THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 6, 2024
(123)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:16 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Jane Cordy, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Burey, Cordy, Cormier, Dagenais, Dasko, Manning, Mégie, Petitclerc and Seidman (10).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Boudreau and Muggli (2).
Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore and Mayra Perez-Leclerc, analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 1, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-249, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for the prevention of intimate partner violence.
The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-249.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that, pursuant to rule 10-5, the committee reconsider clause 2, as amended.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee proceeded to reconsider clause 2, as amended.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that, notwithstanding the decision of the committee on October 9, 2024, the amendment labelled FM-S249-2-1-10, be defeated.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that Bill S-249 be amended, in clause 2, on page 1,
(a) by replacing lines 9 to 12 of the English version with the following:
“ing partner. (partenaire intime)”;
(b) by deleting lines 15 to 20;
(c) by adding the following after line 17 of the French version:
“partenaire intime S’entend notamment de l’époux, du conjoint de fait ou du partenaire amoureux, actuels ou anciens, d’une personne. (intimate partner)”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 2, as amended, carry.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that, pursuant to rule 10-5, the committee reconsider clause 3, as amended.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee proceeded to reconsider clause 3, as amended.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that, notwithstanding the decision of the committee on October 9, 2024, the amendment labelled FM-S249-3-2-1a, be defeated.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair asked whether clause 3 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that Bill S-249 be amended, in clause 3, on page 2,
(a) by replacing lines 1 to 9 with the following:
“3 (1) The Minister must continue to lead national action to prevent and address intimate partner violence.
“(2) In leading national action to prevent and address intimate partner violence, the Minister must engage annually with other federal ministers and with provincial ministers responsible for the status of women and regularly with Indigenous partners, victims and survivors, and stakeholders with respect to”;
(b) by replacing lines 14 and 15 with the following:
“(b) partnerships in the preven-”;
(c) by replacing lines 18 to 30 with the following:
“(c) the financial and other costs of action to prevent and address intimate partner violence; and
(d) any constitutional, legal or jurisdictional implications of action to prevent and address intimate partner violence.
(3) The engagements referred to in subsection (2) must”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 3, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether clause 4 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that Bill S-249 be amended, in clause 4, on page 3, by replacing lines 1 to 5 with the following:
“4 (1) Within two years after this Act receives royal assent and every two years after that, the Minister must prepare a report setting out progress on action to prevent and address intimate partner violence and cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 4, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether clause 5 shall carry.
After debate, clause 5 was negatived.
The chair asked if clause 1, which contains the short title, shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that Bill S-249 be amended, in clause 1, on page 1, by replacing lines 4 and 5 with the following:
“1 This Act may be cited as Georgina’s Law.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether the title shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Manning moved that Bill S-249 be amended, on page 1, by replacing the long title with the following:
“An Act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the title, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, as amended.
It was agreed that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make necessary technical, grammatical, or other required non-substantive changes as a result of the amendments adopted by the committee, in both official languages, including updating cross-references and renumbering of provisions.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-249, with amendments, to the Senate, in both official languages.
At 4:37 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Emily Barrette
Clerk of the Committee