THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, September 29, 2022
(22)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:31 a.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, Boisvenu, Clement, Cordy, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold, P.C., Pate, Simons and Tannas (10).

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 Bar Association:

Tony Paisana, Partner at Peck and Company (by videoconference).

Canadian Association of Black Lawyers:

Raphael Tachie, President (by videoconference).

Criminal Lawyer's Association:

Anne-Marie McElroy, Counsel.

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples:

Kim Beaudin, National Vice-Chief (by videoconference).

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction:

Rebecca Jesseman, Associate (by videoconference).

Legal Services Board of Nunavut:

Madeleine Redfern, Chair, President of Nunavut Inuit Women’s Association (by videoconference).

Tony Paisana, Raphael Tachie and Anne-Marie McElroy each made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:31 p.m., the committee suspended.

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

Kim Beaudin, Rebecca Jesseman and Madeleine Redfern each made a statement and answered questions.

At 1:28 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee