Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 20, 1997
(7)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, met this day in Room 257, East Block, at 10:48 a.m., the Chairman, the Honourable Senator Lorna Milne, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Cogger, Doyle, Gigantès, Kinsella, Lewis, Losier-Cool, Milne, Moore, Pearson and Watt (11).

In attendance: Nancy Holmes and Monique Hébert, Research Officers, 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, October 29, 1997, at 10:48 a.m. the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code in respect of persons with disabilities, to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act in respect of persons with disabilities and other matters and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. (See Issue No. 2, Thursday, October 30, 1997, for full text of Order of Reference.)

WITNESSES:

From the National Capital Alliance on Race Relations:

Mr. Rubin Friedman, President (and representative of B'nai Brith Canada);

Ms Yuen-Ting Lai, Board Member;

Mr. Henry Pau, Chair, Human Rights and Employment Equity Committee.

The Chairman made an opening statement.

Mr. Rubin Friedman, Ms Yuen-Ting Lai and Mr. Henry Pau each made a statement and answered questions.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 22, 1997, at 11:50 a.m., the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-220, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Copyright Act (profit from authorship respecting a crime). (See Issue No. 1, Wednesday, October 29, 1997, for full text of Order of Reference.)

WITNESSES:

From the Department of Justice:

Mr. Richard G. Mosley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Criminal Law Policy;

Mr. Paul Saint-Denis, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law;

Mr. Jeff Richstone, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Canadian Heritage;

Mr. Michael Peirce, Counsel, Human Rights Law Section.

The Chairman made a statement.

With leave, Senator Gigantès asked some questions for consideration by the panel.

Mr. Richard G. Mosley made a statement and, together with Mr. Saint-Denis, Mr. Richstone and Mr. Pierce, answered questions.

At 12:40 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Heather Lank

Clerk of the Committee