Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue No. 45 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 30, 2018

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 30, 2018
(106)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 3:20 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Serge Joyal, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Carignan, P.C., Dupuis, Eaton, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Lankin, P.C., McInnis, Pate, Pratte and Verner, P.C. (12).

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 Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 15 and 20 of Part 6 of Bill C-74, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 2018 and other measures. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 44.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Services and Procurement;

Marco Mendicino, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

WITNESSES:

Business Council of Canada:

John Dillon, Senior Vice President, Policy and Corporate Counsel.

Quebec Employers Council:

Norma Kozhaya, Research Vice President and Chief Economist (by video conference).

Transparency International Canada:

Mark Morrison, Director.

As an individual:

Alexander Dyck, Professor of Finance and Economic Analysis and Policy, Manulife Financial Chair in Financial Services, University of Toronto (by video conference).

Department of Justice Canada:

Catherine McKinnon, Senior Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Judicial Affairs, Courts and Tribunal Policy;

Ann Sheppard, Senior Counsel, Policy Sector, Criminal Law Policy Section.

Public Services and Procurement Canada:

Lynne Tomson, Director General, Integrity and Forensic Accounting Management.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Dillon, Mr. Morrison and Ms. Kozhaya each made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:29 p.m., the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface.

At 4:32 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:36 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 5:09 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee proceeded in camera to consider a draft report.

It was agreed that senators' staff be allowed to stay in the room.

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera portion of the meeting, that one copy be kept in the office of the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members present and/or by the committee analysts, and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

At 5:18 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

The minister made a statement and, together with Mr. Mendicino, Ms. Sheppard and Ms. McKinnon, answered questions.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Keli Hogan
Clerk of the Committee