Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Issue 28 - Minutes of Proceedings

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 1:40 p.m., in Room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cook, Cordy, Di Nino, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, Kirby, LeBreton, Morin, Pépin, Robertson, Robichaud, P.C., and Roche (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, St. Germain, P.C., and Wilson (4).

In attendance: Catherine Piccinin, Committee Clerk, the Senate; and 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 Shipping Federation of Canada:

Gilles Bélanger, President and Chief Executive Officer;

Anne Legars, Director, Policy and Government Affairs.

From the Organization of Professional Immigration Consul tants:

Jill Sparling, President.

From LEXBASE:

Richard Kurland, Editor-in-Chief.

As Individuals:

Gordon Fairweather;

Jack Manion;

William Bauer;

Martin Collacott;

James Bissett;

Lorne Waldman;

Mendel M. Green.

From Canadians for a Fair and Just Immigration Policy:

Robin Seligman, Representative.

From the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

Judith Kumin, Representative in Canada.

From the Canadian Council for Refugees:

Janet Dench, Executive Director;

Francisco Rico-Martinez, President.

As Individuals:

David H. Davis;

Paul D. Copeland, Member, Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers;

Marshall Drukarsh, Member, Criminal Lawyers' Association.

From The Getting Landed Project:

Hamdi Mohamed, Representative;

Louise Slobodian, Representative.

From the Federation of Canadian Municipalities:

John Burrett, Acting Director, Social and Economic Policy.

From the Association of Municipalities of Ontario:

Her Worship Ann Mulvale, Mayor, Town of Oakville; President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario; and Member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities;

Pat Vanini, Director of Policy and Government Relations.

Mr. Bélanger, Ms Legars, Ms Sparling, and Mr. Kurland made statements and answered questions.

Messrs. Collacott, Bissett, Fairweather, Bauer, and Manion made statements and answered questions.

At 4:27 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:33 p.m., the committee resumed.

Messrs Waldman and Green, and Ms Seligman made presentations and answered questions.

At 5:55 p.m., the Honourable Senator LeBreton took the Chair.

Ms Kumin, Mr. Rico-Martinez, and Ms Dench made presentations and answered questions.

At 6:23 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:45 p.m., the committee resumed, the Chair, the Honourable Michael Kirby, again presiding.

Messrs Davis, Copeland, and Drukarsh, and Ms Mohamed and Ms Slobodian made presentations and answered questions.

Her Worship Mayor Mulvale and Mr. Burrett made a presentation and, together with Ms Vanini, answered questions.

At 8:10 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Till Heyde

Acting Clerk of the Committee