REGS Committee Meeting

THE STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THE SCRUTINY OF REGULATIONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, November 17, 2025
(2)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of May 27, 2025, and the order of the House of Commons of June 13, 2025, the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations met this day in room W120, 1 Wellington Street, and with videoconference, at 11:03 a.m. ET, the joint chairs, the Honourable Yuen Pau Woo and Scot Davidson, presiding.

Representing the Senate: The Honourable Senator Woo (1).

Representing the Senate by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Dean and White (2).

Representing the House of Commons: Scot Davidson, Rhéal Fortin, Dalwinder Gill, Harb Gill, Alana Hirtle, Michael Kram, Chris Malette, Ron McKinnon and Giovanna Mingarelli (9).

Participating in the meeting: Tanya Dupuis, General Counsel; Geoffrey Hilton and Julie Béchard, committee counsel; Mathieu Delisle, Administrative Coordinator, Library of Parliament.

It was agreed, that, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff member at in camera meetings and that one additional staff member from each recognized party or parliamentary group be allowed to be present.

That the committee allow the audio recording of in camera meetings, and that one copy be kept in the office of General Counsel for consultation by committee members.

At 11:32 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:35 a.m., the committee resumed.

The committee proceeded to consider its permanent order of reference, as set out in Section 19 of the Statutory Instruments Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. S-22, which provides for the following:

Every statutory instrument issued, made or established after December 31, 1971, other than an instrument the inspection of which and the obtaining of copies of which are precluded by any regulations made pursuant to paragraph 20(d), shall stand permanently referred to any committee of the House of Commons, of the Senate or of both Houses of Parliament that may be established for the purpose of reviewing and scrutinizing statutory instruments.

It was agreed that considering the particular circumstances surrounding the distribution of documents within the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations, and in order to facilitate the work of Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin as a substitute member of the committee, the committee agrees to grant to him and his staff temporary access to the committee's digital binder until the end of his replacement of Mr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval.

In the matter of SOR/2014-198, Firearms Records Regulations (Classification), (reviewed by the committee on June 15, 2017, October 18, 2018, February 28, 2019, April 29, 2024, May 27, 2024 and October 7, 2024), it was agreed that committee counsel write to the Designated Instruments Officer of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness with respect to certain comments made by the committee.

In the matter of SI/2020-33, Order Fixing the Date of Entry into Force of the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States as the Day on Which that Act Comes into Force, as well as SI-2020-46, Order Amending Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 of April 3, 2020, it was agreed that the files be closed.

In the matter of SOR/2019-174, Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Electronic Administration), it was agreed that committee counsel write to the Designated Instruments Officer of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship with respect to certain comments made by the committee.

In the matter of SOR/2022-142, Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Temporary Foreign Workers), it was agreed that the file be closed.

In the matter of SOR/2023-249, Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Miscellaneous Program), as well as SOR/2020-91, Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Emergencies Act and Quarantine Act), it was agreed that the files be closed.

In the matter of SOR/2002-164, National Capital Commission  Animal Regulations, (reviewed by the committee on March 25, 2004, April 22, 2004, February 17, 2005, September 28, 2006, April 2, 2009, September 29, 2011, February 14, 2013, February 26, 2015, February 2, 2017, September 27, 2018 and April 11, 2019), as well as SOR/2002-165, Regulations Amending the National Capital Commission Traffic and Property Regulations (reviewed by the Committee on February 17, 2005, April 2, 2009, February 26, 2015, February 2, 2017, September 27, 2018 and April 11, 2019), it was agreed that the joint chairs write to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Services and Procurement with respect to certain comments made by the committee and that the Minister and senior officials from the National Capital Commission be invited to appear before the committee.

In the matter of SOR/2019-66, Regulations Amending the Marine Personnel Regulations and Repealing the Tariff of Fees of Shipping Masters, it was agreed that committee counsel write to the Designated Instruments Officer of the Department of Transport with respect to certain comments made by the committee.

In the matter of SOR/2022-175, Regulations Amending the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations, it was agreed that the file be closed.

In the matter of SOR/2014-48, Regulations Amending the Letter Mail Regulations (reviewed by the Committee on May 14, 2015, May 19, 2016 and October 4, 2018), as well as SOR/2014-53, Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Post Corporation Act (reviewed by the committee on May 14, 2015, June 16, 2016 and October 4, 2018), it was agreed that the files be closed.

In the matter of SI/2024-51, National Security Intelligence Review Agency Act Deputy Heads of the Federal Public Administration Order, as well as SI/2019-94, Order Amending the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act Deputy Heads of the Public Service of Canada Order, it was agreed that the files be closed.

The committee considered the following statutory instruments without comment: SI/2019-123, Transfer of Duties Order; SI/2019-130, Transfer of Duties Order; SI/2019-131, Transfer of Duties Order; SI/2019-132, Transfer of Duties Order; SI/2019-134, Transfer of Duties Order; SI/2020-53, Transfer of Duties Order;  SI/2020-65, Transfer of Duties Order; SOR/2020-221, Order of Amending the Import Control List; SI/2021-9, Transfer of Duties Order and SI/2021-49, Transfer of Duties Order.

The committee considered the following statutory instruments as repealed, spent or superseded and it was agreed that these files be closed: SOR/2013-48, Complaints (Banks, Authorized Foreign Banks and External Complaints Bodies) Regulations; SI/2020-23, Order Designating the Minister of State (Diversity and Inclusion and Youth) as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act; SI/2020-29, Order Designating the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act; SI/2020-30, Order Designating the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act; SOR/2020-125, Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations Application Exemption Order; SI/2020-67, Order Designating the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act; SI/2021-93, Order Designating the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act; SI/2021-94, Order Designating the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act; SI/2021-95, Order Designating the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act and SI/2022-2, Order Designating the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities as the Minister for the Purposes of that Act.

At 12:16 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Melissa Doyle

Aimée Belmore

Joint Clerks of the Committee