Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence

Issue 16 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 20, 2015

OTTAWA, Monday, April 20, 2015
(35)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 1 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Daniel Lang, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Dagenais, Day, Kenny, Lang, Mitchell, Ngo, Stewart Olsen and White (9).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Bellemare, Campbell, Jaffer and Runciman (5).

In attendance: Holly Porteous and Christina Yeung, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on March 24, 2015, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-51, An Act to enact the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act and the Secure Air Travel Act, to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 15.)

WITNESSES:

Canadian Security Intelligence Service:

Michel Coulombe, Director.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

Mike Cabana, Deputy Commissioner, Federal Policing.

Communications Security Establishment:

Greta Bossenmaier, Chief.

Public Prosecution Service of Canada:

George Dolhai, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions;

Ursula Hendel, Senior Counsel and National Terrorism Prosecutions Coordinator.

As an individual:

The Honourable John Charles Major, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada (by video conference).

Canadian Bar Association:

Eric V. Gottardi, Chair, Criminal Justice Section
(by video conference);

Peter Edelmann, Executive Member, Immigration Law Section (by video conference).

Canadian Civil Liberties Association:

Sukanya Pillay, General Counsel and Executive Director.

Criminal Lawyers' Association:

Michael Spratt, Member and Criminal Defence Counsel;

Leo Russomanno, Member and Criminal Defence Counsel.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Coulombe, Mr. Cabana and Ms. Bossenmaier each made a statement and, together answered questions.

At 2:20 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:25 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Dolhai made a statement and, together with Ms. Hendel, answered questions.

At 3:17 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:27 p.m., the committee resumed.

The Honourable John Charles Major made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:07 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:15 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Pillay, Mr. Gottardi, Mr. Edelmann, Mr. Spratt and Mr. Russomanno each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 5:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Adam Thompson

Clerk of the Committee