Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Issue No. 42 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 30, 2018

OTTAWA, Monday, April 30, 2018
(96)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 2:02 p.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Eggleton, P.C., Gold, Manning, Mégie, Munson, Omidvar, Petitclerc, Poirier, Raine, Seidman and Stewart Olsen (12).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C. (1).

In attendance: Shaila Anwar, Deputy Principal Clerk, Senate Committees Directorate; Sonya Norris and Marlisa Tiedemann, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 22, 2018, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 39.)

WITNESSES:

Canadian Real Estate Association:

Michael Bourque, Chief Executive Officer;

Randall McCauley, Vice-President, Government and Public Relations.

Anandia Labs:

Jonathan Page, Chief Executive Officer.

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police:

Deputy Chief Constable Mike Serr, Co-Chair, Drug Advisory Committee (by video conference).

Vancouver Police Department:

Inspector Bill Spearn (by video conference).

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Ernest Small, Principal Research Scientist, Science and Technology Branch.

As individuals:

Solomon Friedman, Criminal Defence Lawyer, Edelson & Friedman LLP;

John Conroy, Lawyer (by video conference);

Neil Boyd, Professor, Department of Criminology, Simon Fraser University (by video conference);

Sean Robichaud, Criminal Defence Lawyer, Robichaud's Barristers & Solicitors.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Bourque, Mr. Page, Mr. Serr, Mr. Spearn and Mr. Small each made a statement and, together with Mr. McCauley, answered questions.

At 4 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Friedman, Mr. Robichaud, Mr. Conroy and Mr. Boyd each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille Aubé
Acting Clerk of the Committee