THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 12, 2021
(18)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 30, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day by videoconference at 1 p.m. [ET], the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Boniface, Campbell, Carignan, P.C., Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer, Pate, Simons and Tannas (12).

Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Gold, P.C. and Moncion (2).

Participating in the meeting: Joëlle Nadeau, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Julian Walker and Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official stenographers of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 26, 27 and 37 of Part 4 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures.

APPEARING (by videoconference):

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada;

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Department of Justice Canada:

Patrick Xavier, Acting Senior Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section;

Toby Hoffmann, Acting Director and General Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section ;

Anna Dekker, Acting Deputy Director and Senior Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section.

Privy Council Office:

Allen Sutherland, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet;

Manon Paquet, Director, Special Projects, Democratic Institutions Secretariat.

Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs:

Marc A. Giroux, Commissioner.

Elections Canada:

Stéphane Perrault, Chief Electoral Officer.

Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections:

Yves Côté, Commissioner of Canada Elections.

Canadian Constitution Foundation:

Joanna Baron, Executive Director.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Xavier, Mr. Hoffmann, Ms. Dekke, Mr. Sutherland, Ms. Paquet, Mr. Giroux, Ms. Perrault, Mr. Côté and Ms. Baron each made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:01 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:04 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 2:57 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:58 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 4:46 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:48 p.m., the committee resumed in camera, pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), to consider a draft report.

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of today’s in camera meeting; that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members or staff; and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

At 4:51 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:52 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

At 5:36 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the committee