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. 18)
Wednesday, April 22, 1998
The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met at 3:45 o’clock p.m., this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Joint Chairs, the Honourable Landon Pearson and Roger Gallaway presiding.
Members of the Committee present:
From the Senate: The Honourable Senators Joan Cook, Anne Cools, Mabel DeWare, Landon Pearson and Lucie Pépin.
From the House of Commons: Eleni Bakopanos, Sheila Finestone, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway and Eric Lowther.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Kristen Douglas, Research Coordinator. Ron Stewart, Research Advisor.
Witnesses: From Royal Ottawa Hospital:: Paul Carrier, Social Worker. As an Individual: Dr. Barbara Jo Fidler, Registered Psychologist. From Canadian Psychological Association: Dr. John Service, Psychologist, Executive Director. From London Family Court Clinic: Dr. Gary Austin.
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.
At 4:25 o’clock p.m., the Committee proceeded to consider the Question of Privilege of the Honourable Anne Cools.
At 4:45 o’clock p.m., the Committee invited the witnesses to answer questions.
At 5:58 o'clock p.m. the Joint Chair Roger Gallaway presented the Sixth Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure as follows.
Your Sub-Committee met Tuesday, April 21 1998 to consider the future business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:
It was agreed, -- That the proposed hearing schedule for Ottawa for May and June, 1998 be adopted (see attached).
It was agreed, - That six members and two staff attend the 35th Annual Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts in Washington, D.C. and that those members wishing to attend contact the Clerk's office.
It was agreed, - That an in camera meeting be organized with a panel of judges and that the panel be representative of the regions of the country.
It was agreed, - That the committee hear testimony in Vancouver from children from the Victoria Separation and Divorce Resource Program; and that this testimony be taken in camera with two or three members of Committee and that the testimony be videotaped for other members to view at a later date.
At 6:00 o’clock p.m., the Committee proceeded in camera.
At 6:05 o’clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Joint Chair.
RICHARD RUMAS and CATHERINE PICCININ
Joint Clerks of the Committee