Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 30, Minutes - May 7, 2015

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 7, 2015
(71)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:30 a.m., 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, Cowan, Dagenais, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., McInnis, McIntyre, Plett, Ringuette, Runciman and White (13).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Fraser (1).

In attendance: Julian Walker; and Mark Mahabir, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-377, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (requirements for labour organizations). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 29.)

WITNESSES:

As an individual:

Bruce Ryder, Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School (by video conference).

Canadian Police Association:

Tom Stamatakis, President (by video conference).

Unifor:

Jerry Dias, National President.

Canadian LabourWatch Association:

John Mortimer, President.

Government of Nova Scotia:

The Honourable Kelly Regan, M.L.A., Minister of Labour and Advanced Education (by video conference).

CLAC:

Dick Heinen, Executive Director.

As an individual:

D. Cameron Hunter, Principal, Eckler Ltd.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation:

Aaron Wudrick, Federal Director.

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

Daniel Therrien, Privacy Commissioner.

Government of Ontario:

The Honourable Kevin Flynn, M.P.P., Minister of Labour (by video conference).

Writers Guild of Canada:

Laurie Channer, Director of Industrial Relations (by video conference).

As an individual:

Ian Lee, Assistant Professor, Carleton University.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Ryder, Mr. Stamatakis, Mr. Dias and Mr. Mortimer each made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:30 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:36 a.m., the committee resumed.

Minister Regan, Mr. Heinen, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wudrick each made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:36 p.m., the committee resumed.

Minister Flynn, Mr. Therrien, Ms. Channer and Mr. Lee each made a statement and answered questions.

At 1:26 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Shaila Anwar

Clerk of the Committee