MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1998
(Meeting No. 55)

[Text]

The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access met in camera at 3:45 p.m. this day, in Room 705, La Promenade Building, the Joint Chairs, the Hon. Landon Pearson and Roger Gallaway, presiding.

Members of the Committee present:

From the Senate: The Honourable Senators Erminie J. Cohen, Joan Cook, Anne C. Cools, Mabel M. DeWare, Marian Maloney and Landon Pearson.

From the House of Commons: Eleni Bakopanos, Sheila Finestone, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Judi Longfield, Eric Lowther, Peter Mancini, Philip Mayfield, Caroline St-Hilaire and Diane St-Jacques.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Kristen Douglas, Research Coordinator and Margaret Young, Research Officer; Ron Stewart, Research Advisor.

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 on Child Custody and Access.

The Committee resumed its consideration of a draft report.

At 5:20 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

The sitting resumed in camera on Wednesday, December 2, 1998, at 3:41 p.m. in Room 705, La Promenade Building.

The Members convened were:

From the Senate: The Honourable Senators Erminie J. Cohen, Anne C. Cools, Mabel M. DeWare, Marian Maloney and Landon Pearson.

From the House of Commons: Eleni Bakopanos, Carolyn Bennett, Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Sheila Finestone, Paul Forseth, Roger Gallaway, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Judi Longfield, Peter Mancini and Philip Mayfield.

Acting Member present: Pierrette Venne for Caroline St-Hilaire.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Kristen Douglas, Research Coordinator and Margaret Young, Research Officer; Ron Stewart, Research Advisor.

The Committee resumed its consideration of a draft report.

At 5:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:45 p.m., the sitting resumed.

On motion of Senator Erminie Cohen, it was agreed, - That the draft report entitled For the Sake of the Children be adopted as the Report of the Committee to Parliament.

On motion of Senator Mabel DeWare, it was agreed - That the Committee authorize the printing of the dissenting opinions of the Reform Party, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party as appendices to this report, to be printed after the signature of the Joint Chairs.

On motion of Sheila Finestone, it was agreed - That pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to this report.

On motion of Judi Longfield, it was agreed - That the Committee instruct the Joint Chairs to present the Report of the Committee as adopted in their respective Chambers.

On motion of Nancy Karetak-Lindell, it was agreed - That the Committee authorize the printing of 5,000 copies of the Report of the Committee and that if additional funds are remaining in the Committee's budget after the first printing, additional copies be authorized.

On motion of Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, it was agreed - That the Committee authorize the destruction, after one year of the date of presentation of the Committee's Report, of all in camera transcripts of the Committee's proceedings.

At 6:35 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

CATHERINE PICCININ / RICHARD RUMAS



Joint Clerks of the Committee