THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 15, 2023
(65)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:32 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Busson, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Forest, Klyne and Pate (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 Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act.

WITNESSES:

National Association of Women and the Law:

Suzanne Zaccour, Director of Legal Affairs (by videoconference).

Department of Justice Canada:

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

Joanna Wells, Acting Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;

Isabelle Desharnais, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.

At 11:33 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:36 a.m., the committee resumed.

Suzanne Zaccour made a statement and answered questions.

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

At 12:41 p.m., the committee resumed.

Matthew Taylor, Joanna Wells and Isabelle Desharnais answered questions.

At 1:27 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee