JUST Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 1

Monday, October 25, 1999

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:40 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair and Vice-Chairs, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1) and (2).

Member(s) of the Committee present: Jim Abbott, Michel Bellehumeur, Carolyn Bennett, Chuck Cadman, Aileen Carroll, Paul DeVillers, Ivan Grose, Peter MacKay, John Maloney, John McKay, Jacques Saada, The Hon. Andy Scott, Pierrette Venne.

Acting Member(s) present: John Bryden for Reg Alcock, Jack Ramsay for John Reynolds, Pat Martin for Peter Mancini.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Marilyn Pilon and Lyne Casavant, Researchers; Philip Rosen, Senior Analyst.

The Clerk presided over the election of a Chair.

Aileen Carroll moved, -- That Paul DeVillers do take the Chair of this Committee as Chairman.

The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.

Paul DeVillers took the Chair.

On motion of Carolyn Bennett, it was agreed, -- That the Hon. Andy Scott be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of the Hon. Andy Scott, it was agreed, -- That Chuck Cadman be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

It was agreed, -- That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretaries to the Solicitor General and the Minister of Justice and a representative of each of the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

It was agreed, -- That the Committee retain the services of one or more Research Officers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its works, at the discretion of the Chairman.

It was moved, -- That forty-eight (48) hours notice be given to the members of the Committee before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee unless the Committee gives consent otherwise.

Jim Abbott moved, -- That the word "forty-eight (48)" be replaced by "twenty-four (24)".

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was by a show of hands, agreed to:

YEAS: 8

NAYS: 5

The motion, as amended, was agreed to.

It was agreed, -- That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to circulate the documents received only when they exist in both official languages.

It was agreed, -- That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least three (3) members are present, including a member of the Opposition.

It was agreed, -- That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee up to a maximum of two (2) representatives for any one organization; and that payment for more than two (2) representatives in exceptional circumstances be at the discretion of the Chair.

Chuck Cadman moved, -- That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; and that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party and that thereafter three (3) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner (alternating between Government and Opposition parties).

Aileen Carroll moved the following amendment, -- That "seven (7) minutes" be replaced by "five (5) minutes".

After debate, the amendment was, by a show of hands, negatived.

YEAS: 5

NAYS: 8

It was agreed to, -- That the Committee authorize the Chairman, from time to time, as the need arises, to take, in conjunction with the Clerk of the Committee, the appropriate measures to provide lunches for the Committee and its Sub-Committees, for working purposes, and that the cost of these lunches be charged to the budget of the Committee.

It was agreed, -- That the Sub-Committee on the Corrections and Conditional Release Act be reconstituted with the same Party representation and that the membership be designated by the Whips of the various Parties with the exception of the Chair; and that the budget for the Sub-Committee be allocated from within the budget of the Standing Committee; and that the Chair of the Sub-Committee be Paul DeVillers.

It was agreed, -- That documents for the use of the Committee and its members may be purchased from time to time, at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, -- That each Committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.

It was agreed, -- That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation.

It was agreed, -- That the Committee agrees, when a Private Member’s Bill is referred, to put the Bill on its agenda in order to invite the Member to explain the Bill to the Committee and to decide on its work plan.

Peter MacKay moved, -- That the Clerk circulate to all Members of the Committee Order in Council appointments referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Jim Abbott moved that the following be added to the motion: "and that a copy of the appointee's curriculum vitae be included".

After debate, the amendment was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, was agreed to.

John McKay moved, -- That the issue of hiring independent counsel for the Committee be considered at a future Committee meeting.

After debate, the motion was agreed to.

At 4:30 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Roger Préfontaine

Clerk of the Committee