Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (Canada)

Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (Canada)
Name	Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
Legislature	Parliament of Canada
Chamber	House of Commons
Established	1986
Jurisdiction	Justice and human rights matters in Canada
Chairs	Various
Members	Members of Parliament
Meeting place	Ottawa

Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (Canada) The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights is a permanent committee of the House of Commons of Canada that examines issues related to law, judicial appointments, statutory interpretation, civil liberties, and federal statutes such as the Criminal Code (Canada), the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Canadian Human Rights Act. It conducts clause-by-clause reviews of bills, studies federal justice policies, and reports to the House of Commons while engaging with legal institutions including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Department of Justice (Canada), and the Canadian Bar Association.

Mandate and Jurisdiction

The committee’s written mandate derives from the Standing Orders of the House of Commons of Canada and covers review of legislation and policy affecting criminal law, civil rights, family law, and human rights as they intersect with federal statutes such as the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Access to Information Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. Its remit includes examination of appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada, oversight of the Department of Justice (Canada), and scrutiny of institutions like the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and the Parole Board of Canada. The committee frequently considers issues raised by decisions of the Federal Court of Canada, the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada, and jurisprudence from provincial courts including the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Membership and Leadership

Membership is drawn from Members of Parliament across party lines, including representatives from the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois, and, in some Parliaments, the Green Party of Canada and the People's Party of Canada. Chairs have included MPs appointed by the House of Commons of Canada; past chairs have been associated with parliamentary figures who worked alongside ministers such as the Minister of Justice (Canada). The committee’s membership has featured lawyers admitted to provincial bars such as the Law Society of Ontario, former magistrates, and academics from institutions like the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, the McGill University Faculty of Law, and the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law.

Legislative and Review Activities

The committee conducts clause-by-clause review of bills including high-profile legislation such as amendments to the Criminal Code (Canada), bills implementing international instruments like the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and reforms to statutes like the Victims Bill of Rights. It has examined legislation on topics ranging from sentencing reform to indigenous justice initiatives tied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls to action. The committee’s review process involves technical scrutiny comparable to that undertaken by legal advisers from the Department of Justice (Canada), interaction with parliamentary counsel such as the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, and referral of bills from the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Studies and Reports

The committee issues studies and reports on matters including access to justice, restorative justice, anti-terrorism law amendments like those inspired by events involving groups such as Al-Qaeda and incidents reviewed in the context of the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, and statutory reviews mandated by legislation such as the Public Prosecution Service of Canada Act. Reports have addressed intersections with international obligations under instruments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its publications reference case law from the Supreme Court of Canada and comparative models from jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia’s High Court of Australia.

Witnesses and Public Consultations

The committee routinely hears witnesses from a broad range of entities: former and sitting judges from the Supreme Court of Canada, representatives of bar associations such as the Canadian Bar Association and the Barreau du Québec, officials from federal bodies like the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Correctional Investigator, academics from the University of Ottawa, advocates from non-governmental organizations including Amnesty International and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and expert witnesses such as criminologists affiliated with the John Howard Society and scholars linked to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. It holds public consultations in Ottawa and occasionally in regions impacted by issues, inviting indigenous leaders from organizations like the Assembly of First Nations and provincial attorneys general such as those from Ontario and British Columbia.

Interaction with the Department of Justice and Agencies

The committee engages with the Department of Justice (Canada), summoning deputy ministers, assistant deputy ministers, and legal advisers for briefings on policy, prosecutions, and departmental administration. It examines the work of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Correctional Service of Canada, and oversight bodies including the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor and the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. The committee’s inquiries can prompt legislative drafting by the Privy Council Office or administrative changes enacted by ministers such as the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Canada).

History and Notable Inquiries

Since its establishment, the committee has participated in inquiries into landmark matters such as the response to events tied to national security debates including the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, reviews of judicial appointment processes concerning nominees to the Supreme Court of Canada, and investigations related to high-profile prosecutions overseen by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Notable studies have probed systemic issues highlighted by reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, mass litigation contexts involving corporations such as Énergie NB Power in regional regulatory disputes, and cross-jurisdictional comparisons involving the European Court of Human Rights. Its work has shaped parliamentary debate alongside major legislative episodes involving leaders like Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chrétien, Stephen Harper, and Justin Trudeau.

Category:Committees of the House of Commons of Canada