Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue No. 45 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 31, 2018

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 31, 2018
(107)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:32 a.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, Boniface, Dupuis, Eaton, Gold, Joyal, P.C., McInnis, Mercer, Pate and Pratte (11).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Jaffer (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 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.)

At 10:32 a.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.

It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted, and that the chair be authorized to make necessary editorial revisions and approve the final text before tabling in the Senate.

It was agreed that the chair table the report with observations in the Senate.

At 11:30 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:33 a.m., the committee resumed in public.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 3, 2018, the committee began its examination of Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (political financing).

WITNESSES:

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer:

Stéphane Perrault, Acting Chief Electoral Officer;

Anne Lawson, General Counsel and Senior Director;

François Leblanc, Director, Political Financing and Audit.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Perrault made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:47 a.m., the Honourable Senator Mercer replaced the Honourable Senator Dawson.

At 12:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Keli Hogan
Clerk of the Committee