JUST Committee Meeting
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 37
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:54 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Vice-Chair, Ivan Grose, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Carolyn Bennett, Ivan Grose, Peter MacKay, John Maloney, John McKay and Jacques Saada.
Acting Members present: Eleni Bakopanos for Andy Scott, John Harvard for Reg Alcock, Lynn Myers for Aileen Carroll, Karen Redman for Paul DeVillers, Gary Breitkreuz for Chuck Cadman, Rob Anders for John Reynolds, Eric Lowther for Jim Abbott and Réal Ménard for Pierrette Venne.
Other Member present: Paul Szabo.
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Philip Rosen, Senior Analyst.
Witnesses: From the Department of Justice: Michelle Gosselin, Director General, Modernizing Benefits and Obligations; Lisa Hitch, Senior Counsel and Chief policy Coordinator.
Pursuant to its Order of Reference of Monday, February 21, 2000, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-23, An Act to modernize the Statutes of Canada in relation to benefits and obligations (See Minutes of Proceedings, Tuesday, February 29, 2000 , Meeting No. 27).
The Committee proceeded to Clause-by-Clause consideration of the Bill.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 is postponed.
John Maloney moved, - That Bill C-23 be amended by adding after line 5 on page 1 the following:
- For greater certainty, the amendments made by this Act do not affect the meaning of the word "marriage", that is, the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Debate arose thereon.
Svend Robinson moved, - That the motion be declared out of order.
RULING BY THE CHAIR
Adding an interpretation clause on the meaning of the word "marriage" is within the scope of the Bill, as the Bill deals with relationships of all couples. I therefore rule the amendment to be in order.
Debate continued.
Svend Robinson moved, - That the meeting do now adjourn.
The question was put on the motion, and the vote, by a show of hands, resulted in an equality of voices:
YEAS: 7
NAYS: 7
Whereupon the Chair voted in the affirmative.
At 4:42 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Roger Préfontaine
Clerk of the Committee