Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue No. 23 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 1, 2017

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 1, 2017
(55)

[English]

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

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Boniface, Carignan, P.C., Dagenais, Dean, Dupuis, Joyal, P.C., MacDonald, McIntyre, Pate, Pratte, Sinclair and White (14).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Griffin (1).

In attendance: Maxime Charron-Tousignant, Analyst, 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 Wednesday, December 14, 2016, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-231, An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code (protection of journalistic sources). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 22.)

WITNESSES:

Canadian Police Association:

Tom Stamatakis, President (by video conference).

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police:

Rachel Huntsman, Legal Counsel, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary;

Kevan Stuart, Superintendent, Criminal Investigations Unit, Calgary Police Service.

As individuals:

Jamie Cameron, Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (by video conference);

Claude Robillard, Writer — La liberté de presse, la liberté de tous.

The deputy chair made a statement.

Ms. Huntsman, Mr. Stuart and Mr. Stamatakis each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

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

At 5:25 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Robillard and Ms. Cameron each made a statement and together, answered questions.

It was agreed that the steering committee consider the possibility of the committee undertaking a special study on funding of First Nations policing in Canada.

At 6:19 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jessica Richardson

Clerk of the Committee