Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence

Issue No. 4 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 6, 2016

OTTAWA, Monday, June 6, 2016
(12)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 10 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Daniel Lang, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Carignan, P.C., Dagenais, Day, Jaffer, Kenny, Lang, Ngo and White (9).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Campbell and Stewart Olsen (2).

In attendance: Dominique Valiquet and Katherine Simonds, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; and Silvina Danesi, Committee Clerk.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 2, 2016, the committee began its examination of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measures.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Scott Brison, P.C., M.P., President of the Treasury Board;

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

WITNESSES:

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:

Manon Brassard, Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations Sector;

Dennis Duggan, Senior Labour Relations Consultant, Compensation and Labour Relations.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

Daniel Dubeau, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Human Resources Officer;

Stephen White, Assistant Commissioner;

Craig MacMillan, Assistant Commissioner, Professional Responsibility Officer.

Public Safety Canada:

Kathy Thompson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Safety and Countering Crime Branch.

The chair made a statement.

Minister Brison and Minister Goodale each made a statement and, together with Mr. Dubeau and Mr. MacMillan, answered questions.

At 11:05 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:17 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Brassard, Mr. Dubeau, Mr. Duggan, Mr. MacMillan and Mr. White each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 12:17 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:20 p.m., the committee, pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), resumed in camera for the consideration of a draft report on the subject matter of those elements contained in Division 2 of Part 4 of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2016 and other measures. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3.)

It was agreed that the draft report be adopted.

At 12:21 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:02 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 2, 2016, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measures.

WITNESSES:

As an individual:

Paul Champ, Lawyer, Champ and Associates.

Quebec Mounted Police Members' Association:

Paul Dupuis, President;

James R. K. Duggan, Legal Advisor.

As an individual:

Alain Jolicoeur, Consultant.

Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada:

Rae Banwarie, President;

Peter Engelmann, Partner, Goldblatt Partners.

National Police Federation:

Brian Sauvé, Co-Chair.

As an individual:

A. Edward Aust, Senior Strategic Advisor, Aust Legal and Former Senior Advisor to Executive Committee of RCMP

Mounted Police Members Legal Fund:

Roy Hill, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.

As an individual:

Mike Webster, Psychologist.

Canadian Police Association:

Tom Stamatakis, President (by video conference).

Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP:

Ian McPhail, Chair.

National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman:

Gary Walborne, Ombudsman;

Robyn Hynes, Director General, Operations.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Champ, Mr. Duggan, Mr. Dupuis and Mr. Jolicoeur each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 2:07 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:11 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Banwarie, Mr. Engelmann, Mr. Sauvé and Mr. Aust each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 3:10 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:31 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Stamatakis, Mr. Hill and Mr. Webster each made a statement and, together answered questions.

At 4:30 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:35 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Walborne and Mr. McPhail made a statement and, together with Ms. Hynes answered questions.

At 5:16 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Adam Thompson

Clerk of the Committee