Evidence of meeting #1 for Justice and Human Rights in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was motions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Fast
You'll let us know? Thank you.
Before we get into a discussion of work plans, I'm going to make one proposal.
Do we not have a photograph of our committee? I know it hasn't been done.
Do you want to do that off the record? Okay. You'd prefer to do it off the record.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Fast
I understand that each member is going to receive a copy of the most current version of the Criminal Code, just so you know, Mr. Norlock.
Are there any other points? I would open up the floor to some discussion about the kind of work plan you would like the steering committee to have.
Monsieur Ménard.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
I have three comments. First, since the Conservatives have been in power, there has traditionally been a mechanism allowing parliamentarians to be consulted when a new judge is appointed to the Supreme Court. Is that the government's intention? It was not necessarily done by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, it could be done by a special committee. Is it the government's intention to consult parliamentarians, even if this Maritimes appointment has already been made?
Second, could a parliamentary secretary tell us if the government's first bill is going to deal with the Youth Criminal Justice Act?
What are the priority bills that the government intends to bring to the committee, Mr. Chair?
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Thank you.
On the issue of legislation, there will be legislation forthcoming in the area of criminal justice that as a committee we'll all be able to sink our teeth into and study.
As for the work of the committee, my recommendation would be something that I think has been put off for going on well over a year. That would be our ratification of the appointment of the director of public prosecutions. He was scheduled to appear before us. That was delayed. We have someone who's in a very important position, a new position, and I would hope that the steering committee will consider that we, as a committee, look at ratifying his appointment as the director of public prosecutions.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
In that case, the appointment's been made. As to future mechanisms, in the past, as you know, we've had some parliamentary review, with parliamentarians interviewing Supreme Court nominees. As to the future mechanism, I can't comment on what it will look like for the next appointment, if we're all around for that.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
Would the government be open to the idea of one of us bringing forward a motion at the next steering committee meeting to have the Supreme Court nominee appear? Would the government be open to that? Clearly, the process has been interrupted. We met for an entire afternoon with Mr. LeBlanc and other colleagues of yours, the parliamentary secretary, Mr. Paradis, and we expected the Supreme Court candidate to appear. I would find it a shame if we curtailed a process that deserves to continue.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Yes, I would suggest that there probably would have been some review of that type, but we all know that we went through a fairly extraordinary period and we had a Supreme Court that was awaiting the appointment of a new justice.
My guess is that it would be inappropriate to bring someone before a parliamentary committee who's already been appointed to the Supreme Court. I think that would put them in an extremely awkward position. Filling this position is something that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court implored us to do. They're dealing with some weighty issues and it's important to have a full complement on the court. I think it would be inappropriate to bring someone from the Supreme Court, whether newly appointed or otherwise, before a committee.
Conservative
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd just like to take the opportunity to give you 48 hours' notice on a motion that I am putting forward. Would you like me to read it into the record or just present it to you?
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Whereas concerns have been raised regarding the investigative techniques of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the interpretation and application of section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act--
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Sorry. My apologies.
Whereas concerns have been raised regarding the investigative techniques of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the interpretation and application of section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, and whereas the commission operates independently and reports to Parliament, be it resolved that the justice and human rights committee examine and make recommendations with respect to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and in particular, (a) review the mandate and operations of the commission, (b) review the commission's application and interpretation of section 13 of the act, (c) solicit and consider oral submissions from the chief commissioner and oral or written submissions from other interested persons or organizations, and (d) submit a report, including any proposed amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act, arising out of the results of the committee's inquiry.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have a translated version for you.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I feel that this is an important question. We will study the motion. I find it interesting that a concern like this has been raised.
I am saying to the committee—and I will say it again to the steering committee—that the Bloc Québécois is going to introduce three motions. I take note of the parliamentary secretary's advice and I will discuss it with my colleagues. Perhaps it is not appropriate to have the new Supreme Court judge appear since he has already taken up his position. That is a valid argument, but it would have been good if we could have met him.
Mr. Chair, I would like to set aside one of our sessions to deal with the question of human rights and adding social status as a “prohibited ground of discrimination“. Nine provinces have it. The committee does not need to conduct a study because plenty of information on the matter exists already. But it would be good for the committee to bring its concern to the Department of Justice. I would like us to set some meetings aside to discuss street gangs, cybercrime, and various aspects of organized crime. The committee could also see if the provisions of the Criminal Code are still relevant. We could be dealing with motions like that in short order.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Obviously, there are going to be motions coming from different individuals and parties. Rather than our getting into a debate on them all now, we might as well wait and see what motions are tabled and then have the steering committee make its recommendations.
The only thing I would implore the committee to do is I think it would be appropriate for us to have the director of public prosecutions here, at least for one meeting, so we can kind of put our stamp on his work.
Liberal
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Chairman, I think Mr. Moore's comment with respect to the director of public prosecutions is valid.
As I remember, our colleague Joe Comartin in fact had experience in the interview process and so on in terms of the selection of the director of public prosecutions. As I remember, it was Mr. Comartin's concern that led to the committee waiting or wanting to see before we proceeded with meeting with the acting director.
I would just ask, Mr. Chair, that before we proceed somebody talk to Mr. Comartin, if he's here. I will be guided by his hesitancy, if that's the right word, or his concern, only because he was involved in a process with which I wasn't familiar--that's all.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Yes, that's a fair comment.
If you recall, though, we did have the director of public prosecutions, the appointee, here at our committee, scheduled to appear, and then the committee meeting for that day was unfortunately cut short.
I think we had reached a consensus as a committee to hear from the director of public prosecutions in the past. He was here, ready to appear.
