Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue No. 20 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 1, 2017
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 1, 2017
(49)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Bob Runciman, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Bellemare, Boisvenu, Boniface, Dagenais, Dupuis, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Omidvar, Pate, Pratte, Runciman, Sinclair, Tannas and White (16).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C. (1).
In attendance: Julian Walker and Maxime Charron-Tousignant, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 15, 2016, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Patricia Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.
WITNESSES:
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC):
Lori Sterling, Deputy Minister of Labour.
Department of Justice:
Warren J. Newman, Senior General Counsel, Constitutional and Administrative Law Section.
Canada Industrial Relations Board:
Ginette Brazeau, Chairperson.
Canadian Labour Congress:
Hassan Yussuff, President;
Chris Roberts, Director, Social and Economic Policy Department.
As an individual:
Bruce Ryder, Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.
The chair made a statement.
At 4:19 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:22 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Brazeau, Mr. Yussuff and Mr. Ryder each made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:42 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:44 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Minister made a statement and, together with Ms. Sterling and Mr. Newman, answered questions.
At 5:23 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:28 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Brazeau, Mr. Yussuff and Mr. Ryder, together with Mr. Roberts, resumed answering questions.
The Honorable Senator Boniface moved:
That, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2016, the membership of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be increased by one non-voting member chosen from the senators who are not members of a recognized party, to be designated after the usual consultations.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honorable Senator Boisvenu moved:
That notwithstanding the motion adopted on November 24, 2016, the members of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be provided with a copy of the in camera transcripts from that meeting to aid them in guiding the analysts in the drafting the final report; and that all copies of the transcripts be destroyed no later than the date of the tabling of the final report in the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee