Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 20 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 4, 2008
(42)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 3:02 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Baker, P.C., Campbell, Di Nino, Fraser, Merchant, Oliver and Stratton (8).
In attendance: Laura Barnett, 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, March 13, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 18.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Bar Association:
Greg Del Bigio, Chair, National Criminal Justice Section;
Kerri Froc, Legal Policy Analyst.
Criminal Lawyers Association:
Norm Boxall, Vice-President.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police:
Chief Superintendent Fraser Macaulay, Director General, National Youth Strategy.
Child Welfare League of Canada:
Peter M. Dudding, Executive Director.
As an individual:
Donald Stuart, Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen's University.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved:
That any votes on any motions dealing with the final disposition in committee of any bill presently before the committee be postponed until the subsequent week.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Mr. Del Bigio and Mr. Boxall each made opening statements and, together with Ms. Froc, answered questions.
Mr. Macaulay and Mr. Dudding each made opening statements and answered questions.
Mr. Stuart made an opening statement and answered questions.
At 5:56 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 4, 2008
(43)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 6:31 p.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, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Merchant, Oliver and Stratton (7).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Cowan (1).
In attendance: Laura Barnett, 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, March 13, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 18.)
WITNESSES:
YouthLaw:
John Hancock, Senior Solicitor (by video conference).
New Zealand Human Rights Commission:
Rosslyn Noonan, Chief Commissioner (by video conference).
As an individual:
Dr. Ian Hassall, Former New Zealand Commissioner for Children (by video conference).
Mr. Hancock made opening statements and answered questions.
At 7:21 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:32 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Noonan and Dr. Hassall each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
At 8:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 5, 2008
(44)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:48 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Baker, P.C., Campbell, Di Nino, Fraser, Merchant, Oliver and Stratton (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Cowan and Tkachuk (2).
In attendance: Robin MacKay, 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, March 13, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 18.)
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Anne McGillivray, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba;
Mark Carter, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Saskatchewan;
Eric Roher, Partner, Borden, Ladner, Gervais, LLP.
Ms. McGillivray, Mr. Carter and Mr. Roher each made statements and, together, answered questions.
At 12:05 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:10 p.m., the committee resumed.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-225, An Act to amend the State Immunity Act and the Criminal Code (deterring terrorism by providing a civil right of action against perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism).
WITNESSES:
Senate of Canada:
The Honourable Senator David Tkachuk, sponsor of the bill.
Canadian Coalition Against Terror:
Aaron Blumenfeld, Senior Legal Advisor;
Sheryl Saperia, Legal Advisor and Advocacy Coordinator.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk, Mr. Blumenfeld and Ms. Saperia each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
At 1:35 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee