Mandate

The Standing Orders of the House of Commons give all standing committees the mandate to exercise certain general powers. Standing Order 108(2) gives committees the power “to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operation of the department or departments of government which are assigned to them.”This includes:

• legislation proposed by the government or Members of Parliament;
• immediate, medium- and long-term expenditure plans and the effectiveness of implementation of these plans;
• reports by government institutions and agencies such as the Security Intelligence Review Committee and the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP;
• subject-matter studies of legislation, programs, and policies;
• the operation of legislation, when there is a statutory requirement to do so; and
• other matters relating to the mandate, management, organization or operation of the departments. Powers

Under Standing Order 108(1), standing committees can examine any matters referred to them by the House of Commons or as required by legislation. They can report to the House, send for persons or records, and have the power to delegate their powers to subcommittees. They can sit whether the House is sitting or adjourned, and may sit jointly with other standing committees.¨

Under Standing Order 108(2), this Committee can study the policies, programs and legislation of the following departments and agencies:

• Department of Justice
• Canadian Human Rights Commission
• Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
• Supreme Court of Canada
• Federal Court of Canada
• Office of the Commissioner of Federal Judicial Affairs
• Law Commission of Canada