Justice Committee on May 13th, 2015

[Donald Piragoff]

I am not sure. It depends on whether you are the recipient or the giver, I guess.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

I don't understand. Are we not voting to give money to the fund?

[Donald Piragoff]

We receive money from you, but then we give it out to Canadians.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

If you are getting money from the victims fund, Donald, we should put little brackets around it, I think, and get it back.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

That is actually my time. You're getting off a little bit.... I did a comparison. I have one last little question on the plans and priorities document. There are some evaluation criteria; you have 60% in support of the criminal justice system in there somewhere. It is the same as the year before. Are we trying to improve people's view of...?

I am making a comment. It seems funny to me that we have the same criteria every year, that we hope 60% like the services we provide.

Thank you very much for that.

[Donald Piragoff]

If I could just answer.... Mr. Casey asked me a question. I have a partial answer for him.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Okay, I'll let you answer.

[Donald Piragoff]

It will just take 30 seconds. It was with respect to FASD, which I know is a priority for you, Mr. Casey.

I don't know if there is any specific money in the budget for FASD. However, under the youth justice fund, which is a $4.5-million fund we have for youth justice services, looking at supporting youth justice and emerging trends, FASD is a priority, and we are funding various programs. For example, we funded a program in Calgary, the McMan Youth Family and Community Services Association, with about half a million dollars for a FASD housing coordination project.

Also, not this year but a few years ago, we were in a joint research program with the Yukon government to determine the prevalence of FASD among youth in the Yukon courts.

There are other projects, but those are two that come to mind.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Okay, thank you.

First of all, I wanted to thank the officials for joining us today and answering those questions. I know that dealing with estimates can sometimes be difficult for you, and I appreciate your coming.

We do have a series of votes on the estimates. We'll do that first, and then I have a comment. I believe Mr. Dechert has indicated he'd like to speak, so we'll do that.

Thank you.

ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS SUPPORT SERVICE OF CANADA

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$52,297,037

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$19,650,241

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

COMMISSIONER FOR FEDERAL JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$7,942,728

Vote 5—Canadian Judicial Council - Operating expenditures..........$1,513,611

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

COURTS ADMINISTRATION SERVICE

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$57,320,466

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

JUSTICE

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$241,797,227

Vote 5—The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions..........$354,900,159

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$149,298,354

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$22,304,846

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Shall the chair report vote 1 under the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada, vote 1 under the Canadian Human Rights Commission, votes 1 and 5 under Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, vote 1 under Courts Administration Service, votes 1 and 5 under Justice, vote 1 under the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and vote 1 under the Supreme Court of Canada to the House, less amounts granted in interim supply?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

Yes, forthwith.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

On division.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Don't worry. It will be on division and I will report, as Madam Boivin pointed out, that this was done by another committee who had met a mere 39 times or something, so I'm going to make sure we point out that we met 76 times.

Mr. Dechert, you have the floor first.

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Following on your comment about the number of meetings that this committee has had, I may be a little premature but I believe we've come to the end of our agenda and I want to take this opportunity to propose a motion to thank our clerk, our analysts, and all the staff of the committee for their very hard work.

As you pointed out, we've had 76 meetings. We've met in the summer. We have reviewed a great deal of legislation and it has been hard work. The analysts have prepared some very helpful reports, and I think we really need to recognize their special efforts.

You know, Mr. Chair, I get more email messages from our clerk than I do from any of my family or friends; six in the morning, nights, and weekends. In fact, while we were sitting here—I don't know how he does it—I received a message from him in the middle of the meeting, so he's working some kind of magic.

I really think we all owe all of our staff a debt of gratitude.

I'd like to propose that as a motion and I hope it passes.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

That is unanimous. For once, I agree with my colleague opposite.

(Motion agreed to)

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

I have one further comment. I'd like also, on my behalf and I think on behalf of my colleagues on this side of the table, to thank my colleagues on all sides of the table.

From time to time we have our differences, but I think on the whole this committee has acted with collegiality. People make their points of view known but they do it in a reasonable and respectful way, and I very much appreciate working with all of my colleagues on all sides of the table. I simply wanted to say thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

Madam Boivin.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

I could not let him have the last word—

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

No, no, just kidding.

Actually, I thought you would propose, since we have so much time left until the 23rd of June, that we could maybe start a study on the, I don't know, need for legal aid in Canada, the need for prosecutors, naming some more judges, but I figure the government is done now with the justice committee.

But joking aside, and it's not actually a joke, I want to convey the same. We've had some hard-fought battles through the years, but honestly, to all the staff for their help and to everybody around and my colleagues, for enduring me all that time, and you also, thank you all and enjoy.

I'll see some of you on October 20.

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

I'm sure we'll see each other again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mike Wallace]

As Chair, I just want to say I've been honoured to be the chair and I want to thank you for the work this committee has done.

Just so you know, nothing was referred to this committee in the BIA, the budget implementation bill. There is a chance that there might be something in supps (A). I will check with each of you to see if it's worth getting together. It may be a small amount if it's anything. If not, I want to thank our interpreters for all the work they do. I need them badly, and I want to thank all the staff, of course.

I honestly wish everybody on this committee well in the next election. Who knows who will be the chair or what committee you'll be on, or what you'll be doing, but I do hope to see you all again. Other than those who have quit on us, like Ms. Crowder...I wish her well also.

With that, thank you very much. The next meeting will be at the call of the chair, if required, but I don't think that will happen.

Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.