Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Second Session Thirty-sixth Parliament, 1999-2000

Chair: The Honourable LORNA MILNE

Wednesday, May 10, 2000 (in camera)
Thursday, May 11, 2000
Wednesday, May 17, 2000
Thursday, May 18, 2000

Issue No. 15

First, second and third meetings on: Bill C-23, An Act to modernize the Statutes of Canada in relation to benefits and obligations

APPEARING:

The Honourable Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

WITNESSES:

Thursday, May 11, 2000:

From the Department of Justice:

Janice Charette, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Sector;

Michelle Gosselin, Project Manager, Modernizing Benefits;

Lisa Hitch, Senior Counsel, Modernizing Benefits;

Mark Jewett, Q.C., Senior Assistant Deputy Minister.

Wednesday, May 17, 2000:

From the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada:

Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham.

From the Focus on the Family (Canada) Association:

Derek Rogusky, Researcher.

From Women for Life, Faith and Family:

Diane Watts, National President.

From the Toronto District Muslim Education Assembly:

Ibrahim El-Sayed, President;

Dr. Mobarak Ali.

From the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto:

Paul Fairley, Director, Congregational Life.

From the United Church of Canada:

William Doyle, Co-Chair, Church in Society Co-ordinating Group.

From the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach:

John Mameamskum, Director General;

Willie Mameanskum, Councillor;

Robert Pratt, Legal Counsel.

Thursday, May 18, 2000:

From Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE):

Kim Vance, President;

John Fisher, Executive Director.

From the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec:

Claudine Ouellet, Director General.

From the National Action Committee on the Status of Women:

Jon Leah Hopkins, Chair, Lesbian Issues Committee.

From the Foundation for Equal Families:

David Corbett, Legal Counsel.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

The Honourable Lorna Milne, Chair

The Honourable Gérald-A. Beaudoin, Deputy Chair

and

The Honourable Senators:

Andreychuk, * Boudreau, P.C. (or Hays), Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., * Lynch-Staunton (or Kinsella), Moore, Nolin, Pearson, Pépin

* Ex Officio Members

(Quorum 4)

Changes in membership of the committee:

Pursuant to rule 85(4), membership of the committee was amended as follows:

The name of the Honourable Senator Poy substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Mahovlich (May 3, 2000).

The name of the Honourable Senator Pépin substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Poy (May 9, 2000).

The name of the Honourable Senator Banks substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Pépin (May 10, 2000).

The name of the Honourable Senator Pépin substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Banks (May 11, 2000).

The name of the Honourable Senator Bryden substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Pearson (May 11, 2000).

The name of the Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., was removed (May 15, 2000).