Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 8 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 2, 2010
(17)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:16 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Champagne, P.C., Cordy, Demers, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, P.C., Martin, Merchant, Ogilvie, Plett and Seidman (12).
In attendance: Havi Echenberg and Dominique 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 Wednesday, April 21, 2010, the committee continued its study on Bill C-268, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentence for offences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen years). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 7.)
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Benjamin Perrin, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia (by videoconference);
John Winterdyk, Director, Center for Criminology and Justice Research, Mount Royal University.
International Bureau for Children's Rights:
Nadja Pollaert, Director General;
Camille Karbassi, Program Manager, Child Trafficking.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Perrin and Mr. Winterdyk each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 5:21 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:24 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Pollaert and Mr. Karbassi each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 6:02 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:03 p.m., the committee resumed.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-268, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentence for offences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen years).
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Dyck moved that Bill C-268 be amended in clause 2, on page 1, by replacing lines 22 to 25 with the following:
"of six years if
(i) the person kidnaps, commits an aggravated assault or aggravated sexual assault against, or causes death to, the victim during the commission of the offence, or
(ii) the exploitation involves the provision by the victim of a sexual service for which the person receives, or expects to receive, a financial or other material benefit; or''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
It was agreed that clause 4 carry.
It was agreed that clause 5 carry.
It was agreed that clause 6 carry.
It was agreed that clause 7 carry.
It was agreed that clause 8 carry.
It was agreed that clause the title carry.
It was agreed, on division, that the bill carry.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved that the committee append observations to the bill that the RCMP be given the resources to prevent and apprehend those trafficking persons under the age of 18 and that border services agents be trained to have the ability to recognize traffickers of persons under the age of 18 at border points.
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived.
The Honourable Senator Dyck moved that the committee append observations to the bill concerning the issue of the potential revictimization of trafficking victims who would have to tesify in court, one of the possible unintended consequence of the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences.
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived.
It was agreed that the chair report the bill to the Senate.
At 6:21 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 3, 2010
(18)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:34 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Callbeck, Champagne, P.C., Cordy, Demers, Eaton, Fox, P.C., Martin, Merchant, Munson, Ogilvie, Plett and Seidman (13).
In attendance: Havi Echenberg, Analyst, 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 Wednesday, April 21, 2010, the committee began its study on Bill S-211, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day.
WITNESS:
The Honourable Senator Jim Munson, sponsor of the bill.
The deputy chair made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Munson made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:14 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:24 a.m., the committee resumed.
Debate.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-211, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day.
It was agreed that title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
The deputy chair asked whether the preamble shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that Bill S-211 be amended in the preamble, on page 1, by replacing line 2 with the following:
"a significant number of families in Canada;''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that Bill S-211 be amended in the preamble, on page 1, by deleting lines 6 to 8.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Champagne, P.C., Demers, Eaton, Martin, Plett, Seidman — 6
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Banks, Cordy, Fox, P.C., Merchant — 4
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that Bill S-211 be amended in the preamble, on page 1, by deleting lines 15 to 17.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Champagne, P.C., Demers, Eaton, Martin, Plett, Seidman — 6
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Banks, Cordy, Fox, P.C., Merchant — 4
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that Bill S-211 be amended in the preamble, on page 2, by deleting lines 1 and 2.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Champagne, P.C., Demers, Eaton, Martin, Plett, Seidman — 6
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Banks, Cordy, Fox, P.C., Merchant — 4
It was agreed, on division, that the preamble, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the deputy chair report the bill to the Senate.
At 12:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:06 p.m., the committee resumed and, pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, the committee began its study on Bill S-203, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day.
WITNESS:
The Honourable Senator Terry M. Mercer, sponsor of the bill.
The deputy chair made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Mercer made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-203, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day.
It was agreed that title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 be negatived.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
The chair asked whether the preamble shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C. moved that Bill S-203 be amended in the preamble, on page 1, in the French version, by replacing line 20 with the following:
" qu'il est important de rendre hommage à;''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted
It was agreed that the preamble, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the deputy chair report the bill to the Senate.
At 12:19 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee