MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (81) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:34 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Cordy, Dagenais, Dasko, Jaffer, McPhedran, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Osler, Petitclerc and Seidman (12). Participating in the meeting: Laura Blackmore, Analyst, Library of Parliament. Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 1, 2023, the committee continued its study of Bill S-235,

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. WITNESSES: South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario: Shalini Konanur, Executive Director and Lawyer. Black Legal Action Centre: Danette Edwards, Interim General Counsel. Legal Aid Ontario: Andrew Brouwer, Senior Counsel, Refugee Law Office.

Peel Children’s Aid Society: Mary Beth Moellenkamp, Chief Executive Officer; Danielle Ungara, Manager, Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence; Fatima Mukai, Immigration Specialist, Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence; Liz Okai, Manager, Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence. UNICEF Canada: Terence Hamilton, Policy Specialist (by videoconference). As an individual: Fatuma Alyaan. Shalini Konanur, Danette Edwards, Andrew Brouwer and Fatuma Alyaan each made a statement and answered questions. At 5:28 p.m., the committee suspended. At 5:33 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mary Beth Moellenkamp, Danielle Ungara, Fatima Mukai, Liz Okai and Terence Hamilton each made a statement and answered questions. At 6:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Emily Barrette Clerk of the Committee