Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue No. 62 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 3, 2019
OTTAWA, Monday, June 3, 2019
(144)
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Chantal Petitclerc, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Forest-Niesing, Housakos, Kutcher, Mégie, Moodie, Munson, Oh, Omidvar, Petitclerc, Poirier, Ravalia and Seidman (12).
In attendance: Havi Echenberg and Laura Munn-Rivard, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 2, 2019, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20 of Part 4, and in Subdivisions C, K and L of Division 9 of Part 4 of Bill C-97, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2019 and other measures. (Topic: Division 20) (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 61.)
WITNESSES:
Employment and Social Development Canada:
Heather Sheehy, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch;
Hugues Vaillancourt, Senior Director, Social Development Policy Division, Social Policy Directorate, Strategic and Service Policy Branch.
Colour of Poverty — Colour of Change:
Avvy Yao-Yao Go, Clinic Director, Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (by video conference).
Canada Without Poverty:
Michèle Biss, Policy Director and Human Rights Lawyer (by video conference).
Citizens for Public Justice:
Darlene O'Leary, Socio-economic Policy Analyst.
Vanier Institute of the Family:
Nora Spinks, President and CEO.
The chair made a statement.
Ms. Sheehy made a statement, and together with Mr. Vaillancourt, answered questions.
At 4:41 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:45 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Go, Ms. Biss, Ms. O'Leary and Ms. Spinks made statements and answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings on June 5, 2019 with the least possible disruption of its hearings.
At 5:51 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:55 p.m., the committee, pursuant to rule 12-1(d), resumed in camera to consider a draft report.
It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera portion of today's meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members present or by the committee analyst; and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.
The committee considered a draft report.
It was agreed that the sections on Divisions 15 and 16 of a final report on the subject matter of elements of Bill C-97 be adopted, taking into consideration this meeting's discussions.
At 6:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Daniel Charbonneau
Clerk of the Committee