JUST Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 1

Wednesday, November 6, 2002

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to standing Order 106(1).

Members of the Committee present: Carole-Marie Allard, Garry Breitkreuz, Chuck Cadman, The Hon. Hedy Fry, Ivan Grose, Derek Lee, Peter MacKay, Paul Harold Macklin, John Maloney, Richard Marceau, John McKay, Lynn Myers, The Hon. Andy Scott, Kevin Sorenson.

Acting Members present: The Hon. Gilbert Normand for Irwin Cotler, Peter Goldring for Vic Toews, Stéphane Bergeron for Pierrette Venne and Peter Stoffer for Bill Blaikie.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Philip Rosen, senior analyst.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106: Election of a Chair and Vice-Chairs

The Clerk presided over the election of the Chair.

Derek Lee moved, - That Andy Scott be elected as Chair of the Committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.

The Clerk presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

Kevin Sorenson moved, - That Chuck Cadman be elected as Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.

Hedy Fry moved, - That John McKay be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Derek Lee moved, - That Ivan Gross be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106 (3), the election was conducted by secret ballot.

The ballots having been counted, John McKay was elected Government Vice-Chair.

Andy Scott took the Chair.

Routine motions

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Committee.

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings.

On motion of John McKay, it was agreed, -- That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Paul Macklin, it was agreed, -- That, except for amendments to bills, forty-eight (48) hours’ notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee; and

“That the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to members in both official languages.”

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least three (3) members are present, including a member of the opposition.

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That the Committee retain the services of one or more researchers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretaries to the Solicitor General and the Minister of Justice and a representative of the Canadian Alliance, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

On motion of John Maloney, it was agreed, -- That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party; and that thereafter three (3) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner alternating between Government and Opposition parties.

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, -- That, when a Private Members’ Business Bill is referred to the Committee, it be placed on the Agenda and that its sponsor be invited to appear before the Committee.

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, --“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, two members from the Canadian Alliance; one member from the Bloc Quebecois; one member from the New Democratic Party and one Member from the Progressive Conservative Party) be established with all the powers of the Committee except the power to report 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, and their relationships with all departments and agencies 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 the Solicitor General, 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”.

The Committee commenced consideration of matters related to committee business.

At 4:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Patrice Martin

Clerk of the Committee