Evidence of meeting #63 for Justice and Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was reporting.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Spratt  Member, Criminal Lawyers' Association
Raji Mangat  Counsel, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
Karen Audcent  Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice

March 6th, 2013 / 7:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

No, I think I'll do it tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., if you really want to show up.

Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the use of the House? Oh, sorry. There's no amendment, so it doesn't need a reprint. I thought we'd just kill a few trees, but I guess not.

Very good. That's it for tonight. I want to thank everyone for coming back.

Just so my colleagues know, we had invited the minister for the 18th to talk about supplementary (C)s, in which Justice has one line. The minister cannot make it at that time. My understanding is that there's a cabinet meeting or some sort of cabinet event.

Based on our discussion, we will go to Parm Gill's bill, Bill C-394. He will be the first hour, with witnesses there, and then we'll have another hour of witnesses on the Wednesday, and then we'll go clause by clause.

What happens with estimates and supplementary (C)s, or any supplementary estimates, is that they have to be presented in the House within three days after the last supply day, which may happen prior to that anyway, so we'll see. I'm not sure when the supply dates are. Those are called by the House leader.

That's what we'll be doing on the 18th. The main estimates have to be back in the House by the end of May, so I think we should set a date or dates to talk about the mains and give the minister lots of notice about when we would like him to appear for those.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

For the supplementaries, are you saying that the minister is not available? I know that there's only one line, but can he not come even for 15 minutes?

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

We have not been able to get him at that time slot on Monday.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

And on Wednesday?

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

We could ask him for Wednesday, but my educated guess is that Tuesday will be the last supply day, so it'll be too late for the supplementaries anyway.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Can you try again to have him for 15 minutes?

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

We can make the request.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Even just for an explanation, or even to get some people from his department.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

It is a transfer. Anyway, I'm not going to explain. I'll have the minister do it.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Yes, exactly. I think I could explain it too, but—

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

Do you really need him here, then?

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

—I think in principle...or officials from his department. I'm not even being difficult.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

We'll see if we can get somebody to come soon.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Exactly. I'm giving a lot of possibilities.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

We will work on that, but—

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Because I know you guys: one day I'll hear in the House that we don't even care and we don't even get the minister to come.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

I appreciate that.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

I've heard worse.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

Robert Goguen Conservative Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB

The officials could come on Monday, if that helps, but the minister can't.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

Okay. So we will work on having somebody here and we'll spend some of the time on the supplementary (C)s.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

That's excellent.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

Then we'll go to the private member's bill.

7:30 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

For me, that sounds great, because for this one I don't need the minister.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace

We'll put half an hour aside for this one item.

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

Robert Goguen Conservative Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB

We'll invite the officials. We'll confirm that they can come.