Public Safety Committee on Feb. 15th, 2011

Evidence of meeting #55 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was victims.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Kim Pate Executive Director, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies

Ed McIsaac Director of Policy, John Howard Society of Canada

Lorraine Berzins Community Chair of Justice, Church Council on Justice and Corrections

Richard Haughian Vice-President, Church Council on Justice and Corrections

Pierre Gravel Norbourg Victim, As an Individual

Ali Reza Pedram As an Individual

Jackie Naltchayan As an Individual

Howard Sapers Correctional Investigator, Office of the Correctional Investigator

Ivan Zinger Executive Director and General Counsel, Office of the Correctional Investigator

Stephen Fineberg President, Association des avocats et avocates en droit carcéral du Québec

Jacinthe Lanctôt Vice-President, Association des avocats et avocates en droit carcéral du Québec

Mary Campbell Director General, Corrections and Criminal Justice Directorate, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

9:50 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

They have been repealed by which section?

9:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Clause 5.

9:50 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

That has already passed. In that case, Mr. Chairman, I have no intention of proceeding.

(Clauses 14 to 16 agreed to on division)

9:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Shall clause 1 carry? That's the short title.

9:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

On division.

9:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Shall the title carry?

9:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

On division.

9:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Shall the bill carry?

We have a request for a recorded vote.

(Bill C-59 agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

9:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Shall I report the bill to the House?

9:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

9:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

We are finished with the bill.

Mr. Ménard has his hand in the air and would like to speak to this. Go ahead, Mr. Ménard.

9:55 p.m.

Bloc

Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

Just so our learned law clerks understand the meaning and logic of my votes, which are anything but contradictory, I would just like to point out that it is possible to amend a bill to improve it, to change something. However, if the bill deals with parole and amendments that are needed in terms of when a judge hands down his sentence, I think that is outside the scope of the bill. That's why I was prepared to sustain your rulings. My view is that these amendments were legitimate, even if I was not in favour of them.

February 15th, 2011 / 9:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Mr. MacKenzie.

9:55 p.m.

Conservative

Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON

I'd just like to say thank you to everybody here tonight--the staff and all the members at the table. This has been a long day. I'm sure at times we thought we'd rather be somewhere else, but we owe a debt of gratitude to everyone here tonight. Thank you very much.

9:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Thank you again.

Ms. Campbell, thank you for appearing and sticking around until the end. Sometimes we take for granted the great expertise we have in the House of Commons here in Canada. I just want to personally thank you for all the great work you have done over the years and for what you've done here this evening.

9:55 p.m.

Director General, Corrections and Criminal Justice Directorate, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mary Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

9:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

We are adjourned.