THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 28, 2022
(21)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the deputy chair, the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Bellemare, Boisvenu, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold, P.C., Pate, Simons and Tannas (11).

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:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada:

Steve Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer;

Eric Dumschat, Legal Director (by videoconference).

London Abused Women's Centre:

Jennifer Dunn, Executive Director (by videoconference).

Quebec Bar Association:

Nicolas Le Grand Alary, Lawyer, Secretariat of the Order and Legal Affairs (by videoconference);

Michel Marchand, Lawyer (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Debra Parkes, Professor and Chair in Feminist Legal Studies, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia (by videoconference).

Debra Parkes, Steve Sullivan and Eric Dumschat each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:14 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:19 p.m., the committee resumed.

Jennifer Dunn and Nicolas le Grand Alary each made a statement and, together with Michel Marchand, answered questions. 

At 6:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee