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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 7
 
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
 

The Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness met at 11:04 a.m. this day, in Room 701 La Promenade Building, the Chair, Derek Lee, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Sue Barnes, Garry Breitkreuz, Chuck Cadman, Marlene Catterall, Hon. Yvon Charbonneau, Hon. Paul DeVillers, Hon. Stéphane Dion, Robert Lanctôt, Derek Lee, Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, John Maloney, Richard Marceau, Vic Toews and Paddy Torsney.

 

Acting Members present: Joe Comartin for Lorne Nystrom.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Philip Rosen, Principal Analyst; Robin MacKay, Analyst.

 

Appearing: Hon. Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice.

 

Witnesses: Department of Justice: Judith Bellis, General Counsel; Marc Giroux, Judicial Affairs Advisor.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of the process by which judges are appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
 

The Minister made a statement and, with the witnesses, answered questions.

 

At 12:21 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:25 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

The Chair presented the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

 

1. That the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness modify the schedule of its meetings in order that the meetings planned for the Thursday afternoon be moved to the Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m.

2. That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a) and (b) a Subcommittee on National Security, composed of 11 members, (6 members from the Liberal Party, 3 members from the Conservative Party of Canada; 1 member from the Bloc Quebecois and 1 member from the New Democratic Party) be established with all the powers of the Committee except the power to report directly to the House; and pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) the mandate of the said Subcommittee shall include review and consideration of the budgets and the propriety and efficacy of the functions performed and the powers exercised by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the RCMP National Security Investigations Section, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and their relationships with all departments and agencies carrying out directly or indirectly security and intelligence functions with which they have a memorandum of understanding or other working arrangements, the Annual Report to Parliament of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, all Special Reports made by SIRC under section 54 of the CSIS Act, the operations of the SIRC on behalf of Parliament, the Annual Statement on National Security made by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Annual Public Report made by the Director of CSIS and the review of the annual report of the Commissioner of the Communications Security Establishment; and, that the Sub-Committee be asked to study Section 4 of the Security of Information Act.

3. That the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Justice be invited to appear, if possible, before the Committee, on the week of March 8th, 2004, concerning the Supplementary Estimates and the Main Estimates.

4. That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the evidence taken by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to its study on Conditional Sentencing during the second session of the present Parliament, be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session; and, that a summary of the work done on this issue in the previous session be distributed to the Members of the Committee.

5. That background documentation prepared by the Library of Parliament concerning the process by which judges are appointed to courts of appeal and to the Supreme Court of Canada be distributed to Members of the Committee; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the evidence taken by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to this study during the second session of the present Parliament, be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session.

6. That the Committee undertake a study of the process by which judges are appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and that judicial, academic and practitioner/law society/bar association panels be organized to take place in the two last weeks of March 2004.

7. That priority also be given to Bill C-19, Bill C-231 and Bill C-338.

8. That the present members of the Justice Committee, who were also Members of the Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws in the second session of the present Parliament, could in this session, propose the creation of the Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws without the 48 hours’ notice.

9. That some operating budgets be prepared and submitted to the Main Committee.

 

It was agreed, — That the Frist Report of the Sub-Committeee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.

 

At 1:15 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Jean-Philippe Brochu, Diane Diotte
Clerks of the Committee

 
 
2004/03/31 10:29 a.m.