Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 15 - Minutes of Proceedings - September 9, 2014
OTTAWA, Tuesday, September 9, 2014
(36)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 10 a.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Bob Runciman, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Boisvenu, Dagenais, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., McInnis, McIntyre, Plett and Rivest and Runciman (11).
In attendance: Robin MacKay and Julian Walker, 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 Thursday, June 19, 2014, the committee began its study on the subject-matter of Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Criminal Code in response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Attorney General of Canada v. Bedford and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Donald K. Piragoff, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Sector;
Nathalie Levman, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Carole Morency, Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies:
Kim Pate, Executive Director.
Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC):
Michèle Audette, President;
Teresa Edwards, Director of International Affairs and Human Rights.
Walk With Me Canada:
Robert Hooper, Chairperson, Board of Directors;
Timea E. Nagy, Founder and Front-Line Victim Care Worker.
Asian Women Coalition Ending Prostitution:
Suzanne Jay, Member;
Alice Lee, Member.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada:
Julia Beazley, Policy Analyst.
Pivot Legal Society:
Katrina Pacey, Litigation Director;
Kerry Porth, Chair, Board of Directors.
As individuals:
K. Brian McConaghy, Director, Ratanak International;
Ed Smith;
Linda Smith.
Mothers Against Trafficking Humans (M.A.T.H):
Glendene Grant, Founder.
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network:
Stéphanie Claivaz-Loranger, Senior Policy Analyst;
Kara Gillies, Member.
The chair made an opening statement.
The minister made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:15 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:20 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Piragoff, Ms. Levman and Ms. Morency answered questions.
At 12 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:01 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Audette, Ms. Pate, Ms. Nagy and Mr. Hooper each made a statement and, together with Ms. Edwards, answered questions.
At 2:26 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:38 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Jay, Mr. McConaghy, Ms. Beazley and Ms. Porth and Ms. Pacey each made a statement and, together with Ms. Lee, answered questions.
At 4:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:16 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mrs. and Mr. Smith, Ms. Grant, Ms. Claivaz-Loranger and Ms. Gillies each made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee