THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, March 23, 2023
(49)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:32 a.m., in room W120, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer, Klyne, Pate and Patterson (Nunavut) (10).

Participating in the meeting: Aoife Mc Donald, 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 March 9, 2023, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Judges Act.

APPEARING:

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

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Patrick Xavier, Senior Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section;

Shakiba Azimi, Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section;

Riri Shen, Deputy Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector;

Toby Hoffmann, Director and General Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section.

The minister made a statement and, together with Patrick Xavier, Shakiba Azimi and Toby Hoffmann, answered questions.

At 12:39 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:44 p.m., the committee resumed.

Patrick Xavier, Shakiba Azimi, Riri Shen and Toby Hoffmann answered questions.

At 1:37 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee