THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 11, 2024
(131)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:16 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Denise Batters, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Audette, Batters, Carignan, P.C., Clement, Moreau, Oudar, Pate, Prosper and Tannas (9).

Participating in the meeting: Iryna Zazulya and Emilie Doyon, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 30, 2024, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-320, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims).

WITNESSES:

Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament, Oshawa, Ontario, sponsor of the bill.

Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness of Canada:

Chad Westmacott, Director General, Community Safety, Corrections and Criminal Justice, Crime Prevention Branch.

Correctional Service Canada:

Katherine Cole, Senior Director, Victims, Inclusion and Engagement, Public Affairs, Culture and Engagement Sector;

Katherine Belhumeur, Director General, Offender Programs and Reintegration Branch, Correctional Operations and Programs Sector;

Kirstan Gagnon, Assistant Commissioner, Public Affairs, Culture and Engagement Sector.

Parole Board of Canada:

Lawrence Chow, Director General, Policy, Planning and Operations Division.

As an individual:

Lisa Freeman, Victims' Rights Activist.

Colin Carrie and Lisa Freeman each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:15 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:23 p.m., the committee resumed.

Kirstan Gagnon made a statement and, together with Chad Westmacott, Katherine Cole and Lawrence Chow, answered questions.

At 6:11 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee