Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 28 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 5, 2012
(65)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 3:32 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Senator Bob Runciman, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Boisvenu, Dagenais, Enverga, Fraser, Frum, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., McIntyre, Ngo, Runciman and White (12).

In attendance: Lyne Casavant and Christine Morris, 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, November 6, 2012, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Statutory Instruments Act and to make consequential amendments to the Statutory Instruments Regulations. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No.27), and pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (elder abuse).

APPEARING:

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

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Philippe Hallée, Deputy Chief Legislative Counsel;

Carole Morency, Acting Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.

Matthias Villetorte, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.

Social Services Network:

Dr. Naila Butt, Executive Director.

Canadian Nurses Association:

Barbara Mildon, President;

Norma Freeman, Nurse Advisor, Professional Practice.

Montreal Jewish General Hospital:

Maxine Lithwick, Director, Department of Social Services (by videoconference).

Canadian Centre for Elder Law:

Laura Tamblyn Watts, Senior Fellow.

National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE):

Catherine Drillis, Co-chair.

As an individual:

Charmaine Spencer, Adjunct Professor, Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University (by videoconference).

The chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Morency and Mr. Villetorte answered questions pertaining to Bill C-36.

The Minister made a statement and answered questions pertaining to Bill C-36.

At 4:26 p.m., the Minister made a statement and answered questions pertaining to Bill S-12.

At 4:54 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:05 p.m., the committee resumed.

Dr. Butt, Ms. Mildon and Ms. Lithwick each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:00 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Drillis, Ms. Tamblyn and Ms. Spencer each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:53 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Shaila Anwar

Clerk of the Committee