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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN)
45th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 21
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 4:00 p.m. to 6:02 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Charles Sousa, Chair (Liberal)

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• Lori Idlout (NDP)
House of Commons
• Ariane Calvert, Procedural Clerk
• Michelle Legault, Legislative Clerk
• Andrew Wilson, Legislative Clerk
 
Library of Parliament
• Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, Analyst
• Katherine Simonds, Analyst
Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts
Department of National Defence
• Col Geneviève Lortie, Deputy Judge Advocate General, Military Justice Modernization, Canadian Armed Forces
• LCol Matt MacMillan, Director Military Justice Implementation, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Canadian Armed Forces
Pursuant to the order of reference of Friday, October 10, 2025, and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, October 23, 2025, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 (short title) was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

Clause 2 carried on division.

On new Clause 2.1,

James Bezan moved, — That Bill C-11 be amended by adding after line 14 on page 1 the following new clause:

“2.1 Section 10 of the Act is replaced by the following:

10 The powers of the Judge Advocate General may be exercised, and the duties and functions of the Judge Advocate General may be performed, by any other officer who has the qualifications set out in subsection 9(1) that the Minister may authorize to act for the Judge Advocate General for that purpose, but that officer may act as the Judge Advocate General for a period of more than 90 days only with the approval of the Governor in Council.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided in section 16.74 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition.

Whereupon, James Bezan appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Viviane Lapointe, Chris Malette, Sherry Romanado, Tim Watchorn — 4;

NAYS: Scott Anderson, James Bezan, Cheryl Gallant, Jeff Kibble, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 5.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of James Bezan and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Scott Anderson, James Bezan, Cheryl Gallant, Jeff Kibble, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 5;

NAYS: Viviane Lapointe, Chris Malette, Sherry Romanado, Tim Watchorn — 4.

Clause 3 carried on division.

On Clause 4,

James Bezan moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 4, be amended by adding after line 8 on page 2 the following:

“(1.1) The appointment must be made within 90 days of the day on which the office of Provost Marshal General becomes vacant.”

Debate arose thereon.

Chris Malette moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the word “90” with the word “120”.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Chris Malette and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the amendment of James Bezan and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Scott Anderson, James Bezan, Cheryl Gallant, Jeff Kibble, Viviane Lapointe, Chris Malette, Sherry Romanado, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Tim Watchorn — 9;

NAYS: — 0.

Clause 4, as amended, carried on division.

Clause 5 carried on division.

Clause 6 carried on division.

On Clause 7,

James Bezan moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 7, be amended

(a) by replacing line 5 on page 3 with the following:

“7 (1) The portion of section 70 of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

70 Subject to subsection (2), a court martial does not have jurisdiction to try any person charged with any of the following offences committed in Canada:

(2) Section 70 of the Act is amended by striking out”

(b) by adding after line 33 on page 4 the following:

“(3) Section 70 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 70(1) and is amended by adding the following:

(2) Despite any other provision of this Act and any other law, the victim of an offence referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(d) to (h), or an individual acting on their behalf, may choose whether the person charged with the offence is to be tried by a court martial or a civil court.”

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:39 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:50 p.m., the meeting resumed.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Jean-Denis Kusion
Clerk of the committee