THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 26, 2021
(19)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 30, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day by videoconference at 4:05 p.m. [ET], the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Boniface, Boyer, Campbell, Carignan, P.C., Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer and Simons (11).

Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Miville-Dechêne and Pate (2).

Participating in the meeting: Joëlle Nadeau, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Michaela Keenan-Pelletier and Julian Walker, 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, March 16, 2021, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-203, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Yoti:

Julie Dawson, Director of Regulatory & Policy.

Justice Defense Fund:

Laila Mickelwait, MPD, Founder Trafficking Hub.

Oxford Internet Institute:

Victoria Nash, Professor, director of the Oxford Internet Institute.

BC Coalition of Experiential Communities (BCCEC):

Susan Davis, Sex Worker/Director.

The chair made a statement.

Mses. Dawson, Mickelwait, Nash and Davis each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:29 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:34 p.m., the committee resumed in camera, pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), to consider a draft report.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 26, 27 and 37 of Part 4 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures.

The committee considered a draft report.

At 5:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee