THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, December 4, 2025
(19)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:30 a.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, Saint-Germain, Simons, Tannas and Wells (Alberta) (11).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Duncan (1).

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 Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 30 and 31 of Part 5 of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.

WITNESSES:

Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada:

Nick Covelli, Deputy Chief Administrator.

Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board:

Edith Bramwell, Chairperson.

Family Law Association:

Paolo De Buono, Lawyer, Family law.

The Advocates' Society:

Hilary Book, President (by videoconference).

Canadian Bar Association:

Katherine Batycky, Member, Family Law Section (by videoconference);

Shelley Hounsell, Member, Family Law Section (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Nicholas Bala, Professor, Family Law, Queen's University (by videoconference).

Nick Covelli, Edith Bramwell and Nicholas Bala each made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:31 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:35 a.m., the committee resumed.

Paolo De Buono, Hilary Book, Katherine Batycky and Shelley Hounsell each made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee