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SJCA Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

(Meeting No. 12)

Monday, March 30, 1998

The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met at 9:00 o’clock a.m., this day, in the Ontario Room, Royal York Hotel, Toronto, the Joint Chairs, the Honourable Landon Pearson and Roger Gallaway presiding.

Members of the Committee present:

From the Senate: The Honourable Senators Erminie Cohen, Anne Cools, Mabel DeWare and Landon Pearson.

From the House of Commons: Carolyn Bennett, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, Eric Lowther and Caroline St-Hilaire.

Other Members present: Paul Szabo and Elinor Caplan.

In attendance: Ron Stewart, Research Advisor.

Witnesses: From the Office of the Children’s Lawyer: Wilson A. McTavish, Children’s Lawyer; Dena Moyal, Legal Director, Personal Rights Department and Lorraine Martin, Clinical Coordinator of Social Workers. From the Office of Child and Family Advocacy: Judy Finlay, Chief Advocate and Leslie Hinkson, Advocacy Officer. From the Easton Alliance for the Prevention of Family Violence: Steven Easton, Managing Director; Hugh Graham, Director of Electronic Communications. From Human Equality Action and Resources Team: Butch Windsor, President. From D.A.D.S. Canada: Stacy Robb, President; Pauline Green, Counsel. From Mississauga Children’s Rights: Grant Wilson, President. From Justice for Children: Dale Kerton. From Guyatt and Gassenbeek: Richard Gassenbeek. From Bastedo, Stewart and Smith: Bryan Smith. From W. Glen Howe and Associates: Glen Howe and John Burns.

Pursuant to its Orders of Reference from the Senate dated October 28, 1997 and from the House of Commons dated November 18, 1997 the Committee resumed its study relating to child custody and access.

The witnesses made opening statements and answered questions.

At 12:40 o’clock p.m. the sitting was suspended.

At 1:10 o’clcok p.m. the sitting resumed.

Witnesses: From Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Grandparents Requesting Access and Dignity (GRAND): Joan Brooks, Founder. From Helping Unite Grandparents and Grandchildren: Linda Casey, Founder. From the Canadian Association of Retired Persons: Carol Libman, Director of Public Relations; Judy Cutler, Association Director of Public Relations. From the Clark Institute of Psychiatry: Dr. Eric Hood, Coordinator Co-op Education. From the Hincks Centre for Children’s Mental Health: Dr. Elsa Broder. As Individuals: Dr. Howard Waiser; Reisa Eisen, Therapy and Mediation; and Sharman Bondy. From Fairness in Family Law: James Hodgins, Executive Director and Yvonne Choquette. From Ontario Legal Aid Plan: Robert Holden, Provincial Director; Keith Wilkins, Client Services Co-ordinator. As individuals: Eugene Colisimo; Darlene Ceci-Laws; Kevin Laws; Simon Wauchop; Michael Day, Barrister, Family Law; Bruce Haines, Barrister, Family Law

The witnesses made opening statements and answered questions.

At 5:19 o’clock p.m., the Committee adjourned.

 

RICHARD RUMAS and CATHERINE PICCININ

Joint Clerks of the Committee