Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 12 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 6, 2014
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 6, 2014
(21)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 8:04 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Eaton, Jaffer, Nancy Ruth, Ngo and Tannas (7).
In attendance: Mark Palmer, Acting Procedural Clerk; Julia Nicol, Jean-Philippe Duguay and Shauna Troniak, Analysts, 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 Thursday, February 27, 2014, the committee continued its study of the international mechanisms toward improving cooperation in the settlement of cross-border family disputes, including Canada's actions to encourage universal adherence to and compliance with the Hague Abductions Convention, and to strengthen cooperation with non-Hague State Parties with the purpose of upholding children's best interests. (For the complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3.)
WITNESSES:
As an individual:
Nigel Lowe, Emeritus Professor, Cardiff Law School (by video conference).
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada:
Bill Crosbie, Assistant Deputy Minister and Legal Adviser;
Béatrice Maillé, Director General, Consular Policy;
Leeann McKechnie, Director General, Consular Operations Bureau.
Justice Canada:
Kathryn Sabo, General Counsel and Director, International Private Law Section;
Marie Riendeau, Counsel, International Private Law Section;
Sandra Zed Finless, Office of the Canadian Federal Central Authority for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Legal Services Unit at Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Laurie-Anne Kempton, Director of Foreign Operations, Passport Program Integrity Branch;
Robert Stevenson, Operational Coordinator for Perimeter Implementation, Strategic Projects Office.
Canada Border Services Agency:
Calvin Christiansen, Director General, National Border Operations Centre.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Lowe made a statement and answered questions.
At 9:04 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:08 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Crosbie, Ms. Sabo, Ms. Kempton and Mr. Christiansen each made a statement and, together with Ms. Maillé, Ms. McKechnie, Ms. Riendeau, Ms. Zed Finless and Mr. Stevenson, answered questions.
At 9:58 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee