JUST Committee Meeting

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STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

COMITÉ PERMANENT DE LA JUSTICE ET DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

EVIDENCE

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

Wednesday, December 5, 2001

• 1537

[English]

The Chair (Mr. Andy Scott (Fredericton, Lib.)): Good afternoon.

[Translation]

Welcome everyone. May I

[English]

open the meeting?

I'd like to call to order the 54th meeting of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), a study of budget considerations for the Department of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice is on the agenda for today.

Before we proceed, we have a point of order. Madame Venne.

[Translation]

Ms. Pierrette Venne (Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, BQ): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First of all, would it be possible to ask the officials seated at the table to withdraw until after we have discussed the matter that I wish to raise at this time? Since they are indirectly involved and since I don't want them to think we are being insulting, and given what I have to say, I think the witnesses would be well advised to withdraw while we sit in camera to debate this matter.

[English]

The Chair: To understand, Madame Venne, specifically you would like to present your point of order in their absence—is that what you're saying? That because it involves them, you don't want—

[Translation]

Ms. Pierrette Venne: Yes, because I wouldn't want them to think that I was singling them out in any particular way.

The Chair: I understand.

[English]

The witnesses are excused; I would ask them to withdraw. That means we're going in camera. We can't ask them to leave and then not be in camera, so we'll be going in camera.

I will be suspending for five minutes to allow us to make the necessary adjustments.

[Editor's Note: Proceedings continue in camera]