JUST Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 35

Monday, November 27, 2006

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Art Hanger, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Larry Bagnell, Patrick Brown, Art Hanger, Derek Lee, Réal Ménard, Rob Moore, Brian Murphy, Daniel Petit and Myron Thompson.

Acting Members present: Marc Lemay for Carole Freeman.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Robin MacKay, Analyst ; Dominique Valiquet, Analyst.

Witnesses: As an individual: Ian Lee, Professor, Carleton University. Canadian Police Association: Tony Cannavino, President; David Griffin, Executive Officer. As individuals: Lee Stuesser, Professor of Law, Robson, Hall, University of Manitoba; Paul Chartrand, Professor, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, June 13, 2006, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum penalties for offences involving firearms) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.

Ian Lee made a statement and answered questions.

Tony Cannavino made a statement and, with David Griffin, answered questions.

Lee Stuesser made a statement and answered questions.

Paul Chartrand made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:34 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:35 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Réal Ménard moved, — Whereas the Minister of Justice has announced that he intends to change the appointment process for judges;

Whereas the independence of the judiciary is an essential requirement for the vitality of our democratic system;

Whereas the Chairperson of the Canadian Judicial Council, Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has expressed reservations about the Minister’s desire to make significant changes without any meaningful consultation;

That the Committee invite the Minister to appear before it to discuss this important matter as soon as possible.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 1.

Réal Ménard gave notice - Whereas various important witnesses have indicated to the Committee that there is a significant link between armed offences, street gangs and organized crime;

Whereas parliamentarians have an obligation to legislate on the basis of meaningful and conclusive information;

It is proposed that the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights not begin the clause by clause review of Bill C-10 until it has devoted two more meetings to the issue of street gangs, and two more meetings to examine the overall effect on gangsterism of Bills C-95 and C-24, adopted in 1997 and 2001;

It is also proposed with respect to gangsterism that the research assistants produce a summary of the case law and provide Committee members with a file comprising the court judgments in full.

At 5:39 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Diane Diotte
Clerk of the Committee

2006/11/28 2:12 p.m.