JURI Committee Meeting

STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

COMITÉ PERMANENT DE LA JUSTICE ET DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

EVIDENCE

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

Tuesday, February 2, 1999

• 1536

[English]

The Clerk of the Committee: Hon. members, I see a quorum.

In accordance with Standing Orders 106(1) and (2), your first item of business is to elect a chairperson.

[Translation]

Honourable members, we have a quorum. In accordance with Standing Orders 106 (1) and 106 (2), our first item of business is the election of a chairman. I am ready to entertain motions to that effect.

[English]

I am ready to receive motions to that effect.

Mr. Cadman.

Mr. Chuck Cadman (Surrey North, Ref.): I nominate Mr. John Maloney.

Mr. John Reynolds (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, Ref.): I second that motion.

The Clerk: It has been moved by Chuck Cadman and seconded by John Reynolds that John Maloney do take the chair of this committee as chairperson.

(Motion agreed to)

The Clerk: I declare John Maloney duly elected chairperson and invite him to take the chair.

Some hon. members: Hear, hear.

The Chairman (Mr. John Maloney (Erie—Lincoln, Lib.)): Ladies and gentlemen, it is certainly an honour and a privilege to sit here as your chairman, but it is with mixed emotions that I do so. Succeeding to the chair because of the untimely passing of Shaughnessy Cohen is the downside of this event. I assure you that I will continue Shaughnessy's tradition of respect for our members, respect for our witnesses, and respect for our staff, and certainly defending the rights of those who are downtrodden and defending those who need it the most. I think, if anything, that certainly is Shaughnessy's legacy, which we will continue.

I'd like to comment that under Shaughnessy the committee did a lot of excellent work, and through her efforts the groundwork has been laid for a lot of additional work to come. I think completion of that work in an expeditious manner with the consensus of all.... Consensus-building was certainly something Shaughnessy was very good at, and we would hope that this tradition will continue.

Thank you.

That being said, we have another job to take care of, that is, the appointment of a vice-chair, as I no longer hold that position. Could we have some magic vernacular here? I would ask at this time for a motion for the position of vice-chair of this committee.

Aileen.

[Translation]

Ms. Aileen Carroll (Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, Lib.): I move that Mr. Paul DeVillers be elected vice-chair of the Justice Committee.

[English]

The Chairman: Paul DeVillers has been proposed as vice-chair.

Mr. Peter MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, PC): I second that motion.

The Chairman: Thank you, Mr. MacKay.

Are there any further nominations?

(Motion agreed to)

Some hon. members: Hear, hear.

The Chairman: A further item I would like to address at this time is the position of chair of the Subcommittee on the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. I held that position. As that committee is running simultaneously with this one and it will be doing some travelling, it would be inappropriate for me to continue as chair of the review committee. So at this time I'll also entertain a motion for chair of the Subcommittee on the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

• 1540

Mr. Pratt.

Mr. David Pratt (Nepean—Carleton, Lib.): Mr. Chair, I would like to nominate Paul DeVillers for that position.

The Chairman: Are there any further nominations?

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: Mr. DeVillers, congratulations on your new appointment.

The meeting today was specifically for the election of the chair.

There are other matters we would like to take care of, perhaps not today, but at our first meeting tomorrow. I suggest we do a brief review of the schedule for the committee leading up to the March break. There wasn't proper notice given, and we don't want to catch anyone unawares, so we will deal with that at the next meeting, which will take place tomorrow.

Is there any other business that anyone would like addressed at this time?

Mr. John Reynolds: Is the meeting at 3.30 p.m tomorrow?

The Chairman: Yes, in room 536 of the Wellington Building. We will have a panel on the impaired driving legislation.

Dick.

Mr. Dick Harris (Prince George—Bulkley Valley, Ref.): Are you also going to deal with future business at the meeting?

The Chairman: Yes. Unfortunately, we have to go this way.

Mr. Dick Harris: Sure. That's fine.

The Chairman: Are there any other comments before we adjourn?

Mr. Jim Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia, Ref.): If all our meetings are this expeditious, it'll work out well.

The Chairman: Go ahead, Richard.

[Translation]

Mr. Richard Marceau (Charlesbourg, BQ): At this morning's meeting of the Sub-committee on the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, several questions were raised regarding trips. Having discussed the matter with some committee members, I move that we approve a trip to Western Canada, specifically to Vancouver, Abbotsford and Edmonton, and one to Eastern Canada, following which we can reassess the relevance of making other trips.

[English]

The Chairman: If I understand it, Mr. Marceau is proposing a motion that we approve the travel of the Subcommittee on the Corrections and Conditional Release Act for the western leg to Abbotsford and for the eastern leg to Halifax and Moncton two weeks later. Then there would be a review of further travel plans at that time, after the completion of those two legs. Is that correct, Mr. Marceau?

Mr. Richard Marceau: Yes.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Marceau.

We adjourn to the call of the chair.