THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 29, 2023
(83)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:21 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, Jaffer, Klyne, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut), Prosper and Simons (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, P.C. and Dagenais (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 Thursday, November 3, 2022, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-231, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Criminal Records Act, the National Defence Act and the DNA Identification Act.

WITNESSES:

Native Women's Association of Canada:

Carol McBride, President (by videoconference);

Sarah Niman, Senior Director, Legal Services (by videoconference).

Canadian Association of Crown Counsel:

Jeremy Tatum, Crown Counsel, Crown Law Office, Criminal Law Division, Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario (by videoconference).

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

Gregory Smolynec, Deputy Commissioner, Policy and Promotion Sector;

Lacey Batalov, Director, Government Advisory Directorate;

Nadia Sayed, Legal Counsel, Legal Services Directorate.

Carol McBride and Jeremy Tatum each made a statement and, together with Sarah Niman, answered questions.

At 5:25 p.m., the committee suspended.

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

Gregory Smolynec made a statement and, together with Lacey Batalov and Nadia Sayed, answered questions.

At 6:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee