THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, September 22, 2022
(20)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:30 a.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Gold, P.C., Jaffer, Klyne, Miville-Dechêne, Pate, Simons and White (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson (1).

Participating in the meeting: Laurie-Anne Spooner, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Julian Walker and Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

WITNESSES:

Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies:

Emilie Coyle, Executive Director (by videoconference);

Nyki Kish, Director of Advocacy and Systems Change (by videoconference).

AGP LLP:

Michael Spratt, Partner, AGP LLP.

Regina Drug Treatment Court:

Judie Birns, Manager (by videoconference).

Indigenous Bar Association:

Alain Bartleman, Treasurer (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Janani Shanmuganathan, Partner, Goddard & Shanmuganathan LLP (by videoconference).

Emilie Coyle, Nyki Kish and Janani Shanmuganathan each made a statement and answered questions.

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

At 12:35 p.m., the committee resumed.

Michael Spratt, Judie Birns and Alain Bartleman each made a statement and answered questions.

At 1:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee