Evidence of meeting #141 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Angela Connidis  Director General, Crime Prevention, Corrections and Criminal Justice Directorate, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Ruby Sahota  Brampton North, Lib.
Luc Bisson  Director, Strategic Policy, Correctional Service of Canada
Jim Eglinski  Yellowhead, CPC
Juline Fresco  Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Justice
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Olivier Champagne

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

I just want to get clarification from the officials.

If I heard you correctly, you're suggesting that the language currently in the bill provides for a lot more flexibility. It's still allowing the inmate to receive the time that the bill sets out for being outside their cell and for activities, but prescribing a time may not be necessary, given the flexibility that already exists in the current language. Is that what I heard you suggest?

November 29th, 2018 / 5:20 p.m.

Director, Strategic Policy, Correctional Service of Canada

Luc Bisson

What I was answering was the question around whether “reasonable” would be required to factor in exceptions, and my comment was that exceptions are already factored in in the bill.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

I'm referring specifically to time, not to “reasonable”. I'm referring to the time.

5:20 p.m.

Director, Strategic Policy, Correctional Service of Canada

Luc Bisson

The time does add more clarity in terms of when these opportunities need to be offered, so it is consistent with the intent.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Is there further debate?

Go ahead, Mr. Eglinski.

5:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

Where in the act does it say the exceptions?

5:20 p.m.

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

Angela Connidis

That's in proposed subsection 37(1) of Bill C-83.

5:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

Thank you.

5:20 p.m.

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

Angela Connidis

It's on page 5.

5:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

I'm sorry. I don't interpret it the same way you do. It says there are exceptions, proposed paragraphs 36(1)(a) and 36(1)(b).

5:20 p.m.

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

Angela Connidis

Then proposed paragraph 37(1)(c) on the next page suggests “in the prescribed circumstances”, and that could include a situation as was described before.

5:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

Okay, thank you.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Is there any further debate?

The vote will first of all be on the subamendment. Is everybody clear here as to where “reasonable” will be inserted two times?

5:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Those in favour of the subamendment, please indicate.

(Subamendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We will go to the vote on the main amendment.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings]

LIB-4.1 passes; therefore, PV-18 cannot be moved.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

I forget if it's only when you rule it inadmissible.... If PV-18 can't be moved, we can't speak to it. Is that right?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

That's right.

We go on to PV-19. It's deemed moved. Does anybody want to do their representation of Ms. May? That's almost an impossibility.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We go on to NDP-10. Go ahead, Mr. Dubé.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Here we are again with the reasonableness, Chair. This amendment reads that Bill C-83, in clause 10, be amended by adding after line 21 on page 5 the following:

(1.1) The opportunity referred to in paragraph (l)(a) or (b)

(a) shall be reasonable;

(b) shall, to the extent possible, take into consideration the offender' s choice of activities; and

(c) shall not be a form of punishment.

(Amendment negatived)

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

We have a late amendment by Mr. Motz, and that is CPC-2.31.

Does everybody have that? We're getting it now. These are literally late amendments, which of course was unintentional on the part of Mr. Motz.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

Yes.

Perhaps I could speak to this, Mr. Chair. There is no language currently, so I move that we consider adding after line 15 on page 6 the following language:

37.11 A staff member may recommend to a registered health care professional—

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Excuse me. Hang on. We're adding to line 21 on page 5.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

You went that way. Okay, let me go ahead. I'll move backwards then.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

Which section is it?

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

We are on page 39.1, CPC-2.31. We are adding after line 21on page 5, and Mr. Motz is moving it.

There are two amendments.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

There are two. There is one that you just mentioned and there's one that I just started.