THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, DEFENCE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, October 21, 2024
(62)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 4:03 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Tony Dean, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Dagenais, Deacon (Ontario), Dean, Kutcher, Omidvar, Patterson, Richards and Yussuff (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Al Zaibak and McNair (2).
Participating in the meeting: Ariel Shapiro and Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 20, 2024, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Bar Association:
Kamaljit Kaur Lehal, Chair, Immigration Law Section (by videoconference).
Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association:
Pantea Jafari, Member.
Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association:
Pantea Jafari, Member.
Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers:
Kate Webster, Vice-President.
Canadian Council for Refugees:
Jenny Jeanes, Vice-President;
Gauri Sreenivasan, Co-Executive Director.
Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council:
Khaled Al-Qazzaz, Executive Director.
Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba:
Roxanne M. Gagné, Civilian Director (by videoconference).
As an individual:
Heather Campbell, Commissioner, Calgary Police Commission (by videoconference).
Pantea Jafari and Kamaljit Kaur Lehal each made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:58 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:02 p.m., the committee resumed.
Kate Webster, Gauri Sreenivasan, Jenny Jeanes and Khaled Al-Qazzaz each made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:58 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:08 p.m., the committee resumed.
Roxanne M. Gagné and Heather Campbell each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:44 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:56 p.m., the committee resumed.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-20.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
It was agreed, with leave, that the clauses be grouped according to the parts of the Bill as described in the Table of Provisions of Bill C-20 when appropriate.
It was agreed that clause 2, containing the interpretations, carry.
It was agreed that Part 1, entitled Public Complaints and Review Commission, which contains clauses 3 to 32 carry.
It was agreed that Part 2, entitled Investigation, Review and Hearing of Complaints, which contains clauses 33 to 72, carry.
It was agreed that Part 3, entitled Review of Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement Operations, which contains clauses 73 to 82 carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, entitled General, which contains clauses 83 to 92 carry.
It was agreed that Part 5, entitled Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, which contains clauses 93 to 107 carry.
It was agreed that Part 6, entitled Canada Border Services Agency Act, which contains clauses 108 to 111 carry.
It was agreed that Part 7, entitled Terminology, which contains clause 112 carry.
It was agreed that Part 8, entitled Transitional Provisions, Consequential and Coordinating Amendments and Coming into Force, which contains clauses 113 to 146 carry.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, carry.
It was agreed that the preamble carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry.
It was agreed that the committee append observations to the report.
The committee considered observations.
At 7:24 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:47 p.m., the committee resumed.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, in both official languages, taking into consideration the meetings discussion and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes as required.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill C-20 with observations, to the Senate, in both official languages.
At 7:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ericka Paajanen
Clerk of the Committee