THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
(22)
[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, Analyst, 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.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Sarah Geh, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector;
Anna Dekker, Acting Senior Counsel and Deputy Director, Judicial Affairs Section;
Marie-Josée Poirier, Counsel, Judicial Affairs Section;
Sacha Baharmand, Deputy Director General and General Counsel, Constitutional, Administrative and International Law Section.
The minister made a statement and, together with Sarah Geh and Anna Dekker, answered questions.
The committee considered a draft report.
It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted in both official languages.
It was agreed that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, in both official languages, before February 13, 2026.
At 5:15 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:19 p.m., the committee resumed.
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:
Canadian Centre for Child Protection:
Noni Classen, Director of Education and Support Services (by videoconference).
As individuals:
Dr. Maria Hernandez-Mora Ruiz del Castillo, Clinical Psychologist, Hospital Marmottan, Centre francophone de ressources et accompagnement de l’addiction à la pornographie (by videoconference);
Tracy Vaillancourt, Full Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, University of Ottawa.
Noni Classen, Maria Hernandez-Mora Ruiz del Castillo and Tracy Vaillancourt each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:18 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee