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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 91
Monday, January 29, 2024, 11:06 a.m. to 12:18 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Lena Metlege Diab, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Lyne Casavant, Analyst
• Dana Phillips, Analyst
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee commenced consideration of the request by members of the committee to undertake a study of the Prime Minister’s failure to fill judicial vacancies.

At 11:12 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:22 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Motion

Rob Moore moved, —

Given that,

The former Minister of Justice, Hon. David Lametti, blamed the slowdown of judicial appointments solely on the Prime Minister’s Office and last May, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Right Hon. Richard Wagner, wrote the Prime Minister expressing “great concern” about the shortage of judges in the country, the committee immediately launch a four meeting study in order to assess the impact of the insufficient number of judges Canada has, and calls the following witnesses:

Minister of Justice, Hon. Arif Virani;

Former Minister of Justice, Hon. David Lametti;

Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs; and

Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Canada, Right Hon. Richard Wagner.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Rhéal Éloi Fortin moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “judges Canada has” the following: “and study the nomination process in place and the reasons for delays”, and by adding after the word “witnesses:” the following: “The Right Hon. Prime Minister”.

At 11:58 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:06 p.m., the sitting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Rhéal Éloi Fortin and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Larry Brock, Frank Caputo, Rhéal Éloi Fortin, Rob Moore, Tako Van Popta — 5;

NAYS: Charlie Angus, Élisabeth Brière, Anju Dhillon, Anthony Housefather, James Maloney, Marco Mendicino — 6.

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

YEAS: Larry Brock, Frank Caputo, Rhéal Éloi Fortin, Rob Moore, Tako Van Popta — 5;

NAYS: Charlie Angus, Élisabeth Brière, Anju Dhillon, Anthony Housefather, James Maloney, Marco Mendicino — 6.

At 12:18 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Jean-François Lafleur
Clerk of the committee