THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, March 30, 2023
(51)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:33 a.m., in room W120, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Batters, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, 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:

Indigenous Bar Association:

Laura Sharp, Treasurer (by videoconference).

The Advocates' Society:

Sheree Conlon, K.C., Executive Member (by videoconference).

Roundtable of Legal Diversity Associations:

Juliet Chang Knapton, Chair.

As an individual:

Dr. Caroline Dick, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, The University of Western Ontario (by videoconference).

Laura Sharp and Caroline Dick each made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:29 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:34 p.m., the committee resumed.

Sheree Conlon and Juliet Chang Knapton each made a statement and answered questions.

At 1:33 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee