THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, September 19, 2024
(112)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:33 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boyer, Carignan, P.C., Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Kingston, Oudar, Prosper, Simons and Tannas (11).
Participating in the meeting: Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 20, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-250, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures).
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Morna Boyle, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Nathalie Levman, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-250.
Morna Boyle and Nathalie Levman answered questions from time to time.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
The chair asked whether clause 1 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Boyer moved that Bill S-250 be amended in clause 1,
(a) on page 1, by replacing lines 11 to 22 with the following:
“268.1 (1) For greater certainty, a sterilization procedure is an act that wounds or maims a person for the purposes of section 268(1).
(2) In this section, sterilization procedure means the severing, clipping, tying or cauterizing, in whole or in part, of the Fallopian tubes, ovaries or uterus of a person or any other procedure performed on a person that results in the permanent prevention of reproduction, regardless of whether the procedure is reversible through a subsequent surgical procedure.”;
(b) on page 2, by deleting lines 1 to 36;
(c) on page 3, by deleting lines 1 to 9.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 1, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the preamble carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, as amended.
It was agreed that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make necessary technical, grammatical, or other required non-substantive changes as a result of the amendments adopted by the committee, in both official languages, including updating cross-references and renumbering of provisions.
The committee discussed observations.
After debate, it was agreed that observations be appended to the committee's report on the bill.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, in both official languages, taking into consideration today’s discussion and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes as required.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-250, with amendments and observations, to the Senate, in both official languages.
At 12:28 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee