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MINUTES OF PROCEEDING
(Meeting No. 2)
Wednesday, February 11, 1998
The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met at 3:37 o’clock p.m., this day, in room 253-D, Centre Block, the Joint Chairs the Hon. Landon Pearson and Roger Gallaway presiding.
Members of the Committee present:
Representing the Senate: The Honourable Senators Erminie J. Cohen, Marisa Ferretti Barth, Anne C. Cools, Mabel M. DeWare, Rose-Marie Losier-Cool and Landon Pearson.
Representing the House of Commons: Eleni Bakopanos, Carolyn Bennett, Sheila Finestone, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, and Caroline St-Hilaire.
Acting Members present: Bernard Patry for Robert Bertrand.
Witnesses: From the Department of Justice: George Thompson, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General; Thea Herman, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy); Marilyn Bongard, Counsel, Family Children and Youth Section;
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 commenced its study relating to Child Custody and Access.
The Joint Chairs made a statement.
The Joint Chair, Roger Gallway, presented the First Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure as follows:
Your Sub-Committee met Tuesday, February 3, 1998 to consider the future business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:
It was agreed, -- That meetings of the Special Committee held in Ottawa take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 o’clock p.m.
It was agreed, -- That briefing meetings be held on Wednesday, February 11 and Monday, February 16, 1998 and that officials from the Department of Justice be invited to provide the briefings.
It was agreed, -- That written submissions from witnesses appearing before the Committee be provided one week prior to their appearance; that witnesses (groups or individuals) be provided ten minutes for oral presentations and fifty minutes for questions; that each political party be alloted five minutes for questions and that any remaining time be alloted at the discretion of the Joint Chairs.
On motion of Sheila Finestone, it was agreed, -- That the First Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.
The witnesses made opening statements and answered questions.
At 5:26 o’clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chairs.
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