SECU Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security met at 9:06 a.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Garry Breitkreuz, presiding.

At 9:06 a.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

The Committee commenced consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the Committee postpone its travel planned for the week of June 15, to the Autumn of 2009.

At 10:12 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:12 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Mark Holland moved, — Whereas the Committee was legally required to complete a statutory review of the Sex Offender Information Registry Act (SOIRA); and

Whereas a special accommodation was made, at the government’s insistence, to push the review of SOIRA to the top of the committee’s agenda; and

Whereas the Committee expended valuable time and resources, as did the many witnesses, to undertake the review and was in the final stages of completing its report; and

Whereas the legislation tabled by the government is now lacking the input and balance that would have been offered by the report; and

Whereas the government has shown blatant disregard for the parliamentary process by announcing changes to the SOIRA prior to receiving the Committee’s report;

Therefore the Committee finds the government to have shown blatant disregard for the parliamentary process, and to have undermined the Committee and its work on SOIRA;

And that the Committee further advise the Minister of Public Safety that such disregard could undermine the ability of committee to undertake other studies, call witnesses or to participate in the advancement of good public policy; and

That the Committee demand a response from the Minister of Public Safety as to the precise reasons why the SOIRA legislation was introduced in the absence of committee input when the committee was to present its report imminently.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

At 10:32 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:32 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That, on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the Committee proceed to the consideration of a draft report in the context of its review of the findings and recommendations of the Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin (Iacobucci Inquiry) and the report from the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar (Arar Inquiry), and that Rob R. Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, be invited to appear.

At 10:59 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.