Justice Committee on March 6th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

I'd like to call to order the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Our agenda for today is pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, November 28, 2007. Bill C-426, An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act (protection of journalistic sources and search warrants), will be before the committee. We have a number of witnesses who are here to testify.

Monsieur Ménard.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chairman, following consultations with both Opposition and government colleagues, it has been agreed that we will reorganize today's workload as follows: we will spend one hour questioning the witnesses, as agreed and as is our custom; we will not be able to proceed with clause-by-clause consideration, given that a number of parties and the government have amendments to propose and that there is a need for additional information; once the hour is up, as agreed at the last meeting of the Steering Committee, we will start providing direction to the researcher for the preparation of our report on a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.05; and, we will conclude the meeting with a vote on the Parliamentary Secretary's motion regarding Mr. Saunders' appearance. If you make enquiries, you will see that there is quite a lot of consensus on this new reorganization of our workload.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Giving all consideration to the witnesses who are here to testify—and there are approximately five, or maybe six witnesses—I don't want to shortchange any of their presentations. Will an hour be enough, and is there unanimous consent from the committee members?

Mr. Bagnell.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I don't think Mr. Ménard said specifically an hour.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

He did.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Did he? I'm hoping as a friendly amendment they can be flexible around the hour, in case we have to go a little bit longer, but otherwise I have no problem with it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Mr. Comartin.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I didn't catch what the proposal was with regard to Mr. Saunders. He wasn't scheduled for today.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chairman, perhaps it is not the Committee's wish to immediately begin providing direction to our researchers. However, I had understood that we would be giving them direction at this meeting with respect to the drafting of the report. Maybe we can take an hour and a quarter, but I want members to be aware of the fact that the bells will start ringing at 5:15 p.m. and that there will be a vote à 5:30 p.m. Furthermore, I think we should deal with Mr. Moore's motion. Because it is not controversial, perhaps we can even pass it right away. I don't want to take time away from the witnesses, but it is important to be aware of these constraints. Having said that, neither the government nor the Opposition has any desire to move to clause-by-clause consideration today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Mr. Moore.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

That shouldn't be a problem. I've had some discussion. I don't think my motion should be very controversial. I don't know if we want to speak to that now. That should only take about a minute.

I'm in general agreement with Mr. Ménard. If we run over by 10 or 15 minutes to accommodate questions, I think that would be fine, but let's get right to it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

If the witnesses would beg the indulgence of the committee until we look after this one minor point of business, I would move to that minor point of business.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Could someone move the motion, Mr. Chairman? It's your motion on hearing witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Yes.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I so move.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I second it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

It has been moved and seconded.

Mr. Moore.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Chairman, my original motion said that the DPP appear next Wednesday. If there's agreement for that, we can do that.

We had talked about having the DPP appear at the end of one of our regular meetings, and my suggestion would be Thursday. If we met on Thursday for an extra hour to have the DPP there, we could have our chance to put questions to him.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Is there agreement on that motion?

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

The last time we spoke about this, there wasn't any agreement to have it on Wednesday. If there's agreement now for Wednesday, that's great.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Mr. Comartin, let's wrap this up.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

The debate at the last meeting was around whether the minister was going to be appearing on this issue. So I would like an indication from Mr. Moore as to whether the minister is also going to be appearing on March 12 or on some other date.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

The minister will be here on another issue on Tuesday.

The DPP, Mr. Saunders, cannot be here on Tuesday. He can be here on Wednesday or Thursday.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

That doesn't answer my question.