THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 12, 2026
(25)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:29 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Rosemary Moodie, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Boudreau, Burey, Busson, Martin, McPhedran, Moodie, Muggli, Osler, Senior, Wells (Alberta) and Woo (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dean, Mohamed and Pupatello (3).
Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore and Mayra Perez-Leclerc, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Parts 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
WITNESSES:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:
Harpreet S. Kochhar, Deputy Minister;
Jason Hollmann, Director General, Asylum;
Tara Lang, Director General, Integrity Policy and Programs;
Joanie Roy-Craswell, Acting Senior Counsel, Legal Services.
Department of Justice Canada:
Anna Lillicrap, Senior Counsel.
Canada Border Services Agency:
Brett Bush, Director General, Immigration and Asylum Policy Directorate;
Carl Desmarais, Director General, Intelligence and Enforcement Branch.
Rainbow Railroad:
Latoya Nugent, Chief Communications and Advocacy Officer.
Battista Migration Law Group:
Pablo Irribarra, Barrister and Solicitor (by videoconference).
Canadian Civil Liberties Association (by videoconference):
Tamir Israel, Director, Privacy, Surveillance and Technologies Program;
Aaden Pearson, Staff Lawyer and Trans Rights Legal Fellow.
Canadian Union of Public Employees:
Kelti Cameron, Senior Officer, International Solidarity.
Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers:
Julia Green, Humanitarian Immigration Lawyer .
Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society:
Harjit Kaur, Executive Director (by videoconference).
The minister made a statement and, together with Harpreet S. Kochhar, Jason Hollmann, Tara Lang and Joanie Roy-Craswell, answered questions.
At 11:39 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:45 a.m., the committee resumed.
Brett Bush, Jason Hollmann, Tara Lang and Anna Lillicrap answered questions.
At 12:38 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:45 p.m., the committee resumed.
At 12:47 p.m., the Honourable Senator Petitclerc replaced the Honourable Senator Woo as a member of the committee.
Latoya Nugent, Pablo Irribarra, Tamir Israel and Aaden Pearson each made a statement and answered questions.
At 13:10 p.m., the Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Busson as a member of the committee.
At 1:30 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:46 p.m., the committee resumed.
Kelti Cameron, Julia Green and Harjit Kaur each made a statement and answered questions.
At 2:32 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:35 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.
It was agreed that staff be allowed to remain in the room for the in camera portion of today’s meeting.
It was agreed that the committee allow the audio recording and/or 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 and/or staff, and that the audio recording and/or transcript be destroyed by the clerk of the committee when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.
At 4:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ferda Simpson
Clerk of the Committee