Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Monday, June 2, 2008
(15)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 5:03 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Di Nino, Goldstein, Jaffer, Lovelace Nicholas, Munson and Oliver (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:

Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association:

Stéphane Handfield, Vice-President.

As an individual:

Max Berger, Immigration Lawyer.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

Abraham Abraham, Representative in Canada;

Hy Shelow, Senior Protection Officer;

Michael Casasola, Resettlement Officer.

Hitschmanova Committee, First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa:

Phil Nagy, President;

Joan Auden, Member.

St. Joseph's Catholic Parish, Refugee Outreach Group:

Pierre Gauthier, Chair;

Lisa Barnet, Member;

Jan Raska, Member.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Berger and Mr. Handfield each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:06 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Abraham made a statement and, together with Mr. Shelow and Mr. Casasola, answered questions.

At 7:04 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:08 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Nagy, Mr. Gauthier, Ms. Barnet and Mr. Raska each made a statement and, together with Ms. Auden, answered questions.

At 8 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 3, 2008
(16)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 3:33 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Di Nino, Goldstein, Jaffer, Lovelace Nicholas, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin and Oliver (9).

In attendance: Laura Barnett, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Diane Finley, P.C., M.P., Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

The Honourable Joseph Volpe, P.C., M.P. (Former Minister of Immigration);

William Bauer, former member of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

Andrea Lyon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy;

Micheline Aucoin, Director General, Refugees Branch.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Volpe made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:34 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:38 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Bauer made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:15 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:19 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Bauer continued answering questions.

At 5:32 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:35 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Finley made a statement and, together with Ms. Lyon and Ms. Aucoin, answered questions.

At 6:41 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Monday, June 9, 2008
(17)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 5:03 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Cowan, Goldstein, Jaffer, Lovelace Nicholas, Munson, Oliver, Poy and Stratton (9).

In attendance: Laura Barnett and Jennifer Bird, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-280, An Act to Amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (coming into force of sections 110, 111 and 171).

It was agreed that the title stand postponed.

The Chair asked whether clause 1 shall carry.

The Honourable Senator Stratton moved:

That Bill C-280 be amended in clause 1, on page 1, by replacing line 9 with the following: ``and 171 come into force one year after the day on which a''.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The committee resumed consideration of the question that clause 1, as amended, carry.

The Honourable Senator Stratton moved:

That Bill C-280 be amended in clause 1, on page 1, by adding after line 14 the following:

``(3) For greater certainty, a decision made before the coming into force of section 110 by the Refugee Protection Division or the Convention Refugee Determination Division is not subject to appeal under that section.

(4) Despite subsection (3), an appeal may be taken under section 100 against a decision that was made by the Refugee Protection Division before the coming into force of that section and that is referred back to it by the Federal Court after the coming into force of that section.''.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

It was agreed that clause 1, as amended, carry.

It was agreed that the title carry.

It was agreed that the Bill, as amended, carry.

It was agreed that the Bill be reported to the Senate.

At 5:12 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 1, 2008 the committee began its consideration of issue of the sexual exploitation of persons, with particular emphasis on children, including questions of trafficking in children, prostitution, sex tourism, pornography, and the sexual exploitation of children on the internet

The committee considered a draft budget.

The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved:

That the special study budget application (study on the exploitation of persons) in the amount of $ 386,463 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

Summary of Expenditures

Professional and Other Services $ 63,500

Transportation and Communications $ 301,463

All Other Expenditures $ 21,500

TOTAL $ 386,463

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 5:22 p.m. the committee suspended.

At 5:24 p.m., the committee resumed and pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 the committee continued its consideration of issues relating to human rights and, inter alia, to review the machinery of government dealing with Canada's international and national human rights obligations. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to consider its draft report and discussed future business.

At 6:47 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jessica Richardson

Clerk of the Committee

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights