Evidence of meeting #19 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was respect.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
So it's the currency for hard drugs and firearms.
Presumably the customers of the grow-ops would be pretty pleased about the new legislation coming in that will be legalizing this and expanding the supply in Canada.
Maybe you are not in a position to answer that point.
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
I'm not.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Thank you very much for all the work you do.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
I'm not sure to whose competency this question with regard to the administrative tribunals best falls—Madame Pelletier's?
Concerning the Social Security Tribunal of Canada, the Auditor General in 2015 identified that there was quite a backlog of cases pending appeal. That started, I guess, when the Social Security Tribunal was set up in 2012, effectively doubling the number of appeals that were in the system backlogged.
I'm wondering what steps have been taken since this was identified by the Auditor General and what comment you would have with regard to fixing that problem.
9:50 a.m.
Chief Administrator, Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada
We recently appeared before the public accounts committee along with the department and the tribunal to address the report of the Auditor General and its findings.
What I can say is that even since the Auditor General's study concluded, which was back in May 2015, there has been a tremendous amount of progress in reducing that backlog. Indeed, the historical backlog, meaning the cases that had been transferred by the legacy tribunal on day one of the operations of the Social Security Tribunal, has all but been eliminated. I think that as of a few weeks ago, they were down to about 25 cases that were left but were also in progress. It's possible that number has moved even further since then.
The efforts now, of course, are to ensure that there are always improvements to reducing the case load inventory for that tribunal, and they're very much engaged in that as well as in responding to the recommendations of the Auditor General.
Of course, as a support service we are hand in hand with the tribunal to assist them in making progress on those fronts.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Is there anybody else who has any questions for the panel?
Mr. Rankin already asked his questions before leaving.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Welcome, Ms. Laverdière. This is the first time you are sitting on our committee. It's a pleasure to have you with us.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
I want to thank all the witnesses. We were extremely pleased to have you.
Now, before our colleagues get up, we have the votes on the main estimates.
ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS SUPPORT SERVICE OF CANADA
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$48,879,363
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$19,307,335
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
COURTS ADMINISTRATION SERVICE
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$65,199,516
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
JUSTICE
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$234,999,799
Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$365,233,777
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
COMMISSIONER FOR FEDERAL JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$7,833,778
Vote 5—Canadian Judicial Council—Operating expenditures.......... $1,513,611
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
Vote 1—Program expenditures.......... $163,791,495
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
SUPREME COURT OF CANADA
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$23,362,704
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
9:55 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed,
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An hon. member
On division.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
That's also on division? Okay.
Thank you very much, colleagues. I very much appreciate your attendance.
The meeting is adjourned.
