Total Search Results: 1
In Committee from the Senate of Canada
Legal and Constitutional Affairs - March 21, 2013
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Justice Minister Rob Nicholson appears at the committee to discuss two pieces of legislation. The first order of business is the government's royal succession legislation. C-53 gives Canada's assent to a bill that is currently before the British parliament. That bill ends the centuries-old practice of favouring male heirs ahead of older sisters. It will also remove legal restrictions for heirs who marry Roman Catholics from succeeding to the Throne. The minister then turns his attention to legislation related to the use of warrantless wiretaps. Bill C-55 adds new privacy safeguards for the use of emergency wiretaps in urgent situations such as kidnappings and bomb threats. It also limits the use of this emergency power to police officers instead of the current broader category of peace officers. Senators proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the succession legislation following the minister's testimony. UPDATE: Bills C-53 and C-55 both received royal assent on March 27.