THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 25, 2023
(75)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:18 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cardozo, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer, LaBoucane-Benson, Patterson (Nunavut), Simons and Tannas (10).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Audette and Prosper (2).

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 Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-13, An Act to amend the Interpretation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

APPEARING:

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

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Jean-François Fortin, Associate Deputy Minister;

Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Indigenous Rights and Relations Portfolio;

Uzma Ihsanullah, Director General and Senior General Counsel.

Indigenous Bar Association:

Naiomi Metallic, Board Member (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Lorne Neudorf, Deputy Dean and Professor of Law, La Trobe Law School, La Trobe University (by videoconference).

The chair informed the committee of the death of the Honourable Ian Shugart, P.C. and the committee observed a minute of silence.

The minister made a statement and, together with Laurie Sargent, answered questions.

At 5:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:35 p.m., the committee resumed.

Naiomi Metallic and Lorne Neudorf each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:21 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee