THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 20, 2022
(26)

[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, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Francis, Gold, P.C., Pate and Simons (10).

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:

As an individual:

The Honourable Murray Sinclair, former senator (by videoconference).

Native Women's Association of Canada:

Sarah Niman, Legal Counsel, Assistant Manager, Legal Services.

Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund:

Pam Hrick, Executive Director and General Counsel (by videoconference).

National Police Federation:

Brian Sauvé, President (by videoconference).

Regroupement québécois des centres d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel:

Gabrielle Comtois, Policy Issues and Impact Analyst (by videoconference);

Justine Chénier, Communications Manager (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Cheryl Webster, Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa (by videoconference);

Dawn North, PhD graduate (by videoconference).

The Honourable Murray Sinclair, Sarah Niman, Pam Hrick, Gabrielle Comtois and Dawn North each made a statement and answered questions.

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

At 12:37 p.m., the committee resumed.

Brian Sauvé, Gabrielle Comtois and Justine Chénier each made a statement and answered questions.

At 1:39 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee