THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
(20)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 4:18 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Peter M. Boehm, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adler, Al Zaibak, Boehm, Coyle, Deacon (Ontario), Gerba, Harder, P.C., Hébert, MacDonald, Ravalia, Wilson and Woo (12).
Participating in the meeting: Brian Hermon and Zachariah Black, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the committee continued its study of foreign relations and international trade generally. (Topic: Canadians Abroad)
WITNESSES:
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer:
Michel Roussel, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Events and Innovation.
Global Affairs Canada:
Kati Csaba, Director General, Consular Affairs Bureau;
Sébastien Beaulieu, Director General, International Emergency and Travel Advice Bureau.
Statistics Canada:
Julien Bérard-Chagnon, Chief, Centre for Demography;
Laurent Martel, Director, Centre for Demography.
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada:
Jeff Nankivell, President and Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference).
Venture for Canada:
Steven Wang, Chief Executive Officer.
As an individual:
Richard Nimijean, Associate Professor (Teaching Stream), Carleton University (by videoconference).
Michel Roussel, Kati Csaba and Laurent Martel each made a statement and, together with Sébastien Beaulieu, answered questions.
At 5:14 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:20 p.m., the committee resumed.
Jeff Nankivell, Steven Wang and Richard Nimijean each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:13 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Chantal Cardinal
Clerk of the Committee