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. 23)
Monday, May 4, 1998
The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met at 3:50 o’clock p.m., this day, in Room 253-D, 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: Eleni Bakopanos, Carolyn Bennett, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, and Eric Lowther.
Acting Members present: Shaunessy Cohen for Robert Bertrand, Mac Harb for Sheila Finestone, Lynn Myers for John Harvard, John Finlay for Nancy Karetak-Lindel, Claudette Bradshaw for Denis Paradis and Denis Coderre for Judi Longfield.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Kristen Douglas, Research Coordinator. Ron Stewart, Research Advisor.
Witnesses: From the Canadian Bar Association: Eugene Raponi, Treasurer, Family Law Section; Heather McKay, Chair, Family Law Section; Ruth Mesbur; John D.V. Hoyles, Executive Director.
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.
The Honourable Anne Cools moved -- That a purpose of Parliament's privilege is the performance of Parliament's democratic representative function in the service and representation of the public, the citizens of Canada; and
the Law of Parliament asserts that the protection of Parliament's privileges and the protection of Proceedings in Parliament are the bounden duty of individual Members, and of the Parliament of Canada collectively; and
the Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access, wishing to uphold these privileges, and being concerned that Michele Landsberg's article in the Toronto Star, April 18, 1998, is a breach of the Law of Parliament and a contempt of Parliament; and
that the Committee, wishing to express confidence in its Joint Chairs, Senator Landon Pearson and Roger Gallaway, and in the Parliament of Canada, ask the Joint Chairs to advance the Committee's concerns regarding a contempt of Parliament in the respective Houses of Parliament.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was negatived by a show of hands -
YEAS: 2, NAYS: 7.
The Honourable Mabel Deware moved, -- That the Sixth Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.
After debate, question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
At 5:45 o’clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
RICHARD RUMAS and CATHERINE PICCININ
Joint Clerks of the Committee