Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 16 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 30, 2008
(34)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Moore, Peterson, Stratton and Watt (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C. (1).
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 Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (vacancies) (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
C.E.S. (Ned) Franks, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Studies, Queen's University;
Jennifer Smith, Professor, Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University;
Don Desserud, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of New Brunswick;
David Smith, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Studies, University of Saskatchewan.
Mr. Franks and Ms. Smith each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
Mr. Desserud and Mr. Smith each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
At 6:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 1, 2008
(35)
[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, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Moore, Oliver, Peterson, Stratton and Watt (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C. (1).
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 Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (vacancies) (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Gérald R. Tremblay, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP;
Errol P. Mendes, Professor, Common Law Section, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa.
Mr. Tremblay made an opening statement and answered questions.
Mr. Mendes made an opening statement and answered questions.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 6, 2007, 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) (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 12.)
At 12:57 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee proceeded in camera to consider a draft report.
At 1:06 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee