NDDN Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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Minutes of Proceedings
The witness made a statement and answered questions.
The Chair presented the Third Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows:
Your subcommittee met on Friday, February 5, 2021, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:
That, regarding the study of the military justice system in the Canadian Armed Forces, the committee consider the following areas of study:
1. The evolution of the legislative framework in the military justice system, including the implementation of legislation such as C-77 and C-15.
2. The impact of the Chief of the Defence Staff’s order regarding the disciplinary authority of the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff over military judges, including on the morale and independence of military judges.
3. The conduct of summary hearings in the Canadian Armed Forces, including its constitutional validity and the strength of protections available to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
4. Delayed, stayed, or dismissed court-martial cases since the Jordan decision.
5. Models of military justice from similar jurisdictions around the world including an examination of how Five Eye allies conduct Judge Advocate General and judicial operations in their respective militaries.
6. The implementation of recommendations by the Auditor General in their Spring 2018 Report 3.
It was agreed, — That the Third Report from the subcommittee be concurred in.
James Bezan moved, — That the committee, concerning its study of addressing sexual misconduct issues in the Canadian Armed Forces, including the allegations against former Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance and Admiral Art McDonald, invite Daniel jean, former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada; that the witness appear for no less than two hours; and that the meeting be held in public and be televised.
Debate arose thereon.
Yvan Baker moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “two hours” with the words “one hour”.
Debate arose thereon.
By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.
After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.
James Bezan moved, — That the committee, concerning its study of addressing sexual misconduct issues in the Canadian Armed Forces, including the allegations against former Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance and Admiral Art McDonald, invite Gregory Lick, Ombudsman for National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces to testify before the committee; that the witness appear for no less than two hours; that the meeting be held in public and be televised; and that the witness be called to testify within 15 days of this motion passing.
Debate arose thereon.
Anita Vandenbeld moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “15 days” with the words “21 days”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Anita Vandenbeld and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Larry Bagnell, Yvan Baker, Yves Robillard, Sven Spengemann, Anita Vandenbeld — 5;
NAYS: Leona Alleslev, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bob Benzen, James Bezan, Cheryl Gallant, Randall Garrison — 6.
After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.
James Bezan moved, — That the committee, concerning its study of addressing sexual misconduct issues in the Canadian Armed Forces, including the allegations against former Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance and Admiral Art McDonald, summon the following witness to testify, Zita Astravas; that the witness appear individually for no less than two hours; that this meeting be held in public and be televised; and that the witness be called to testify within 10 days of this motion passing.
Yvan Baker moved, — That the committee do now adjourn.
The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Larry Bagnell, Yvan Baker, Yves Robillard, Sven Spengemann, Anita Vandenbeld — 5;
NAYS: Leona Alleslev, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bob Benzen, Cheryl Gallant, Randall Garrison, Alex Ruff — 6.
Debate resumed on the motion of James Bezan.
Anita Vandenbeld moved, — That the committee do now adjourn.
The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Larry Bagnell, Yvan Baker, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Yves Robillard, Sven Spengemann, Anita Vandenbeld — 6;
NAYS: Leona Alleslev, Bob Benzen, Cheryl Gallant, Randall Garrison, Alex Ruff — 5.
At 2:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.