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SOCI - Standing Committee

Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Studies & Bills

  • Most Senate committees require an order of reference before they can undertake such work.
  • An order of reference is a decision of the Senate, authorizing a committee to study a proposed law, government spending or a specific subject related to the mandate of the committee. An order of reference might specify what subjects a study should cover, how long it should take to complete, and other important details. It establishes the scope of the study and may give other powers the committee needs to conduct the study.
  • Certain Senate committees have permanent orders of reference and are empowered by the Rules of the Senate to act on their own initiative without additional authority from the Senate.
  • Below is a list of orders of reference that this committee has been authorized to undertake by the Senate or is empowered to act on their own initiative.
  • You will also find for each order of reference:
    • meeting dates and witness details,
    • publicly available briefs and documents,
    • minutes of proceedings, transcripts and video or audio recordings of public meetings (when applicable).
    • Once the committee has completed its study, a link to its report to the Senate will also be posted here.
Committee Alerts

The subject matter of Bill C-71, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2024)

Order of Reference: 2024-11-28

Date/Time Witnesses (11) Location Links/Notes
Dec 12, 2024
11:30 AM ET

There are no witnesses on this study/bill for this meeting.

Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Dec 11, 2024
04:17 PM ET

There are no witnesses on this study/bill for this meeting.

Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Dec 05, 2024
11:34 AM ET
Appearing
  • The Honourable Marc Miller, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Witnesses
  • Pemi Gill, Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Uyen Hoang, Director General, Citizenship Policy and International Experience Canada Branch Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Stephanie Jay-Tosh, Acting Senior Director, Legislation and Program Policy Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Erika Schneidereit, Counsel, Legal Services Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Dec 04, 2024
04:15 PM ET
  • Kathryn Burton As an Individual
  • Don Chapman, Founder and Head, Lost Canadians As an Individual
  • J. Randall Emery, Immigration Consultant As an Individual
  • Andrew Griffith As an Individual
  • Amandeep S Hayer, Lawyer, Hayer Law; Vice Chair, Overseas Lawyer Group, Immigration Law Section, Canadian Bar Association – British Columbia As an Individual
  • Carol Sutherland-Brown As an Individual
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building

Government response to the twenty-first report of the Standing Senate Committee Social Affairs, Science and Technology entitled “Act Now: Solutions for temporary and migrant labour in Canada”, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on May 21, 2024

Order of Reference: 2024-10-29
There are no meetings for this study/bill.

Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare

Order of Reference: 2024-06-18
Report(s):
  • Twenty-fifth Report: Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare, without amendment but with observations

Date/Time Witnesses (43) Location Links/Notes
Oct 03, 2024
11:32 AM ET
  • Michelle Boudreau, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy Branch Health Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Oct 02, 2024
04:21 PM ET
  • Jody Cox, Vice-President, Federal and International Affairs Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
  • Stephen Frank, President and Chief Executive Officer Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association
  • Bettina Hamelin, President Innovative Medicines Canada
  • Declan Hamill, Vice-President, Policy, Regulatory, and Legal Affairs Innovative Medicines Canada
  • Jim Keon, President Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
  • Elizabeth Kwan, Senior Researcher Canadian Labour Congress
  • Liam MacDonald, Director, Policy and Government Relations Canadian Chamber of Commerce
  • Kathy Megyery, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Quebec Canadian Chamber of Commerce
  • Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice-President Canadian Labour Congress
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Oct 02, 2024
12:03 PM ET
  • The Honourable Adriana LaGrange, MLA, Minister of Health Government of Alberta
  • The Honourable John Main, MLA, Minister of Health Government of Nunavut
  • Marilee A. Nowgesic, Chief Executive Officer Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
  • Colette Trudeau, Chief Executive Officer Métis Nation British Columbia
Room W110, 1 Wellington St., with videoconference
Sep 26, 2024
11:30 AM ET
  • Angelique Berg, President and Chief Executive Officer Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management
  • Jean Bourcier, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
  • Dr. Shelita Dattani, Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Affairs and Stakeholder Relations Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada
  • Dr. Diane Francoeur, Chief Executive Officer The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
  • Benoit Morin, President Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
  • Dr. Danielle Paes, Chief Pharmacist Officer Canadian Pharmacists Association
  • Dr. Joss Reimer, President Canadian Medical Association
  • Marie-Claude Vézina, Board Chair Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada
  • Joelle Walker, Vice President, Professional and Public Affairs Canadian Pharmacists Association
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Sep 25, 2024
04:16 PM ET
  • Sharon Davis-Murdoch, Co-President Health Association of African Canadians
  • Dr. Lisa Dennis, Co-President Elect Health Association of African Canadians
  • Monica Kocsmaros, Chief External Relations Officer Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • Deborah Owusu-Akyeeah, Co-Director of Policy and Advocacy Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
  • Laura Syron, Chief Executive Officer Diabetes Canada
  • Céleste Thériault, Executive Director National Indigenous Diabetes Association
  • Glenn Thibeault, Executive Director, Government Affairs Diabetes Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Sep 19, 2024
11:31 AM ET
  • Nikolas Barry-Shaw, Trade and Privatization Campaigner Council of Canadians
  • Daniel Dufort, President and Chief Executive Officer Montreal Economic Institute
  • Emmanuelle B. Faubert, Economist Montreal Economic Institute
  • Marc-André Gagnon, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University As an Individual
  • Matthew Herder, Professor of Law and Medicine; Director, Dalhousie Health Justice Institute, Dalhousie University As an Individual
  • Steven G. Morgan, Professor, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia As an Individual
  • Eddy Nason, Director, Health The Conference Board of Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Sep 18, 2024
04:15 PM ET
Appearing
  • The Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P, Minister of Health Health Canada
Witnesses
  • Michelle Boudreau, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy Branch Health Canada
  • Yves Giroux, Parliamentary Budget Officer Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
  • Daniel MacDonald, Director General, Office of Pharmaceuticals Management Strategies, Health Policy Branch Health Canada
  • Suzanne McGurn, President and Chief Executive Officer Canada's Drug Agency
  • Diarra Sourang, Director, Economic Analysis Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
  • Dominic Tan, Acting Chief Executive Officer Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference

Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012

Order of Reference: 2024-06-06
Report(s):
  • Twenty-fourth Report: Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012, without amendment but with observations

Date/Time Witnesses (26) Location Links/Notes
Jun 13, 2024
11:31 AM ET

There are no witnesses on this study/bill for this meeting.

Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Jun 12, 2024
04:15 PM ET
  • Brodie Berrigan, Senior Director, Government Relations and Farm Policy Canadian Federation of Agriculture
  • Pascal Chan, Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure & Construction Canadian Chamber of Commerce
  • Sandra De Cicco, Director, Labor, Health and Legal Affaires Quebec Employers' Council
  • Ryan Greer, Vice-President, Public Affairs and National Policy Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
  • Jasmin Guénette, Vice-President, National Affairs Canadian Federation of Independent Business
  • Robin Guy, Vice-President and Deputy Leader, Government Relations Canadian Chamber of Commerce
  • Derrick Hynes, President and Chief Executive Officer Federally Regulated Employers, Transportation and Communications
  • Norma Kozhaya, Vice-President, Research and Chief Economist Quebec Employers' Council
  • Todd Lewis, First Vice-President Canadian Federation of Agriculture
  • Christina Santini, Director, National Affairs Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Jun 11, 2024
03:00 PM ET
  • Mariam Abou-Dib, Executive Director Teamsters Canada
  • Rob Ashton, President International Longshore and Warehouse Union
  • Bea Bruske, President Canadian Labour Congress
  • Daniel Dufort, President and Chief Executive Officer Montreal Economic Institute
  • Gabriel Giguère, Senior Public Policy Analyst Montreal Economic Institute
  • Rafael Gomez, Director, Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, University of Toronto As an Individual
  • Robert Paul Hebdon, Professor Emeritus, Organizational Behavior, McGill University As an Individual
  • Gil McGowan, President Alberta Federation of Labour
  • Lana Payne, National President Unifor
  • Marty Warren, National Director United Steelworkers Union
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Jun 11, 2024
09:00 AM ET
Appearing
  • The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, P.C., M.P., Minister of Labour and Seniors Employment and Social Development Canada
Witnesses
  • Ginette Brazeau, Chairperson Canada Industrial Relations Board
  • Zia Proulx, Director General, Strategic Policy, Analysis and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program Employment and Social Development Canada
  • Gary Robertson, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister Policy, Dispute Resolution and International Affairs, Labour Program Employment and Social Development Canada
  • Charles Smith, Associate Professor of Political Studies, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan As an Individual
  • Jim Stanford, Economist and Director, Centre for Future Work As an Individual
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference

Bill S-280, An Act respecting a national framework on sickle cell disease

There are no meetings for this study/bill.

Bill S-282, An Act respecting a national strategy for children and youth in Canada

There are no meetings for this study/bill.

Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children)

Order of Reference: 2024-05-30
Report(s):
  • Thirtieth Report: Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children), without amendment but with observations

Date/Time Witnesses (18) Location Links/Notes
Nov 27, 2024
04:17 PM ET

There are no witnesses on this study/bill for this meeting.

Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Nov 21, 2024
11:28 AM ET
  • Catherine Bate, President and Chief Executive Officer Advertising Standards Canada
  • Judy Davey, Vice President, Media Policy and Marketing Capabilities Association of Canadian Advertisers
  • Mark Dekker, Senior Director, Science and Regulatory Affairs Canadian Beverage Association
  • Kevin Desjardins, President Canadian Association of Broadcasters
  • Michi Furuya Chang, Executive Vice President Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada
  • Andrea Hunt, President and Chief Executive Officer Association of Canadian Advertisers
  • Pierre Savoie, Lawyer and Partner, LJT Lawyers Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Nov 20, 2024
04:15 PM ET
  • Charlene Elliott, Professor, Department of Communication, Media and Film, University of Calgary As an Individual
  • Elise Pauzé, Policy Analyst, Nutrition, Heart and Stroke Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition
  • Monique Potvin Kent, Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa As an Individual
  • Lindsey Smith Taillie, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global, Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill As an Individual
  • Corinne Voyer, Director, Collectif Vital Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition
  • Dr. Tom Warshawski, Consultant pediatrician and Chair, Childhood Healthy Living Foundation Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition
  • Lisa Wolff, Director, Policy and Research UNICEF Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Nov 07, 2024
11:30 AM ET
  • Alfred Aziz, Director, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food and Nutrition Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch Health Canada
  • Joyce Boye, Director General, Food and Nutrition Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch Health Canada
  • Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, sponsor of the bill
  • David K. Lee, Chief Regulatory Officer, Health Products and Food Branch Health Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference

Bill S-259, An Act to designate the month of March as Hellenic Heritage Month

Order of Reference: 2024-05-30
There are no meetings for this study/bill.

Bill S-260, An Act respecting National Diffuse Midline Glioma Awareness Day

Order of Reference: 2024-05-30
There are no meetings for this study/bill.

Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care

Order of Reference: 2024-05-29
Report(s):
  • Twenty-eighth Report: Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care, without amendment but with observations

Date/Time Witnesses (14) Location Links/Notes
Oct 31, 2024
11:30 AM ET

There are no witnesses on this study/bill for this meeting.

Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Oct 30, 2024
04:15 PM ET
  • Dr. Nina Ahuja, Chair, Council on Advocacy, Board of Directors Canadian Ophthalmological Society
  • François Couillard, Chief Executive Officer Canadian Association of Optometrists
  • Elizabeth Fowler, Chief Executive Officer Canadian Ophthalmological Society
  • Dr. Kourosh Sabri, Founder and Director Indigenous Children Eye Examination
  • Dr. Martin Spiro, President Canadian Association of Optometrists
  • Jennifer Urosevic, President and Chief Executive Officer Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building
Oct 24, 2024
11:30 AM ET
  • Michael Baillargeon, Senior Manager, Eye Care Initiatives Canadian Council of the Blind
  • Linda Bartram, First Vice-President Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
  • Jennifer Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer Fighting Blindness Canada
  • Larissa Moniz, Director, Research and Mission Programs Fighting Blindness Canada
  • Lee Pigeau, Executive Director Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
  • Elizabeth Toller, Director General, Health Care Strategies Directorate, Health Policy Branch Health Canada
  • Ian White, President, Toronto Visionaries Chapter Canadian Council of the Blind
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building, with videoconference
Oct 23, 2024
04:15 PM ET
  • The Honourable Judy A. Sgro, P.C., M.P., sponsor of the bill
Room B45, Senate of Canada Building

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