THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, September 28, 2023
(66)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 11:31 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Cormier, Dasko, Kutcher, Moodie, Omidvar, Osler, Petitclerc and Seidman (9).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Mégie and Miville-Dechêne (2).

Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore and Antoine Dedewanou, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the committee continued its study on issues relating to social affairs, science, and technology generally. (Topic: Canada's Temporary and Migrant Labour Force)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.

WITNESSES:

Employment and Social Development Canada:

Paul Thompson, Deputy Minister;

Lori MacDonald, Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada and Chief Operating Officer for Service Canada;

Michael MacPhee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program Branch, Service Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister;

Louise Baird, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy;

Jean-Marc Gionet, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations.

The minister made a statement and, together with Paul Thompson, Michael MacPhee and Lori MacDonald, answered questions.

At 12:27 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

Christiane Fox made a statement and, together with Michael MacPhee, answered questions.

At 1:27 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Emily Barrette

Clerk of the Committee