Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 17, 2004
(8)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day, at 3:40 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the Honourable George J. Furey, Chair, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Banks, Cools, Furey, Joyal, P.C., Pearson and Smith, P.C. (7).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Lynch-Staunton and Stratton (3).

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Mary Hurley and Robin MacKay.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Friday, February 20, 2004, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-250, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda). (For complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3.)

WITNESSES:

AS A PANEL:

From the REAL Women of Canada:

Gwendolyn Landolt, National Vice-President.

From the Canada Family Action Coalition:

Dr. André Lafrance, Special Advisor.

From the Focus on the Family (Canada):

Derek Rogusky, Vice-President, Family Policy and Community Impact.

From the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada:

Janet Epp Buckingham, Director, Law and Public Policy; General Legal Counsel.

AS A PANEL:

As an individual:

Reverend Richard L. Parkyn.

As an individual:

Clair Schnupp, Psychologist.

As an individual:

Dawn C. Stefanowicz, C.M.A.

As an individual:

Gerald Chipeur, Lawyer, Chipeur Advocates.

Each witnesses made a statement and together, witnesses answered questions.

Clair Schnupp, Dawn C. Stefanowicz and Gwendolyn Landolt submitted a brief to the committee.

At 7:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 24, 2004
(9)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day, at 4:30 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the Honourable George J. Furey, Chair, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Bryden, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Furey, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Pearson and Smith, P.C. (10).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Di Nino and Murray, P.C. (2).

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young and Robin MacKay.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Friday, February 20, 2004, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-16, An Act respecting the registration of information relating to sex offenders. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

WITNESSES:

From the Canadian Bar Association:

Professor Allan Manson, Chair, Committee of Imprisonment and Release of the National Criminal Justice Section;

Tamra Thomson, Director, Legislation and Law Reform.

Mr. Manson and Ms Thomson made a statement and together, witnesses answered questions.

The Canadian Bar Association submitted a brief to the committee.

At 5:30 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:35 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 5:35 p.m., the committee proceeded to discuss Bill S-15.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 11, 2004, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Act of incorporation of Queen's Theological College. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)

WITNESSES:

From the Senate of Canada:

The Honourable Lowell Murray, P.C., Senator.

From Queen's Theological College:

Robert A. Little, Q.C., Solicitor;

Reverend Anne MacDermaid, Chairman, Board of Management;

Dr. Jean Stairs, Principal.

The Honourable Lowell Murray, P.C. and Robert A. Little made a statement and together, witnesses answered questions.

It was agreed, that the committee move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-15.

It was agreed, that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed, that the preamble stand postponed.

It was agreed, that clause 1 to 5 carry.

It was agreed, that clause 6 to 10 carry.

It was agreed, that the preamble carry.

It was agreed, that the title carry.

It was agreed, that the Bill, without amendment, carry.

It was agreed, that the Chair report the Bill, without amendment, but with observations to the Senate.

At 6:30 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 6:32 p.m., the committee proceeded to discuss Bill C-250.

WITNESS:

From the Canada Christian College:

Dr. Charles McVety, President.

Dr. McVety made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:59 p.m. the committee suspended.

At 7:01 p.m. the committee resumed.

At 7:01 p.m., in accordance with rule 92(2)(e), the committee continued in camera to consider a draft agenda.

At 7:29 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, March 25, 2004
(10)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day, at 10:55 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the Honourable George J. Furey, Chair, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Beaudoin, Bryden, Buchanan, P.C., Cools, Furey, Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Kinsella, Pearson and Smith, P.C. (11).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Harb and St. Germain, P.C. (2).

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young and Mary Hurley.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

It was agreed, that the committee hear Mr. Svend Robinson on the issue of testimony he gave on March 10, 2004, in reference to a point of order raised by the Honourable Anne C. Cools on March 24, 2004.

WITNESS:

From the House of Commons:

Svend Robinson, M.P. (Burnaby—Douglas).

Mr. Robinson, M.P., made a statement.

At 11:02 a.m., the committee proceeded to discuss Bill C-16.

It was agreed, that the committee move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-16.

It was agreed, that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed, that the short title stand postponed.

It was agreed, that clause 2 to 25 carry.

It was agreed, that the short title carry.

It was agreed, that the title carry.

It was agreed, that the Chair report the Bill, without amendment to the next sitting of the Senate.

At 11:07 a.m., the committee proceeded to discuss Bill C-250.

It was agreed, that the committee move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-250.

It was agreed, that the title stand postponed, on division.

It was agreed, that clause 1 carry, on division.

It was agreed, that clause 2 carry, on division.

It was agreed, that the title carry, on division.

It was agreed, that the Chair report the Bill, without amendment to the next sitting of the Senate.

At 11:20 a.m., the committee proceeded to discuss Bill C-14.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, February 25, 2004, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Irwin Cotler, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

WITNESSES:

AS A PANEL:

From the Treasury Board Secretariat:

Michelle d'Auray, Chief Information Officer.

From the Department of Justice Canada:

Donald K. Piragoff, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Criminal Law Policy and Community Justice Branch;

Julie Besner, Counsel.

Donald K. Piragoff made a statement and together, witnesses answered questions.

At 1:06 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Marcy Zlotnick

Clerk of the Committee

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs