Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and
Constitutional Affairs
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 20, 1996 (1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, met this day in Room 505, Victoria Building, at 4:20 p.m., for the purpose of Organization.
Members of the Committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bryden, Carstairs, Corbin, Doyle, Jessiman, Lewis, Milne, Nolin and Pearson (10).
In attendance: Jane May Allain, Research Officer, Research Branch of the Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to Rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Nolin moved, - That the Honourable Senator Carstairs be Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs took the Chair of the Committee, thanked Senator Beaudoin for his work and made her opening remarks.
The Honourable Senator Lewis moved, - That the Honourable Senator Nolin be Deputy Chair of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Corbin moved, - That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and one other member of the Committee to be designated after the usual consultation;
THAT the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the Committee with respect to its agenda and procedure;
THAT the Subcommittee be empowered to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and
That the Subcommittee report its decisions to the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Pearson moved, - That the Committee print 500 copies of its Proceedings and that the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved, - That, pursuant to Rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Jessiman moved, - That, pursuant to Rule 104, the Chair be authorized to report expenses incurred by the Committee in the last session.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Beaudoin moved, - That the Committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the Committee;
That the Chairman be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the Committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to negotiate the contracts and retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the Committee; and
That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses and summaries.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Lewis moved, - That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chair or in the Chair's absence, the Deputy Chair; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the Committee be conferred on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, or the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Pearson moved, - That the Committee empower the Chairman to designate, as required, one or more members of the Committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, - it was agreed.
The Chair assured the Committee that members' input on such travel would be welcome.
The Honourable Senator Nolin moved, - That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the Committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization and payment will take place upon application.
It was agreed - THAT under normal circumstances the Committee will reimburse only one witness per organization.
The Committee continued in camera.
The Committee agreed to meet on Thursday, March 21, 1996 at 9:30 a.m. to consider Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Judges Act.
It was agreed - THAT the Clerk distribute to the Committee the submission on Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, now Bill C-8, by Eugene Oscappella of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy received between sessions by the Clerk.
It was agreed - THAT the research staff be asked to prepare a summary of evidence taken in the First Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament on Bill C-7.
It was agreed - THAT if, as expected, the Committee receives an order of reference on Bill C-8, the Chair be authorized to move a motion in the Senate asking that the papers and evidence received and taken by the Committee during its consideration of Bill C-7 be referred to the Committee for its study of Bill C-8.
It was agreed - THAT when scheduling hearings outside of the Committee's regular time slots, efforts be made to hold hearings on Fridays of sitting weeks, rather than scheduling hearings during non-sitting weeks of the Senate.
It was agreed - THAT the Clerk of the Committee only distribute documents to the Committee in both official languages.
It was agreed - THAT witnesses appearing before the Committee be allowed, on their own at the meetings, to distribute documents in one official language only and that the Clerk then have all such documents translated.
It was agreed - THAT notices for meetings on legislation known in the previous session by another number identify both the current and previous number of the bill.
It was agreed - THAT, at least on an interim basis, Senator Lewis be designated the third member of the Steering Committee.
At 5:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 21, 1996 (2)
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, met this day in Room 256-S, Centre Block, at 9:30 a.m., the Chair, the Honourable Senator Carstairs, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bryden, Carstairs, Corbin, Lewis, Nolin and Pearson (7).
In attendance: Jane May Allain, Research Officer, Research Branch of the Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 20, 1996, the Committee began its examination of Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Judges Act.
WITNESS:
From the Department of Justice:
Mr. Howard Sandell, Counsel.
The Chair made some opening remarks.
Mr. Sandell made a statement and answered questions.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Lewis - THAT Bill C-2 be reported to the Senate without amendments.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
At 10:42 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Heather Lank
Clerk of the Committee