Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 22, 2011

OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 22, 2011
(2)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, the chair, The Honourable John D. Wallace presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Baker, P.C., Banks, Boisvenu, Chaput, Fraser, Frum, Joyal, P.C., Lang, Meredith, Runciman, Wallace and Watt (13).

In attendance: Robin MacKay and Julia Nicol, analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; and Karen Schwinghammer, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, the committee began its examination of the subject-matter of Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mega-trials), introduced in the House of Commons on June 13, 2011, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Robert Nicholson, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Catherine Kane, Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;

Anouk Desaulniers, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.

As an individual (by video conference):

The Honourable Patrick J. LeSage, CM, OOnt, QC.

Public Prosecution Service of Canada:

Don Beardall, General Counsel;

Nancy Irving, General Counsel.

Canadian Bar Association:

Suhail Akhtar, Executive Member, National Criminal Justice Section;

Kerri Froc, Staff Lawyer, Law Reform and Equality.

Association des procureurs aux poursuites criminelles et pénales:

Thomas Jacques, Vice-President.

Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers:

Ferhan Javed, Defence Counsel.

Criminal Lawyers' Association:

Michael Spratt, Director.

The chair made an opening statement.

The minister made a statement and, together with Ms. Desaulniers, answered questions.

At 4:33 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:37 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Kane and Ms. Desaulniers answered questions.

At 5:18 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:22 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted in the Senate today, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mega-trials).

The Honourable Patrick J. LeSage made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:15 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Beardall made a statement and, together with Ms. Irving, answered questions.

At 7:10 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:13 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Froc, Mr. Akhtar, and Mr. Jacques each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:16 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:20 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Javed and Mr. Spratt each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:56 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Shaila Anwar

Clerk of the Committee