THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 19, 2023
(52)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:22 p.m., in room W120, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, 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:

Canadian Association for Legal Ethics:

Richard Devlin, Professor, Schulich School of Law.

Canadian Association of Black Lawyers:

Raphael Tachie, President (by videoconference);

Rosemarie Davis, Vice-President (by videoconference).

Richard Devlin and Raphael Tachie each made a statement and, together with Rosemarie Davis, answered questions.

At 5:26 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on June 23, 2022, the committee continued its examination on 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.

It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required and that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

At 6:09 p.m., 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.

The committee discussed a draft agenda (future business).

At 6:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee