THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 27, 2023
(69)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:15 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, Boisvenu, Cotter, Coyle, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold, P.C., Jaffer, Klyne, Pate and Simons (11).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Arnot and White (2).

Participating in the meeting: Aoife Mc Donald, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, Analyst, and Emilie Doyons, Research Assistant, Library of Parliament; Amely Coulombe, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 21, 2023, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-48, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bail reform).

APPEARING:

The Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Isabelle Jacques, Associate Deputy Minister;

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

Chelsea Moore, Legal Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;

Shannon Davis-Ermuth, Senior Counsel and Manager, Criminal Law Policy Section.

The minister made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:19 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:24 p.m., the committee resumed.

Matthew Taylor, Chelsea Moore and Shannon Davis-Ermuth answered questions.

At 6:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee