Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 18 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 25, 2015
OTTAWA, Monday, May 25, 2015
(40)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 1:01 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Daniel Lang, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dagenais, Day, Kenny, Lang, Mitchell, Ngo, Stewart Olsen, Wells and White (9).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Jaffer and Runciman (2).
In attendance: Holly Porteous and Christine Morris, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Alida Rubwindi, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 14, 2015, the committee began its examination of Bill C-51, An Act to enact the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act and the Secure Air Travel Act, to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
WITNESSES:
Security Intelligence Review Committee:
Michael Doucet, Executive Director;
Chantelle Bowers, Deputy Executive Director.
Canada Revenue Agency:
Cathy Hawara, Director General, Charities Directorate, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch;
Alastair Bland, Director, Review and Analysis Division, Charities Directorate, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch.
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada:
Leeann McKechnie, Director General, Consular Operations Bureau;
Mark Glauser, Executive Director, Threat Assessment and Intelligence Services Division.
Canada Border Services Agency:
Caroline Weber, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs Branch;
Geoff Leckey, Director General, Enforcement and Intelligence Operations.
As an individual:
Balraj Deol.
Air India 182 Victims Families Association:
Bal Gupta, Chair.
North York Sikh Temple:
Gurdev Mann, President.
Public Safety Canada:
François Guimont, Deputy Minister.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service:
Michel Coulombe, Director.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police:
Bob Paulson, Commissioner.
As an individual:
Robert Morrison;
Gord Cameron, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.
It was agreed that the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence's authority to examine Division 17 of Part 3 of Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 21, 2015 and other measures, be delegated to the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs; and
It was agreed that the committee's authority to meet for the purposes of its study of that element even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto, also be delegated to the subcommittee.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Doucet, Mr. Leckey, Mr. Glauser and Ms. Hawara each made a statement and together with Ms. Bowers, Ms. Weber, Ms. McKechnie and Mr. Bland, answered questions.
At 2:05 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:11 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Gupta, Mr. Mann and Mr. Deol each made a statement and together answered questions.
At 3:04 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:24 p.m., the committee resumed.
The minister made a statement and, together with Mr. Guimont, Mr. Coulombe and Mr. Paulson, answered questions.
At 4:18 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:22 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Morrison and Mr. Cameron each made a statement and together answered questions.
At 5:09 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee