Evidence of meeting #14 for National Defence in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was victims.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
That's my question, Mr. Chair. Based on what the clerk just told us, we have witnesses coming on the 2nd. When are we doing clause-by-clause?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
Right. I know we have some dates that we had to postpone. Maybe we can accelerate an additional date within that week.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
The conversation we just had about the motion that just passed was—
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
—understanding that December 2 was going to be allocated with, hopefully, some time for clause-by-clause. Can we add time?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
I think we'll have to. We'll add a date. Maybe we'll do it on the Monday. We'll do one of the witnesses, if we may, because we haven't confirmed all of them. I'll try to see if I can get witnesses to come on a certain date.
Go ahead, Mr. Bezan.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
On the panel where we're going to have the provost marshal, the director of defence prosecutions and the director of defence counsel services, I'd ask that we add the JAG to that panel.
I know the JAG has already been here with government officials, but my understanding is that the JAG will be here as a source while we do clause-by-clause on Bill C-11. I think it's important that, as a witness, he appear along with the rest of the military justice team so that we have all four components properly represented, and they can all answer the questions we have on Bill C-11.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
They've appeared once.
They will, I believe, provide what we've been asking.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I think it's important that he be here at the same time as—
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
At least extend the invite that they could appear at the same time as the other three.
When do you need proposed amendments in for consideration on Bill C-11?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
If you can provide them before December 2, that would be great, so we can then proceed.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Is that enough time? We all have to work through legislative counsel services to make sure we do proper drafting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
Let's aim for December 2 so that we can have things available to us.
You have good people behind you. They're hard workers.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
It's resources within the Library of Parliament—the people who do the legislative drafting of amendments.
Katherine Simonds Committee Researcher
Yes, it is through the legislative counsel through the House.
Just to confirm, is the expectation then that we would be starting clause-by-clause on December 2 when the justices are intended to appear? Do we want to hear their testimony, hear from the minister on the 4th and then begin clause-by-clause on the 9th, which would allow for amendments to come in after hearing final testimony? Would the committee like to agree that amendments be submitted prior to the final witnesses appearing?
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I don't think we can really bring forward any of the amendments until we hear all the panels. I think it's premature. If we have a panel on the 2nd, it would be after that point.
Committee Researcher
Yes. In that case, I would suggest that the option be that we hear final witnesses on the 2nd. That would provide parties a week to get their amendments in and be prepared to start clause-by-clause on the 9th.
Would that work?
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
If we have the two justices appearing on the 2nd, would it be possible for us to have a meeting on Wednesday the 3rd rather than on the 2nd? That way we can have—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
There are two dates that we had to postpone. If need be, we can add an additional day within the week.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
It's just we have to make up those days. I understand the point of not submitting until we hear from witnesses. If we add a date that week, at least we can make up some of that time. We'll have heard from all the witnesses and we can start.
I'm just trying to think of the math on it.