Mr. Lee is also currently a member of the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and of the Standing Joint Committee for Scrutiny of Regulations, on which he has served continuously for 17 years and chaired (1989-93). 

Mr. Lee is recognized as being one of Parliament’s foremost experts on National Security, a field in which he has been engaged since 1989.  Indeed, some of his most important policy work may be found in this area. 

In 2004, at the request of the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee chaired the Interim Committee on National Security, which developed proposals on the composition and mandate of a permanent parliamentary intelligence committee.  Since then Mr. Lee has collaborated with his colleagues in the House to pass legislation for such a committee, which culminated in 2005 with the introduction of Bill C-81 an Act to establish the National Security Committee of Parliamentarians.  He was also a leader in the first Parliamentary review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and has chaired the National Security Subcommittee for many years.  The Oversight for the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) was created following adoption of his Motion by the House of Commons in 1995.  Mr. Lee maintains contact with the intelligence oversight functions of our major allies.

Previously, Mr. Lee chaired the committee that provided the first ever parliamentary scrutiny of Supreme Court Judicial appointments.  He has chaired the Procedure and House Affairs Committee and, from 1999 to 2001, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader.  In the last Parliament, he was Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.  

Internationally, Mr. Lee is known as a strong advocate and participant in exchanges aimed at reducing political and religious conflict and improving human rights.  Among other examples, he has visited the Kashmir and Punjab regions three times, encouraging constructive approaches with governments, political factions and religious groups on both sides of the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. 

An engaging and knowledgeable representative of his Liberal Caucus and Party views, Mr. Lee is a frequent guest on television and radio news panels discussing the issues of the day.    

Mr. Lee is also recognized as an expert in the area of parliamentary procedure and reform and has published two influential works in this area.  Mr. Lee’s first book, The Power of Parliamentary Houses to Send for Persons, Papers & Records, was published in 1999 and is now used as a reference and sourcebook on the parliamentary power of subpoena.  His second book, Back Bench Exercises, explored possible procedural reforms for the House of Commons, and was widely recognized as a useful guide for Members of Parliament.  Many of Mr. Lee’s suggestions in this latter book have since come into practice.  His motion and proposal to adopt a formal symbol for the House of Commons was adopted by the House in 2005. He has also served as a Canadian expert advisor to parliamentary reform agendas in Vietnam, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and Commonwealth parliaments.

At home in Scarborough, Mr. Lee is a passionate advocate for environmental initiatives.  In 2002, he was the driving force behind the Federal Government’s decision to set aside 7000 acres of Federal lands as protected green space on the Oak Ridges Moraine connected to the Rouge Park and provincial greenbelt.  He has also worked tirelessly for the preservation of the Rouge Valley park system and continues to sit and serve as the federal voting member of the Rouge Park Alliance, which governs the 11,500 acre Rouge Park.  

Mr. Lee has a great appreciation of Canada’s outdoors.  He has trekked over half of the 800km Bruce Trail, has completed a solo trek in the far north, and enjoys getting out and hiking the parklands in his home region. 

Born in Halifax, Mr. Lee obtained a B.A. in political science and economics from the University of Toronto.  He later obtained an LL.B. from Queen’s University, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1975.  Prior to his entering politics, Mr. Lee practiced law in Toronto from 1975 to 1988, and was a partner in the firm Stikeman, Lee and Chenoweth.  During this time he also was an advisor to both federal and provincial cabinet ministers.