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

Issue 20 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 19, 2012
(48)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 2:30 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Eaton, Jaffer, Martin, Merchant, Ogilvie, Seidman, Seth, Verner, P.C., and Wallace (10).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth (1).

In attendance: Sandra Elgersma, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 18, 2012, the committee continued its study on Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, the Marine Transportation Security Act and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act.

WITNESSES:

Barreau du Québec:

Carla Chamass, Research and Legislation Services;

Hugues Langlais, President, Immigration and Citizenship Committee;

Richard Neil Goldman, Member, Immigration and Citizenship Committee.

Wlodyka, MacDonald, Teng:

Andrew Wlodyka, Partner (by video conference).

As an individual:

Catherine Dauvergne, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia (by video conference).

Canadian Civil Liberties Association:

Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, Director, Equality Program.

Centre for Immigration Policy Reform:

Martin Collacott, Spokesperson.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation:

Gregory Thomas, Federal and Ontario Director.

Canadian Council for Refugees:

Francisco Rico-Martinez, Co-Chair, Inland Protection Working Group;

Gina Csanyi-Robah, Member.

Rainbow Refugee Society:

Chris Morrissey, Chair, Co-founder and Volunteer.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Langlais, Ms. Aviv, Ms. Dauvergne and Mr. Wlodyka each made a statement and, together with Ms. Chamass and Mr. Goldman, answered questions.

At 4:23 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Rico-Martinez, Ms. Csanyi-Robah, Ms. Morrissey, Mr. Collacott and Mr. Thomas each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 6:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jessica Richardson

Clerk of the Committee