THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 23, 2023
(78)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 11:30 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Burey, Cordy, Jaffer, McPhedran, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Pate, Petitclerc and Seidman (11).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Cormier (1).

Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore, Analyst, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 1, 2023, the committee began its study of Bill S-235, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

WITNESSES:

The Honourable Senator Mobina S. B. Jaffer, sponsor of the bill;

The Honourable Senator Kim Pate.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

Pemi Gill, Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Passport;

Uyen Hoang, Acting Director General, Citizenship Policy;

Gayle Leith, Senior Policy Analyst, Citizenship;

Alexis Graham, Director General, Family and Social Immigration;

Anna Turinov, Counsel, Legal Services Representative.

Canada Border Services Agency:

Richard St Marseille, Director General, Immigration and External Review Policy, Strategic Policy Branch.

The Honourable Senators Jaffer and Pate each made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:15 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:18 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pemi Gill and Richard St Marseille each made a statement and, together with Uyen Hoang and Anna Turinov, answered questions.

At 1:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Emily Barrette

Clerk of the Committee