Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue No. 8 -  Minutes of Proceedings - May 5, 2016

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 5, 2016
(17)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:30 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Bob Runciman, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Boisvenu, Cowan, Dagenais, Eaton, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., McIntyre, Plett, Runciman, Unger and White (13).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Lankin, P.C., Omidvar and Sinclair (3).

In attendance: Julian Walker and Maxime Charron-Tousignant, 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 Wednesday, April 20, 2016, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying).

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Jocelyn Downie, Professor, Faculties of Law and Medicine, Dalhousie University;

Joseph Arvay, Lawyer, Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP;

Jean-Pierre Ménard, Attorney, Ménard, Martin, Avocats;

Dianne Pothier, Professor Emeritus, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University;

David Baker, Lawyer, Bakerlaw;

Trudo Lemmens, Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto;

Margaret Somerville, Professor, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine, McGill University.

Canadian Nurses Association:

Carolyn Pullen, Director, Policy, Advocacy and Strategy;

Josette Roussel, Senior Nurse Advisor.

Canadian Medical Association:

Dr. Cindy Forbes, President;

Dr. Jeff Blackmer, Vice-President, Medical Professionalism.

Canadian Pharmacists Association:

Phil Emberley, Director, Professional Affairs;

Joelle Walker, Director, Government Relations, Public & Professional Affairs.

External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada:

Catherine Frazee, Panel Member (by video conference);

Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, Panel Member
(by video conference);

Benoît Pelletier, Panel Member.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Downie, Mr. Arvay and Mr. Ménard each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 11:28 a.m., the Honourable Senator Unger replaced the Honourable Senator Plett as a member of the committee.

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

At 11:37 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Pothier, Mr. Baker, Mr. Lemmens and Ms. Somerville each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 12:15, the Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Unger as a member of the committee.

At 12:33 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:45 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Pullen, Dr. Forbes, Dr. Blackmer and Mr. Emberley each made a statement and, together with Ms. Roussel and Ms. Walker, answered questions.

At 1:48 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:57 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Pelletier, Dr. Chochinov and Ms. Frazee, each made a statement and, together, answered question.

At 2:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jessica Richardson

Clerk of the Committee