MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 28, 2023 (20) [English] The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day at 9:30 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Diane Bellemare, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Batters, Bellemare, Black, Boniface, Cordy, Deacon (Ontario), MacDonald, Marwah, Omidvar, Saint-Germain, Wells and Woo (13). Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Cormier, Cotter, Jaffer and Poirier (5).

Participating in the meeting: Erin Virgint, Analyst, Library of Parliament. Pursuant to rule 12-7(2)(a), the committee continued its consideration of possible amendments to the Rules. (Topic: Committee structure and mandates) WITNESSES: The Honourable Senator Brent Cotter, Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; The Honourable Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, Deputy Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; The Honourable Senator Mobina S. B.

Jaffer, Former Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; The Honourable Serge Joyal, P.C., Former Senator, Former Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; The Honourable Senator René Cormier, Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages; The Honourable Senator Rose-May Poirier, Deputy Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages. The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Cotter and Jaffer and the Honourable Serge Joyal, P.C. each made a statement and answered questions. At 10:44 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:47 a.m., the committee resumed. The Honourable Senators Cormier and Poirier each made a statement and answered questions. At 11:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Adam Thompson Clerk of the Committee