Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 8, Minutes of Proceedings - April 30, 2014

OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 30, 2014
(21)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 4:17 p.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Bob Runciman, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Boisvenu, Dagenais, Frum, Jaffer, McInnis, McIntyre, Moore, Plett, Rivest and Runciman (12).

In attendance: Robin MacKay and Sebastian Spano, 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 Monday, April 7, 2014, the committee continued its study of the subject-matter of Bill C-23, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 7.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Gail Lynch, Returning Officer for Ottawa Centre, Elections Canada;

Brigitte Giesbrecht, Returning Officer for Provencher, Elections Canada;

André Blais, Professor, University of Montréal (by video conference);

David E. Smith, Professor Emeritus, University of Saskatchewan.

The chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Lynch and Ms. Giesbrecht each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:17 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:28 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Blais each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:18 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Shaila Anwar

Clerk of the Committee