The witnesses answered questions.

The committee resumed its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration on Clause 63 of the Bill.

The committee resumed consideration of the subamendment of Jacob Mantle, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “In determining whether the specified term of imprisonment would amount to cruel and unusual punishment for the offender, the court shall consider the particular circumstances of the offender and shall not consider any reasonably foreseeable circumstances or hypothetical scenarios” with the words “In determining the constitutionally of any Mandatory Minimum Penalties, the court shall not consider reasonable hypotheticals”. 

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:14 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 6:02 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The question was put on the subamendment of Jacob Mantle and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Roman Baber, Larry Brock, Amarjeet Gill, Andrew Lawton — 4;

NAYS : Sima Acan, Wade Chang, Anju Dhillon, Rhéal Éloi Fortin, Marilyn Gladu, Iqra Khalid, Patricia Lattanzio — 7.

Clause 63 carried on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Wade Chang, Anju Dhillon, Rhéal Éloi Fortin, Marilyn Gladu, Anthony Housefather, Iqra Khalid, Patricia Lattanzio — 7;

NAYS: Roman Baber, Larry Brock, Amarjeet Gill, Andrew Lawton — 4.

Clause 1, Short Title, carried.

The Title carried.

Patricia Lattanzio moved, — That the Bill, as amended, be adopted.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, Larry Brock moved, —

Should Bill C-16 pass the committee stage on May 6, 2026, and notwithstanding any motion previously adopted by this committee, following the completion of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights prioritize its work as follows:

1. At the Monday, May 25, 2026 meeting, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada appear for no less than two hours regarding his Mandate and Priorities, as per the motion unanimously agreed to on Tuesday, September 23. 2025;

2. The committee consider Bill C-231, an Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, provided that the sponsor of the bill be invited to testify along with any other witnesses deemed relevant by committee members and that following the testimony, the committee immediately proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, and the chair only be authorized to adjourn the meeting after clause-by-clause consideration of the bill is completed;

3. The committee consider Bill C-235, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility) on or before Wednesday, June 17, 2026, provided that the sponsor of the bill be invited to testify along with any other witnesses deemed relevant by committee members and that following the testimony, the committee immediately proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, and the chair only be authorized to adjourn the meeting after clause-by-clause consideration of the bill is completed.

At 6:21 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 6:35 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Rhéal Éloi Fortin moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the following between paragraphs 2 and 3: “That, given the importance of confidence from the public in transparency, impartiality and independence of the appointment process of judges by the federal government and given that on April 23, 2025, the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously adopted a motion calling for Quebec to be more involved in the federal government’s process for appointing judges, the committee undertake a study on the appointment of judges to courts under federal jurisdiction, and that it dedicate at least four (4) meetings to this study; and that the committee prepare a comprehensive report on its findings and recommendations”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 6:39 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 6:46 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Roman Baber, Larry Brock, Wade Chang, Anju Dhillon, Amarjeet Gill, Marilyn Gladu, Anthony Housefather, Iqra Khalid, Patricia Lattanzio, Andrew Lawton — 10;

NAYS: Rhéal Éloi Fortin — 1.

The Bill, as amended, was adopted on division.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House on division.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-16, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House of Commons at report stage, on division.