Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue No. 10 -  Minutes of Proceedings - June 6 2016

OTTAWA, Monday, June 6, 2016
(25)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:59 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Bob Runciman, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Bellemare, Boisvenu, Cowan, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Marshall, McIntyre, Plett, Runciman and White (12).

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

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 Friday, June 3, 2016, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (Medical assistance in dying).

WITNESSES:

Health Canada:

Abby Hoffman, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch;

Sharon Harper, Manager, Chronic and Continuing Care Division.

Department of Justice Canada:

Carole Morency, Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;

Joanne Klineberg, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.

As an individual:

Peter Hogg, Scholar in Residence, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP;

Gerald D. Chipeur, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP;

Tom McMorrow, Assistant Professor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (by video conference);

Dr. Catherine Ferrier, Division of Geriatric Medicine, McGill University Health Centre (by video conference);

Trista Carey, Partner, Schnell Hardy Jones LLP;

Amir Attaran, Canadian Research Chair, Population Health and Global Development Policy, University of Ottawa (by video conference).

British Columbia Civil Liberties Association:

Josh Paterson, Executive Director (by video conference).

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Hoffman, Ms. Harper, Ms. Morency and Ms. Klineberg, answered questions.

At 11:56 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Hogg, Mr. Chipeur, Dr. Ferrier and Mr. McMorrow each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 1:26 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Carey, Mr. Attaran and Mr. Paterson each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 2:33 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

La greffière du comité,

Jessica Richardson