THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 29, 2023
(50)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:47 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer, Klyne, Pate and Patterson (Nunavut) (9).

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 continued its consideration of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Judges Act.

WITNESSES:

Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs:

Marc A. Giroux, Commissioner.

Canadian Judicial Council:

Jacqueline Corado, Director and General Counsel.

Barreau du Québec:

Catherine Claveau, President of the Quebec Bar (by videoconference);

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

Canadian Bar Association:

Steeves Bujold, President;

Benjamin Piper, Member, Judicial Issues.

Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association:

Husein Panju, Chair;

Sania Chaudhry, Board Member (by videoconference).

Marc A. Giroux and Jacqueline Corado each made a statement.

At 4:59 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:20 p.m., the committee resumed.

Marc A. Giroux and Jacqueline Corado answered questions.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:05 p.m., the committee resumed.

Catherine Claveau, Steeves Bujold and Sania Chaudhry each made a statement and, together with Nicolas Le Grand Alary, Benjamin Piper and Husein Panju, answered questions.

At 7:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee