Finance

The committee was studying Bill C-15, the budget implementation act, and heard from Minister of Justice Sean Fraser, along with Department of Justice officials Toby Hoffmann, Marie-Josée Poirier, and Sarah Geh.

Minister Fraser explained that Bill C-15 would repurpose 10 previously allocated but unfilled Ontario superior court judgeships: eight for a new unified family court in Brampton and two for the Court of Appeal, a change made after consultation with the courts and the provincial government. He also described an administrative change formalizing the support the Administrative Tribunals Support Services of Canada already provides to two Yukon tribunals, and allowing territorial governments to opt in for additional tribunals. He framed these measures within a broader public safety strategy resting on stronger criminal laws, frontline investments, and long-term prevention through housing and health care.

Toby Hoffmann, Marie-Josée Poirier, and Sarah Geh, appearing together, provided technical details on judicial advisory committees and unified family courts. Hoffmann noted that while some judicial advisory committees have vacancies, they can still operate if they have quorum, and he offered to provide written details on which provinces have vacancies. Poirier explained that unified family courts function as a one-stop shop at the superior court level, allowing provinces to redirect savings from not appointing provincial court judges into family justice services like mediation. Geh stated that the Department of Justice sent approximately 370 affected letters as part of expenditure reductions, anticipating 129 positions would be reduced through workforce adjustment, with no forced retirements; she also noted that outside legal counsel is hired only in specific circumstances, such as conflicts of interest or when operating in another country.

During questions, Minister Fraser disagreed with Conservative members who characterized the regulatory sandbox provision in Bill C-15 as giving ministers a broad power to exempt individuals from any federal law except the Criminal Code; he argued the authority is time-limited, purpose-specific, and public, and that it is a tool to test new technologies that existing laws did not anticipate. He also disagreed with the suggestion that the government has prioritized Bill C-9 over bills with more consensus, such as Bill C-16 on intimate partner violence, saying the combatting hate act was introduced first because it was simpler and ready earlier. On bail reform, he noted the bail and sentencing reform act was informed by months of consultations and is now moving forward after delays. On judicial vacancies, he said the current number is 37, and that the pace of appointments is roughly keeping up with retirements. On the Bloc Québécois member's proposal for a transfer to provinces for criminal justice costs, Fraser said that while shared priorities can involve federal funding, it is not automatic, and provinces that request Criminal Code changes understand their responsibility to fund the system.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion by a Liberal member, which was agreed to.