THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 5, 2023
(72)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:15 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Batters, Boisvenu, Clement, Dalphond, Jaffer, Klyne, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut), Simons and Tannas (11).
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:
Government of British Columbia:
The Honourable Niki Sharma, K.C., MLA, Attorney General of British Columbia (by videoconference).
Women's Legal Education and Action Fund:
Kat Owens, Project Director (by videoconference).
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies:
Emilie Coyle, Executive Director.
John Howard Society of Canada:
Catherine Latimer, Executive Director.
Native Women's Association of Canada:
Sarah Niman, Senior Director, Legal Services.
Association of Legal Aid Plans of Canada:
David Field, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Marcus Pratt, Policy Advisor.
As an individual:
Carolyn Yule, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph (by videoconference).
Niki Sharma made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:02 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:04 p.m., the committee resumed.
Kat Owens, Emilie Coyle and Catherine Latimer each made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:58 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:02 p.m., the committee resumed.
Sarah Niman, David Field and Carolyn Yule each made a statement and, together with Marcus Pratt, answered questions.
At 1:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee