MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Thursday, October 5, 2023 (72) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:15 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Batters, Boisvenu, Clement, Dalphond, Jaffer, Klyne, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut), Simons and Tannas (11). Participating in the meeting: Aoife Mc Donald, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Michaela Keenan-Pelletier and Iryna Zazulya, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 21, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-48,

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bail reform). WITNESSES: Government of British Columbia: The Honourable Niki Sharma, K.C., MLA, Attorney General of British Columbia (by videoconference). Women's Legal Education and Action Fund: Kat Owens, Project Director (by videoconference). Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies: Emilie Coyle, Executive Director. John Howard Society of Canada: Catherine Latimer, Executive Director. Native Women's Association of Canada: Sarah Niman, Senior Director, Legal Services.

Association of Legal Aid Plans of Canada: David Field, President and Chief Executive Officer; Marcus Pratt, Policy Advisor. As an individual: Carolyn Yule, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph (by videoconference). Niki Sharma made a statement and answered questions. At 12:02 p.m., the committee suspended. At 12:04 p.m., the committee resumed. Kat Owens, Emilie Coyle and Catherine Latimer each made a statement and answered questions. At 12:58 p.m., the committee suspended. At 1:02 p.m., the committee resumed.

Sarah Niman, David Field and Carolyn Yule each made a statement and, together with Marcus Pratt, answered questions. At 1:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Vincent Labrosse Clerk of the Committee