THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 19, 2023
(74)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:47 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, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Jaffer, Klyne, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut) and Simons (10).

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

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on June 21, 2023, the committee began its examination of proposals to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies, out-dated terminology and errors and to deal with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes and Regulations of Canada and to repeal certain provisions that have expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect.

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Riri Shen, Deputy Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Legislative Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector;

Victoria Netten, Advisory and Legislative Initiatives Services Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector;

Philippe Denault, Advisory and Legislative Initiatives Services Senior Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector.

Public Safety Canada:

Justin Chan, Director, National Security Policy Directorate;

David MacIntyre, Acting Manager, National Security Policy Directorate.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Donald Boucher, Director General, Sector Development and Analysis.

Department of Finance Canada:

Kathleen Wyre, Director, Pensions Policy.

Riri Shen made a statement and, together with Victoria Netten, Philippe Denault, Justin Chan, David MacIntyre, Donald Boucher and Kathleen Wyre, answered questions.

The committee considered a draft report.

The committee discussed observations.

It was agreed that observations be appended to the committee’s report.

It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, taking into consideration the changes discussed in committee, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes as required.

It was agreed that the chair report the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Program, with observations, to the Senate.

At 12:54 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee