THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 6, 2023
(81)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:34 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Cordy, Dagenais, Dasko, Jaffer, McPhedran, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Osler, Petitclerc and Seidman (12).

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 continued its study of Bill S-235, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

WITNESSES:

South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario:

Shalini Konanur, Executive Director and Lawyer.

Black Legal Action Centre:

Danette Edwards, Interim General Counsel.

Legal Aid Ontario:

Andrew Brouwer, Senior Counsel, Refugee Law Office.

Peel Children’s Aid Society:

Mary Beth Moellenkamp, Chief Executive Officer;

Danielle Ungara, Manager, Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence;

Fatima Mukai, Immigration Specialist, Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence;

Liz Okai, Manager, Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence.

UNICEF Canada:

Terence Hamilton, Policy Specialist (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Fatuma Alyaan.

Shalini Konanur, Danette Edwards, Andrew Brouwer and Fatuma Alyaan each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:33 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mary Beth Moellenkamp, Danielle Ungara, Fatima Mukai, Liz Okai and Terence Hamilton each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Emily Barrette

Clerk of the Committee