THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
(47)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Sharon Burey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Boudreau, Burey, Martin, Moodie, Muggli, Osler, Petitclerc and Senior (9).
Participating in the meeting: Mayra Perez-Leclerc and Eleni Kachulis, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the committee began its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 9 and 12 of Part 4 of Bill C-31, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025. (Topic: Divisions 9 and 12)
WITNESSES:
Employment and Social Development Canada:
Soojin Yu, Senior Director, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program;
Sébastien St-Arnaud, Manager, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program.
Health Canada:
Kendal Weber, Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch;
Tim Appleby, Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, Tobacco Control Directorate, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch;
Denise MacGillivray, Director General, Cannabis, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Directorate, Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch.
Canadian Labour Congress:
Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer;
Lisa Freeman, Senior Researcher.
Federally Regulated Employers, Transportation and Communications:
Derrick Hynes, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Jackie VanDerMeulen, Legal Counsel (by videoconference).
Soojin Yu and Kendal Weber each made a statement and, together with Tim Appleby, answered questions.
At 5:14 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:19 p.m., the committee resumed.
At 5:19 p.m., the chair, the Honourable Rosemary Moodie, resumed the chair.
Lily Chang and Derrick Hynes each made a statement and, together with Jackie VanDerMeulen and Lisa Freeman, answered questions.
At 5:46 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:50 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).
It was agreed that, for the duration of the parliamentary session, members’ staff be allowed to remain in the room for the in camera portions of committee meetings, unless otherwise agreed to by the committee/the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
It was agreed that, for the duration of the parliamentary session, the committee allow the audio recording and/or transcription of in camera meetings, unless otherwise agreed to by the committee/the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, and 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 5:59 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ferda Simpson
Clerk of the Committee