THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 20, 2024
(125)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:17 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Aucoin, Audette, Batters, Carignan, P.C., Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Oudar, Pate, Prosper and Simons (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators McBean and Senior (2).

Participating in the meeting: Michaela Keenan-Pelletier and Emilie Doyon, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-40, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation (miscarriage of justice reviews).

WITNESSES:

Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association:

Zachary Al-Khatib, Lawyer (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Pamela Palmater, Chair, Indigenous Governance, Toronto Metropolitan University;

Tanya Talaga, Investigative Journalist (by videoconference);

Zilla Jones, Co-author and Human Rights Lawyer, Black Justice Strategy;

Debra Parkes, Professor and Chair in Feminist Legal Studies, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia (by videoconference).

Pamela Palmater and Tanya Talaga each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:22 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:28 p.m., the committee resumed.

Zachary Al-Khatib, Zilla Jones and Debra Parkes each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee