JUST Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 268, The Valour Building, the Chair, Mike Wallace, presiding.

Karen Proud, Jonh Walter and Ian McCuaig made statements and answered questions.

On motion of Robert Goguen, it was agreed, — That a proposed budget in the amount of $600, for the study of Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against public transit operators), be adopted.

On motion of Robert Goguen, it was agreed, — That a proposed budget in the amount of $1,000, for the study of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Statutory Instruments Act and to make consequential amendments to the Statutory Instruments Regulations, be adopted.

At 4:32 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:35 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Françoise Boivin moved, — That the Committee undertake a study on the best transparent process for the nomination of judges in all courts under federal jurisdiction, including the Supreme Court of Canada; and that the Committee reports its findings to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4; NAYS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5.

Jacinthe Bourdages answered questions.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1, Short Title, was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

On Clause 2,

(a) by adding after line 13 on page 1 the following:

“(1.1) In this section, "document'' means any federal or provincial law.”

(b) by replacing line 18 on page 1 to line 7 on page 2 with the following:

“be incorporated only if it is a regulation”

(c) by adding after line 7 on page 4 the following:

“18.8 The Governor in Council may, by order, establish guidelines setting out standards in relation to the following:

(a) which documents are eligible for incorporation by reference in a regulation;

(b) which documents are not eligible for incorporation by reference;

(c) how the content of incorporated documents is to be made available in both official languages;

(d) how incorporated documents are to be made accessible to the public; and

(e) how relevant information is to be communicated to interested groups and the general public.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ève Péclet and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

“(2.1) No document as it exists on a particular date or as it is amended from time to time that is a law passed by the government of a foreign country may be incorporated by reference.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ève Péclet and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4; NAYS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5.

“accessible, in particular by retaining a copy of it and making it available to the public.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ève Péclet and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4; NAYS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5.

“(3) A document, index, rate or number that is incorporated by reference for which a fee is required to consult it is deemed not to be accessible.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ève Péclet and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4; NAYS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5.

Clause 2 carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5; NAYS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4.

Clause 3 carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5; NAYS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4.

Clause 4 carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5; NAYS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4.

Clause 1, Short Title, carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Sean Casey, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 6; NAYS: Françoise Boivin, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 3.

The Title carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Sean Casey, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 6; NAYS: Françoise Boivin, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 3.

The Bill carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dan Albas, Blaine Calkins, Bob Dechert, Robert Goguen, David Wilks — 5; NAYS: Françoise Boivin, Sean Casey, Ève Péclet, Philip Toone — 4.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill to the House.

At 5:33 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.