JUST Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:38 p.m. this day, in Room 308 West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

Yvon Charbonneau moved, seconded by Vic Toews — That Derek Lee be elected Chair of the Committee.

Paul DeVillers moved, — That Paddy Torsney be elected Chair of the Committee.

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

The ballots having been counted, Derek Lee was declared duly elected Chair.

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

On motion of Derek Lee, it was agreed, — That Paddy Torsney be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Vic Toews, seconded by Derek Lee, it was agreed, — That Chuck Cadman be elected as Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Derek Lee took the Chair.

On motion of Richard Marceau, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretaries to the minister of Justice and to the minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, one Conservative Member, one Bloc Québécois Member and one New Democratic Party Member.

On motion of Richard Marceau, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one or more analyst(s) from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Richard Marceau, 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 Richard Marceau, 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 Richard Marceau, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnessses, one (1) representative per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Richard Marceau, 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 Richard Marceau, 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 Richard Marceau, 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 Richard Marceau, 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 Richard Marceau, it was agreed, — That, when a Private Members' Business Bill is referred to the Committee it is placed on the Agenda and that its sponsor be invited to appear before the Committee.

Jerry Pickard moved, — 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, 3 members from the Conservative Party of Canada; 1 member from the Bloc Quebecois and 1 member from the New Democratic Party) be established with all the powers of the Committee except the power to report directly 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, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness, the Canadian Border Services Agency, 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 Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 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.

Debate arose thereon.

Marlene Catterall moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “arrangements” the following: “and any other security function within any government department or agency”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 5.

It was agreed, — That consideration of the motion to create the Subcommittee be postponed until the first meeting of the Steering Committee.

On motion of Richard Marceau, 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 Chuck Cadman, it was agreed, — That whenever the Main Estimates or the Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House, the Committee invite the Minister and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a televised meeting, if possible, of the Committee.

On motion of Chuck Cadman, it was agreed, — That whenever a Chapter of a Report of the Auditor General refers to a subject under the mandate of the Committee, the Committee invite the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a televised meeting, if possible, of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Committee meet on Thursday, February 19, 2004 to discuss future business.

At 4:15 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.