SJUS Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness met in camera at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 208 West Block, the Chair, Derek Lee, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness modify the schedule of its meetings in order that the meetings planned for the Thursday afternoon be moved to the Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.

It was agreed, — That the following motion to create the Subcommittee on National Security be proposed to the Committee:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a) and (b) a Subcommittee on National Security, composed of 11 members, (6 members from the Liberal Party, 3 members from the Conservative Party of Canada; 1 member from the Bloc Quebecois and 1 member from the New Democratic Party) be established with all the powers of the Committee except the power to report directly to the House; and pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) the mandate of the said Subcommittee shall include review and consideration of the budgets and the propriety and efficacy of the functions performed and the powers exercised by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the RCMP National Security Investigations Section, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and their relationships with all departments and agencies carrying out directly or indirectly security and intelligence functions with which they have a memorandum of understanding or other working arrangements, the Annual Report to Parliament of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, all Special Reports made by SIRC under section 54 of the CSIS Act, the operations of the SIRC on behalf of Parliament, the Annual Statement on National Security made by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Annual Public Report made by the Director of CSIS and the review of the annual report of the Commissioner of the Communications Security Establishment”; and, - That the Sub-Committee be asked to study Section 4 of the Security of Information Act.

It was agreed, — That the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Justice be invited to appear, if possible, before the Committee on Tuesday, March 9th concerning the Supplementary Estimates and the Main Estimates.

It was agreed, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the evidence taken by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to its study on Conditional Sentencing during the second session of the present Parliament, be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session; and, - That a summary of the work done on this issue in the previous session be distributed to the Members of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That background documentation prepared by the Library of Parliament concerning the process by which judges are appointed to courts of appeal and to the Supreme Court of Canada be distributed to Members of the Committee; and – That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the evidence taken by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to this study during the second session of the present Parliament, be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session.

It was agreed, — That the present members of the Justice Committee, who were also Members of the Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws in the second session of the present Parliament, could in this session, propose the creation of the Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws without the 48 hours’ notice.

It was agreed, — That some operating budgets be prepared and submitted to the Main Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Steering Committee meet on March 10th to discuss future business.

At 4:35 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.