THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 7, 2022
(36)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:19 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer and Pate (7).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Cardozo (1).

Participating in the meeting: Julian Walker and Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders).

The committee discussed observations.

After debate, it was agreed that observations be appended to the committee’s report.

It was agreed that the observations be adopted and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes as required.

It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-205, with amendments and with observations, to the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

At 4:41 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:11 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the committee began its study of the matter of self-induced intoxication, including self-induced extreme intoxication, in the context of criminal law, including in relation to section 33.1 of the Criminal Code.

APPEARING:

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Chelsea Moore, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;

Matthew Taylor, General Counsel and Director, Criminal Law Policy Section;

Joanne Klineberg, Acting General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Policy Sector (by videoconference).

The minister made a statement and, together with Chelsea Moore, Matthew Taylor and Joanne Klineberg, answered questions.

At 6:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee