestion is, ``That unless otherwise ordered, committee members' staff be permitted to attend in camera meetings of the committee.''

Senator Di Nino: I so move.

The Chair: Senator Di Nino so moves. Any discussion? All in favour?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chair: Opposed? Abstentions? Carried. Thank you very much, senators.

The first item on our agenda is clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-203. I should tell that you we have received briefs from the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. I believe the federation appeared before this committee in the last session. The fund submitted a substantially similar brief in the last session.

The briefs they have sent us are in English only, so I do not propose to distribute them. Should anyone wish to have one, the clerk has copies of both briefs, and of course you are welcome to see them.

Is it agreed, honourable senators, that the committee move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-203?

Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Senator Bryden: I will abstain from voting on this bill. I have arranged to have Senator Cowan take my place to fill out the dossier. Once that is finished, I will resume my duties.

The Chair: That is very punctilious of you, Senator Bryden. I think it is agreed that we should proceed to clause-by- clause consideration.

Shall the title stand postponed? Agreed?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.