THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 23, 2024
(99)

[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, Cormier, Cuzner, McBean, McPhedran, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar and Osler (10).

Participating in the meeting: Mayra Perez-Leclerc and Diana Ambrozas, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2024, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 3, 4, 5, 14, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32 and 38 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024. (Topic: Division 38)

WITNESSES:

Canada Border Services Agency:

Richard St Marseille, Director General, Immigration and External Review Policy;

Anders Sorensen, Acting Executive Director, Asylum and Irregular Migration Policy.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

Jason Hollmann, Director General, Asylum Policy Branch;

Chris Hamilton, Senior Director, Asylum Policy Branch.

Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers:

Aviva Basman, President;

Amanda Aziz, Co-Chair, Advocacy.

FCJ Refugee Centre:

Sharry Aiken, President (by videoconference).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

Azadeh Tamjeedi, Senior Legal Officer and Head of Protection Unit, UN Refugee Agency in Canada;

Sarah Marinier Doucet, Associate Legal Officer, UN Refugee Agency in Canada.

Jason Hollmann made a statement and, together with Richard St Marseille, answered questions.

At 12:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:33 p.m., the committee resumed.

Aviva Basman, Sharry Aiken and Azadeh Tamjeedi each made a statement and, together with Amanda Aziz, answered questions.

At 1:14 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ericka Dupont

Clerk of the Committee