Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST)

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met twice this week.

On Tuesday, 13 March, the committee commenced consideration of the Main Estimates 2012-13: Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 50 under JUSTICE referred to the Committee on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. The Hon. Rob Nicholson, PC, MP, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada gave a statement and answered questions. The Minister noted that the Department of Justice requested $694.6 million through the Main Estimates tabled in February for the year 2012-13. The Minister brought attention to a number of programs that would be ‘sunsetting’ at the end of March. Among these, the National Anti-Drug Strategy will see a funding decrease of $130, 000 in funding from Health Canada, and a funding portion of $12.3 million per year allocated to the Aboriginal Health Strategy is under consideration for renewal in the upcoming fiscal year.

For the complete record of the Minister’s statement, please see the Evidence for the meeting.

Before adjourning to the call of the Chair, the committee went in camera in order to dispose of its study on organized crime. It was agreed that the draft report as amended be presented to the House with any dissenting or supplementary opinions attached. See the Minutes here.

On Thursday, March 15th, the committee commenced consideration of bill C-310, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons). The committee commenced and disposed of clause-by-clause study of the bill.