Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 12 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 5, 2008
(25)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:10 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Campbell, Di Nino, Fraser, Milne, Oliver, Stratton and Watt (8).
In attendance: Michel Bédard, Analyst, 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 Thursday, February 28, 2008, the committee began its consideration of a comprehensive review of the amendments made by An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (S.C. 2004, c. 24).
WITNESSES:
Elections Canada:
Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer;
Diane R. Davidson, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer and Chief Legal Counsel;
Michèle René de Cotret, General Counsel.
Mr. Mayrand made an opening statement and, together with Ms. Davidson and Ms. René de Cotret, answered questions.
At 5:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 12, 2008
(26)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:06 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Fox, P.C., Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Merchant, Milne, Oliver and Stratton (8).
In attendance: Michel Bédard, Analyst, 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 Thursday, February 28, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of a comprehensive review of the amendments made by An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (S.C. 2004, c. 24).
WITNESSES:
Liberal Party of Canada:
Greg Fergus, National Director;
Jack Siegel, Co-Chair, Standing Committee on the Constitution and Legal Affairs.
New Democratic Party of Canada:
Éric Hébert-Daly, National Director.
Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada:
Liz White, Leader.
Progressive Canadian Party:
The Honourable Sinclair M. Stevens, P.C., Leader.
People's Political Power Party of Canada:
Laurel McCallum, Representative of the Leader.
Mr. Fergus and Mr. Hébert-Daly each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
At 5:11 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:15 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Stevens, Ms. White and Ms. McCallum each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved:
That the following legislative budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
Professional and Other Services $ 46,250 Transportation and Communications 21,070 All Other Expenditures 4,000 TOTAL $ 71,320
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved:
That the following special study budget application (review of amendments to the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
Professional and Other Services $ 2,000 Transportation and Communications 0 All Other Expenditures 500 TOTAL $ 2,500
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 13, 2008
(27)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:50 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Di Nino, Fox, P.C., Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Merchant, Milne, Oliver and Stratton (9).
In attendance: Michel Bédard, Analyst, 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 Thursday, February 28, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of a comprehensive review of the amendments made by An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (S.C. 2004, c. 24).
WITNESSES:
Green Party of Canada:
Peter Graham, Finance Critic.
Communist Party of Canada:
Miguel Figueroa, Leader.
Christian Heritage Party of Canada:
Ron Gray, Leader.
Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada:
Anna Di Carlo, Secretary.
As an individual:
Nelson Wiseman, Associate Professor, Department of Political Studies, University of Toronto.
Mr. Graham, Mr. Figueroa, Mr. Gray and Ms. Di Carlo each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
At 12:13 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:15 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Wiseman made an opening statement and answered questions.
At 12:57 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee