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SJCA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDING
(Meeting No. 3)

Monday, February 16, 1998

The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met at 3:35 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, Anne C. Cools, Mabel M. DeWare and Landon Pearson.

 

Representing the House of Commons: Eleni Bakopanos, Carolyn Bennett, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Judi Longfield, Caroline St-Hilaire and Diane St-Jacques.

 

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Kristen Douglas, Research Coordinator.

 

Witnesses: From the Department of Justice: Thea Herman, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy); Jim Sturrock, Research Officer, Policy Sector; Marilyn Bongard, Counsel, Family Children and Youth Section; Carolina Gilberti, Acting Team Leader, Child Support Team.

 

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 witnesses made opening statements and answered questions.

 

At 4:45 o’clock p.m. the sitting was suspended.

 

At 4:51 o’clock p.m. the sitting resumed.

 

The Joint Chairs, presented the Second Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure as follows:

 

Your Sub-Committee met Thursday, February 12, 1998 to consider the future business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

 

It was agreed, -- That the Committee be divided into two separate sub-committees for the purpose of holding public hearings across Canada; that each sub-committee also be divided into two groups in order to visit smaller communities; that the sub-committees travel between mid-April and mid-May, 1998, and that the following locations be visited:

 

Week 1

Sub-Committee A (West) Sub-Committee B (East)

Monday - Whitehorse Monday - Montreal

Tuesday - Vancouver Tuesday - Montreal

Wednesday - Vancouver Wednesday - Quebec City

Sherbrooke

Thursday - Victoria Thursday - Fredericton

Fort St John

Friday – Edmonton Friday - Moncton

Saint John

Saturday - Yellownife

 

Week 2

Sub-Committee A (West) Sub-Committee B (East)

Monday - Calgary Monday – St. John’s

Tuesday - Lethbridge Tuesday - Goose Bay

Red Deer Cornerbrook

Wednesday - Regina Wednesday - Halifax

Thursday - Yorkton Thursday - Sydney

Prince Albert Digby

Friday - Winnipeg Friday - Charlottetown

Saturday - Churchill

Flin Flon

 

 

 

Week 3

Sub-Committee A (West) Sub-Committee B (East)

Monday - Toronto Monday - Peterborough

Tuesday - Toronto Tuesday - Cornwall

Wednesday - London Wednesday - Maniwaki

Niagara Falls

Thursday - Sarnia

Hamilton

 

Note: Underlined locations to be visited by smaller groups.

 

It was agreed -- That the Joint-Chairs and a representative of each party as well as the necessary staff attend the 35th Annual Conference of the American Association of Family and Conciliation Courts in Washington, DC from May 27 to 30, 1998.

 

It was agreed, -- That a number of Members and staff attend the 1998 National Family Law Program Conference in Whistler, B.C. from June 29 to July 2, 1998.

 

It was agreed, -- That the Joint Clerks and the Research Coordinator prepare the lists of witnesses by region and subject themes, with reccomendations for the consideration of the Sub-Committee at its next meeting.

 

On motion of the Honourable Mabel DeWare, it was agreed, -- That the Second Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.

 

At 5:16 o’clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chairs.

 


RICHARD RUMAS

CATHERINE PICCININ

Joint Clerks of the Committee