Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 27 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 2, 2001
(30)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 9:30 a.m., in Room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cook, Di Nino, Fairbairn, P.C., Kirby, LeBreton, Morin, Robertson, and Roche (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, and Cordy (2).
In attendance: Jay Sinha and Benjamin Dolin, Research Officers, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2001, the committee resumed its consideration of Bill C-11, An Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger. (See proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 26 dated October 1, 2001, for full text of Order of Reference.)
WITNESSES:
From the Canadian Bar Association:
Benjamin J. Trister, Chair, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Michael A. Greene, Past Chair, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Gordon H. Maynard, Treasurer, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Ms Tamra L. Thomson, Director, Legislation and Law Reform.
From the Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l'immigration:
Ms Pia Zambelli.
Messrs. Trister and Greene and Ms Zambelli made presentations and, together with Mr. Maynard, answered questions.
At 11:30 a.m., it was agreed that the Committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 2, 2001 (31)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 2:15 p.m., in Room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cook, Cordy, Di Nino, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, Kirby, LeBreton, Morin, Pépin, Robertson, Robichaud, P.C., and Roche (13).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Grafstein, Léger, Prud'homme, P.C., and Wilson (6).
In attendance: Jay Sinha and Benjamin Dolin, Research Officers, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2001, the committee resumed its consideration of Bill C-11, An Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger. (See proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 26 dated October 1, 2001, for full text of Order of Reference.)
WITNESSES:
As an individual:
Sharryn Aiken, Faculty Member, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University.
From the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture:
Nancy Elliott, Member of the Legal Committee.
From the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice:
Reverend Jack Costello, Director.
As an individual:
Tom Clark, Former Co-ordinator, Inter-Church Committee for Refugees.
From the Mennonite Central Committee:
William Janzen;
Nathaniel Bimba.
From Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere:
John Fisher, Executive Director;
Ron Chaplan, Chair, Political Action Committee.
From the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Mi nority Women of Canada:
Anuradha Bose, Executive Director.
From the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses:
Erin Lee-Todd, Vice-President of Anti-Racism and Anti- Oppression.
From B'Nai Brith Canada:
David Matas.
From the Maytree Foundation:
Andrew Brouwer, Former Manager, Research and Policy.
From the Ontario Sanctuary Coalition:
Mary Jo Leddy, Member.
From the Coalition for Just Immigration and Refugee Policy:
Marnie Hayes, Neighbourhood Legal Services.
Ms Aiken and Ms Elliott made presentations and answered questions.
Reverend Costello and Messrs Clark, Janzen, and Bimba made statements and answered questions.
Mr. Fisher, Ms Lee-Todd, and Ms Bose made statements and, together with Mr. Chaplan, answered questions.
At 4:50 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:55 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Matas made a presentation and answered questions.
Mr. Brouwer, Ms Hayes, and Ms Leddy made statements and answered questions.
At 6:45 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Till Heyde
Acting Clerk of the Committee