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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 99
Thursday, March 21, 2024, 8:19 a.m. to 10:07 a.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Lena Metlege Diab, Chair (Liberal)

• Hon. Ed Fast for Frank Caputo (Conservative)
• Pierre Paul-Hus for Frank Caputo (Conservative)
Library of Parliament
• Lyne Casavant, Analyst
• Dana Phillips, Analyst
• Hon. Arif Virani, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice
Department of Justice
• Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister and Deputy Attorney General of Canada
• Michael Sousa, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Sector
• Bill Kroll, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Management Sector
• Elizabeth Hendy, Director General, Programs Branch, Policy Sector
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee commenced its study of Subject Matter of Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023-24: Vote 5c under Department of Justice.

The Minister made a statement and answered questions.

Motion

Rob Moore moved, — Given that:

The former Minister of Justice of Canada, the Honourable David Lametti, appears to have politically interfered in the case of ex-judge Delisle by ordering a new trial while in office as Minister of Justice of Canada, the committee:
      1. summons the former Minister of Justice, the Honourable David Lametti, to appear for two hours within seven days of the adoption of the motion;
      2. invites the former Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Morris J. Fish, to appear;
      3. invites the former Justice of Ontario, the Honourable Paul R. Bélanger, to appear;
      4. invites the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions of Quebec, Patrick Michel, to appear;
      5. invites the lawyer, James E. Lockyer, to appear;
      6. invites the former Quebec Minister of Justice, Marc Bellemare, to appear;
      7. invites the members of the Criminal Conviction Review Group, to appear.

      Debate arose thereon.

      Motion

      James Maloney moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

      The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

      YEAS: Élisabeth Brière, Anju Dhillon, Randall Garrison, Anthony Housefather, James Maloney, Marco Mendicino — 6;

      NAYS: Rhéal Éloi Fortin, Marilyn Gladu, Rob Moore, Pierre Paul-Hus, Tako Van Popta — 5.

      At 9:18 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

      At 9:20 a.m., the sitting resumed.

      The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

      Motion

      Anthony Housefather moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and in view of the alarming escalation of antisemitism in Canada, the committee undertake a study on the issue of antisemitism and the additional measures that could be taken to address the valid fears that are being expressed by Canada’s Jewish community;

      That the study include but not be limited to the issue of antisemitism on university campuses;

      That the study should be at least three meetings and that the committee report its findings to the House.

      Debate arose thereon.

      Amendment

      Randall Garrison moved, — That the motion be amended:

      1. By adding on line two, after each mention of antisemitism, the words “and Islamophobia”;
      2. By adding “, and” before the words “the additional measures that”, on line three;
      3. By replacing the word “community” with the following: “and Muslim communities”, on line four;
      4. By adding the words “and Islamophobia” after the word “antisemitism”, on line five;
      5. By replacing the number “three” by “six” on line seven.

      Debate arose thereon.

      At 9:40 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

      At 9:48 a.m., the sitting resumed.

      Subamendment

      Anthony Housefather moved, — That the amendment be amended:

      1. By adding on line two after the words, “a study on the issue of antisemitism”, the words “and a study on the issue of Islamophobia” after the end of line two;
      2. By substituting, on line five, at the beginning of the second paragraph, the word “study”, by the words “independent studies”;
      3. By substituting, on line number seven, at the beginning of the third paragraph, the words “that the study”, by the following words “that each study”;
      4. By substituting, on line seven, the words “be at least six meetings”, by the words “be at least two meetings for a total of four consecutive meetings”
      5. By adding after the word “findings”, the words “on both studies”.

      After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Anthony Housefather and it was agreed to on division.

      The question was put on the amendment, as amended, and it was agreed to unanimously.

      The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to unanimously.

      The motion, as amended, read as follows:

      That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and in view of the alarming escalation of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada, the committee undertake a study on the issue of antisemitism and a study on the issue of Islamophobia, and the additional measures that could be taken to address the valid fears that are being expressed by Canada’s Jewish and Muslim communities.

      That the independent studies include but not be limited to the issue of antisemitism and Islamophobia on university campuses;

      That each study should be at least two meetings for a total of four consecutive meetings; that the committee report its findings on both studies to the House; and that the committee request a government response to these reports .

      On motion of James Maloney, it was agreed, — That the committee meet, in an informal meeting, with a delegation from the Committee of Justice of Norway on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 11:45 a.m.; and that the committee defray the hospitality expenses related to this meeting.

      At 10:07 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



      Jean-François Lafleur
      Clerk of the committee