Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, May 5, 2008
(12)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 5:09 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Dallaire, Munson, Oliver, Phalen and Ringuette (6).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Goldstein (1).
In attendance: Laura Barnett, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and to enact certain other measures, in order to provide assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (by video conference):
Lee F. Lakeman, Regional Representative (British Columbia & Yukon);
Alice Lee, Crisis Worker, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter.
Comité d'action contre le trafic humain interne et international:
Pierrette Boissé, Member;
Louise Dionne, Member and Facilitator.
As an individual:
Jacqueline Oxman-Martinez, Professor, University of Montréal.
Canada Border Services Agency:
Megan Imrie, Director, Horizontal Policy & Planning Division, Enforcement Branch.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police:
Mike Cabana, Chief Superintendent, Director General, Border Integrity, Federal and International Operations.
The chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Lakeman made a statement and, together with Ms. Lee, answered questions.
At 5:44 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:50 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Boissé and Ms. Dionne each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 6:33 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:37 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Oxman-Martinez made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:06 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:08 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Imrie and Mr. Cabana each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 8:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, May 12, 2008
(13)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 5:05 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Dallaire, Di Nino, Lovelace Nicholas, Munson, Oliver and Poy (7).
In attendance: Jennifer Bird, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-280, An Act to Amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (coming into force of sections 110, 111 and 171). (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Council for Refugees:
Janet Dench, Executive Director.
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives:
Alfredo Barahona, Coordinator, Refugee and Migration Program.
Amnesty International Canada:
Gloria Nafziger, Refugee Coordinator;
Naomi Kikoler, Articling Student.
Canadian Bar Association:
David Matas, Member, Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Kerri Froc, Legal Policy Analyst.
Barreau du Québec:
Jacques Beauchemin, Member of the Immigration and Citizenship Law Commitee;
Mitchell Goldberg, Member of the Immigration and Citizenship Law Commitee;
Catherine Dagenais, Lawyer, Research and Legislation Services.
As individuals:
Stephen Gallagher, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, McGill University;
Peter Showler, Director, The Refugee Forum, Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Barahona, Ms. Dench, Ms. Nafziger and Ms. Kikoler each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 6:03 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Dagenais, Ms. Froc and Mr. Matas each made a statement and, together with Mr. Golderg and Mr. Beauchemin, answered questions.
At 7:00 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:05 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Showler each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 8:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 29, 2008
(14)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 9:04 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Dallaire, Goldstein, Lovelace Nicholas, Munson, Oliver and Poy (7).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Phalen (1).
In attendance: Laura Barnett, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and to enact certain other measures, in order to provide assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)
WITNESSES:
Council of Europe, Gender Equality and Anti-Trafficking Division (by video conference):
Marta Requena, Head of Division;
Hallvard Gorseth, Administrator, Anti-Trafficking Action.
The chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Requena and Mr. Gorseth made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 10:14 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Denis Robert
Acting Clerk of the Committee