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LCJC - Standing Committee

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Past Session: Past Session:
41-1 41st Parliament, 1st Session (June 2, 2011 - September 13, 2013)
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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

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