Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 15 - Minutes of Proceedings - September 10, 2014
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 10, 2014
(37)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 9:31 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, Frum, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., McInnis, McIntyre, Plett and Rivest and Runciman (12).
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 continued 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.
WITNESSES:
Criminal Lawyers' Association:
Leo Russomanno, Member and Criminal Defence Counsel.
BridgeNorth:
Casandra Diamond, Director.
Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers:
Graeme Hamilton, Representative;
Nana Yanful, Representative.
London Abused Women's Centre:
Megan Walker, Executive Director.
Sextrade 101:
Natasha Falle, Founder;
Bridget Perrier, Co-Founder, First Nations Educator.
Northern Women's Connection:
Larissa Crack, Founder, Director;
Cheryl Link, Assistant Director.
Concertation des luttes contre l'exploitation sexuelle:
Diane Matte, Coordinator.
As individuals:
Terri-Jean Bedford, Respondent/appellant on cross-appeal, Canada v. Bedford (2007);
Frances Mahon, lawyer, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP;
Janine Benedet, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia (by video conference);
Gwendoline Allison, Lawyer, Foy Allison Law Group;
Sex Professionals of Canada:
Valerie Scott, Legal Coordinator.
EVE (Formerly Exploited Voices now Educating):
Trisha Baptie, Community engagement coordinator (by video conference);
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Russomanno, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Yanful, Ms. Diamond and Ms. Walker each made a statement and answered questions.
At 11 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:08 a.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Perrier, Ms. Crack, Ms. Link, Ms. Matte and Ms. Falle each made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:32 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:31 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Bedford, Ms. Mahon and Ms. Benedet each made a statement and answered questions.
At 2:17 p.m., the committee suspended, Ms. Bedford having been excused from the table.
At 2:19 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Mahon and Ms. Benedet continued to answer questions.
At 3:05 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:19 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Scott, Ms. Allison and Ms. Baptie each made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee