Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 8 - Minutes of Proceedings, December 14, 2011
OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 14, 2011
(21)
[Français]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 4:17 p.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable John D. Wallace, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Baker, P.C., Boisvenu, Chaput, Dawson, Fraser, Frum, Jaffer, Lang, Mercer, Meredith, Neufeld, Runciman and Wallace (14).
In attendance: Robin MacKay and Michel Bédard, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-20, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Tim Uppal, P.C., M.P., Minister of State (Democratic Reform)
WITNESSES:
Privy Council Office:
Matthew Lynch, Director, Democratic Reform;
Jean-François Morin, Senior Policy Advisor, Democratic Reform.
Elections Canada:
Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer;
Stéphane Perrault, Senior General Counsel and Senior Director;
Rennie Molnar, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Events;
François Faucher, Senior Director, Electoral Redistribution.
Statistics Canada:
Wayne Smith, Chief Statistician of Canada;
Johanne Denis, Director, Demography Division;
David Dolson, Director, Social Surveys Methods Division.
As individuals:
Andrew Sancton, Professor of Political Science, University of Western Ontario;
David E. Smith, Senior Policy Fellow, University of Regina (by video conference);
Michael Pal, Research Fellow, Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation, University of Toronto;
John Courtney, Professor Emeritus of Political Studies, University of Saskatchewan.
The chair made an opening statement.
The minister made a statement and answered questions.
At 5 p.m., the Honourable Senator Neufeld replaced the Honourable Senator Lang as a member of the committee.
At 5:18 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:31 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Lynch, together with Mr. Morin, answered questions.
Mr. Mayrand made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:20 p.m., the Honourable Senator Mercer replaced the Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., as a member of the committee.
At 6:21 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:37 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Wayne Smith made a statement and, together with Ms. Denis and Mr. Dolson, answered questions.
At 7:08 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:17 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. David E. Smith, Mr. Pal, Mr. Sancton, and Mr. Courtney each made a statement and answered questions.
At 8:58 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee