THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 4, 2023
(71)

[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, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold, P.C., Jaffer, Klyne, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut) and Tannas (12).

Participating in the meeting: Aoife Mc Donald, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Michaela Keenan-Pelletier and Iryna Zazulya, analysts, Library of Parliament.

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

WITNESSES:

Canadian Bar Association:

Melanie J. Webb, Counsel and Secretary, Criminal Justice.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association:

Shakir Rahim, Director, Criminal Justice Program.

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic:

Deepa Mattoo, Executive Director (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Michael Spratt, Partner, AGP LLP;

Nicole Myers, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Queen's University;

Danardo S. Jones, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor.

Melanie J. Webb, Shakir Rahim and Deepa Mattoo each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:18 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:21 p.m., the committee resumed.

Michael Spratt, Nicole Myers and Danardo S. Jones each made a statement and answered questions.

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

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee