THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, September 28, 2023
(70)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:46 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold, P.C., Jaffer, Klyne, Pate and Simons (11).

Participating in the meeting: Aoife Mc Donald, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, Analyst, and Emilie Doyons, Research Assistant, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 21, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-48, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bail reform).

WITNESSES:

Criminal Lawyers Association:

Boris Bytensky, Treasurer.

Indigenous Bar Association:

Christa Big Canoe, Member at Large (by videoconference).

Canadian Association of Black Lawyers:

Kristian Ferreira, Community Liaison (by videoconference);

Theresa Donkor, Member, Advocacy Committee and Criminal Justice Subcommittee (by videoconference).

Ontario Provincial Police:

Thomas Carrique, Commissioner (by videoconference).

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police:

Jason Fraser, Member, Law Amendments Committee (by videoconference);

Pauline Gray, Member, Law Amendments Committee (by videoconference).

Boris Bytensky, Christa Big Canoe, Kristian Ferreira and Theresa Donkor each made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:55 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:59 p.m., the committee resumed.

Thomas Carrique, Jason Fraser and Pauline Gray each made a statement and answered questions.

At 1:43 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee