Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence

Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 5, 2014

OTTAWA, Monday, May 5, 2014
(14)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 1 p.m. in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Daniel Lang, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Dagenais, Dallaire, Day, Lang, Tkachuk, Wells and White (8).

In attendance: Holly Porteous and Wolfgang Koerner, 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, December 12, 2013, the committee continued its study on policies, practices, and collaborative efforts with Canada Border Services Agency. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3.)

WITNESSES:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

Mike MacDonald, Director General, Operational Management and Coordination;

Maureen Tsai, Acting Director General, Admissibility Branch;

David Quartermain, Director, Program Integrity Division;

Chris Gregory, Director, Identity Management and Information Sharing.

As an individual:

Steven P. Bucci, Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies; and Senior Fellow, Homeland Security & Defense Issues, The Heritage Foundation.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. MacDonald and Ms. Tsai each made a statement and, together with Mr. Quartermain and Mr. Gregory, answered questions.

At 2:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:06 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Bucci made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:03 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 12, 2013, the committee continued its study on the status of Canada's international security and defence relations. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3.)

WITNESS:

As an individual:

Lieutenant-General (Retired) George Macdonald, Former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.

The chair made an opening statement.

Lieutenant-General (Retired) Macdonald made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:29 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:34 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee continued in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room.

It was agreed to invite a witness to discuss real time identification for the CBSA study (sharing of information and biometrics).

At 5:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Josée Thérien

Clerk of the Committee