Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 16, 2009
(26)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:09 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Baker, P.C., Campbell, Dickson, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Nolin, Rivest, Wallace and Watt (11).
In attendance: Jennifer Bird and Dominque Valiquet, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the committee started its consideration of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (limiting credit for time spent in pre-sentencing custody).
APPEARING:
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Matthias Villetort, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Catherine Kane, Acting Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.
Statistics Canada:
Lynn Barr-Telford, Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics;
Craig Grimes, Senior Analyst, Courts Program, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics;
Rebecca Kong, Chief, Correctional Services Section, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Canadian Association of Crown Counsel:
Jamie Chaffe, President.
Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers:
Mark A. Lapowich, Representative.
Canadian Bar Association:
Eric Gottardi, Secretary, National Criminal Justice Section;
Gaylene Schellenberg, Lawyer, Legislation and Law Reform.
Criminal Lawyers' Association:
Michael Spratt, Member.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Nicholson, P.C., made a statement and, together with Mr. Villetort and Ms. Kane, answered questions.
At 5:06 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:09 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Barr-Telford made a statement and, together with Mr. Grimes and Ms. Kong, answered questions.
At 6:05 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:09 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Chaffe, Mr. Lapowich, Mr. Spratt, Ms. Schellenberg and Mr. Gottardi each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 7:31 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, September 17, 2009
(28)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:52 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Joan Fraser, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Baker, P.C., Dickson, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Nolin, Wallace and Watt (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Chaput (1).
In attendance: Jennifer Bird and Dominque Valiquet, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (limiting credit for time spent in pre-sentencing custody).
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Julian Roberts, Professor, Centre of Criminology, University of Oxford;
Michael Weinrath, Professor, University of Winnipeg;
Allan Manson, Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen's University;
Anthony N. Doob, Professor, University of Toronto;
Cheryl Webster, Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Weinrath and Mr. Roberts each made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:04 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:05 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Webster, Mr. Doob and Mr. Manson each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 1:24 p.m., pursuant to rule 92 (2)(e), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 1:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee