THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 8, 2025
(6)

[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 chair, the Honourable David M. Arnot, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Batters, Clement, Dhillon, Miville-Dechêne, Oudar, Pate, Prosper, Saint-Germain, Simons, Tannas and Wells (Alberta) (12).

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

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-209, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to pornographic material.

WITNESSES:

Free Speech Coalition:

Alison Boden, Executive Director.

Ethical Capital Partners:

Solomon Friedman, Partner, Vice-President, Compliance.

Aylo Freesites:

Matt Kilicci, Vice-President, Trust and Safety, Risk and Compliance.

Yoti:

Julie Dawson, Chief Regulatory and Policy Officer (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Pierre Trudel, Professor at the Centre for Research in Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Montréal (by videoconference).

Victoria Nash, Director and Associate Professor, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford (by videoconference).

Alison Boden, Pierre Trudel and Victoria Nash each made a statement and answered questions.

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

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

Solomon Friedman, Matt Kilicci and Julie Dawson each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:24 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee