Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 21 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, September 26, 2000
(37)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 10:33 a.m. in room 257, East Block, the Deputy Chair, the Honourable Gérald A. Beaudoin, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Finestone, P.C., Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Moore, Losier-Cool, and Pearson (10).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer, and from the Committees and Private Legislation Directorate: Josée Thérien, Legislative Clerk.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From the Monarchist League of Canada:
John Aimers, Dominion Chairman.
From B'nai Brith Canada Institute for International Affairs:
David Matas, Senior Counsel.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 20, 2000, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-16, An Act respecting Canadian citizenship. (See proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 20, dated September 20, 2000, for full text of Order of Reference.)
John Aimers made a statement and answered questions.
David Matas made a statement and answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Cools moved -- That the brief of B'nai Brith Canada Institute for International Affairs be printed as an appendix to this day's Minutes of Proceedings (see Appendix 5900 L1/C-16, 21 "1").
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
At 12:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Heather Lank
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Tuesday, September 26, 2000
(38)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 1:09 p.m. in room 257, East Block, the Deputy Chair, the Honourable Gérald A. Beaudoin, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Finestone, P.C., Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Losier-Cool, Moore, and Pearson (10).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer, and from the Committees and Private Legislation Directorate: Josée Thérien, Legislative Clerk.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From the Canadian Bar Association:
Benjamin J. Trister, Vice-Chair, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Gabriela Ramo, Member, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Tamra L. Thomson, Director, Legislation and Law Reform.
From the Quebec Bar Association:
Hugues Langlais, Counsel, Chair, Cultural Communities Committee;
Noël St-Pierre, Counsel, Member, Cultural Communities Committee;
Carole Brosseau, Counsel, Secretary, Cultural Communities Committee.
From the Canadian Chamber of Commerce:
Benjamin J. Trister, Counsel.
From the Canadian Jewish Congress:
Jack Silverstone, Executive Vice-President and General Counsel;
Eric Vernon, Director of Government Affairs.
From the Hellenic Canadian Congress:
Nicholas Katsepontes, Counsel.
From the Canadian Arab Federation:
Jehad Aliweiwi, Executive Director;
Linda Tabar, Volunteer.
From the Latvian National Federation in Canada:
Harold Otto, Historian.
From the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress:
Eugene Czolij, National President;
Peter Doody, Counsel.
From the Canadian Polish Congress:
Andrzej Garlicki, Senior Vice-President.
From the German-Canadian Congress:
Dietrich Kiesewalter, Director;
Joachim Moskou, Representative.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 20, 2000, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-16, An Act respecting Canadian citizenship. (See proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 20, dated September 20, 2000, for full text of Order of Reference.)
Ms Brosseau made a statement. Mr. Langlais made a statement. Mr. St-Pierre made a statement. Ms Thomson made a statement. Mr. Trister made a statement. Ms Ramo made a statement.
The witnesses answered questions.
At 2:55 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 3:03 p.m., the sitting resumed.
Mr. Silverstone made a statement and, together with Mr. Vernon, answered questions. Mr. Katsepontes made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.
Mr. Aliweiwi made a statement. Ms Tabar made a statement. Mr. Otto made a statement. Mr. Czolij made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.
Mr. Garlicki made a statement. Mr. Kiesewalter made a statement. Mr. Moskou made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.
At 6:01 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Catherine Piccinin
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 27, 2000
(39)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 1:15 p.m. in room 257, East Block, the Deputy Chair, the Honourable Gérald A. Beaudoin, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Finestone, P.C., Fraser, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Moore, Nolin, and Pearson (11).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Nancy Holmes and Margaret Young, Research Officers, and from the Committees and Private Legislation Branch, Josée Thérien, Legislative Clerk.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From the University of New Brunswick:
Professor Alan M. Sears.
From the Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy:
Raymond Blake, Director.
From the University of Ottawa:
Professor André Braen.
From The Coalition of Concerned Congregations on the Law Relating to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Including Those of the Holocaust:
Kenneth M. Narvey, Legal Researcher and Chief Operating Officer.
From the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre:
Vera Golini, Board Member.
From the Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic:
Victor Wong, Representative.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 20, 2000, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-16, An Act respecting Canadian citizenship. (See proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 20, dated September 20, 2000, for full text of Order of Reference).
The witnesses made presentations and answered questions.
At 4:20 p.m., the Honourable Senator Beaudoin moved that the committee proceed in camera for the purpose of discussing future business.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
At 5:00 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Luc Bégin
Acting Clerk of the Committee