THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 22, 2025
(8)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 4:15 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: Dana Phillips and Michaela Keenan-Pelletier, 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:

Digital Governance Council:

William Darryl Kingston, Executive Director, Digital Governance Standards Institute (by videoconference).

Google Canada:

Jeanette Patell, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy.

As individuals:

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law and Full Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa (by videoconference);

Emily Laidlaw, Canadian Research Chair in Cybersecurity Law and Associate Professor, University of Calgary;

Janine Benedet, Professor of Law, University of British Columbia (by videoconference).

William Darryl Kingston and Jeanette Patell each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:21 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:25 p.m., the committee resumed.

Michael Geist, Emily Laidlaw and Janine Benedet each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:28 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee