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. 19)
Monday, April 27, 1998
The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met at 8:30 o’clock a.m., this day, in Thompson Room, Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver, B.C., the Joint Chairs, the Honourable Landon Pearson and Roger Gallaway presiding.
Members of the Committee present:
From the Senate: The Honourable Senators Anne Cools, Mabel DeWare, Duncan Jessiman and Landon Pearson.
From the House of Commons: Carolyn Bennett, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, Judi Longfield, and Diane St-Jacques.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Kristen Douglas, Research Coordinator. Ron Stewart, Research Advisor.
Witnesses: From Children's Advocate: Joyce Preston, Child Advocate. From Women in Action: Angie Lee, Member; Dr. Colleen Varco, Member. From Vancouver Coordinating Committee: Ruth Lea Taylor. Laraine Stuart. From Dick Freeman Society: Ken Wiebe. From Father's Rights Action Group: Joseph Maiello, Representative. From Victoria Men's Centre: Harvey Maser,President; Moray Benoît, Director. From Vancouver Men: Carey Linde; From the State of Washington U.S.A: Dr. John Dunne, Psychiatrist; Eugene Oliver, Oliver and Associates; Dr. Diane Lye, Researcher, Washington Supreme Court.. From Canadian Grandparents Rights Association: Nancy Woolridge. From Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of B.C.: Marilyn Stevens, President and Founder. As Individual: Daphne Jennings, Former Reform Party Member. From Men Supporting Men: Tony McIntyre. From B.C. Men's Resource Centre: William Taylor Hnidan, Director. As Individual: Dr. Tana Dineen; Debbie Beach; Guy Thisdelle, Family Counsellor; Dr. Ian Gillespie. From Family Service of Greater Vancouver: Jasmine Lothien. From West Coast L.E.A.F. Association:Shelley Chrest, Member, Chair, Law and Government Committee. From Act II Safe Choice Program: Connie Chapman, Program Coordinator. From B.C. Yukon Society of Transition Houses: Helen Dempster, Coordinator of Children's Services. From YWCA Munroe House: Kelley Chelsey, Transition House Worker. As Individual: Erik Austin; Christopher Gratton-Mathiesen; Doug Reid.
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 12:23 o'clock p.m. the sitting was suspended.
At 1:39 o'clock p.m. the sitting resumed.
At 2:38 o'clock p.m. the sitting continued in camera.
At 3:20 o'clock p.m. the Committee resumed its public meeting.
At 6:55 o’clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
RICHARD RUMAS and CATHERINE PICCININ
Joint Clerks of the Committee