MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Monday, May 27, 2024 (54) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 4:01 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Tony Dean, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Cardozo, Dagenais, Deacon (Ontario), Dean, Kutcher, Oh, Pate, White and Yussuff (10). Other senators present: The Honourable Senator McNair (1). Participating in the meeting: Ariel Shapiro and Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2024, the committee began its consideration of The subject matter of those elements contained in Division of Part of Bill C-69,

An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024. WITNESSES: Canada Border Services Agency: Carl Desmarais, Director General, Enforcement. Correctional Service Canada: Luc Bisson, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Policy; Patrick Derby, Director, Strategic Policy and Cabinet Affairs. Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers: Kate Webster, Vice-President; Laura Best, Chair, Detention Working Group. Canadian Bar Association: Gabriela Ramo, National Chair, Immigration Law

Section (by videoconference); Christine Beltempo, Member (by videoconference). World Refugee and Migration Council: The Honourable Allan Rock, P.C., Council Member and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. Canadian Council for Refugees: Gauri Sreenivasan, Co-Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy. Human Rights Watch: Hanna Gros, Researcher, Disability Rights Division. As an individual: Efrat Arbel, Associate Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia (by videoconference). Carl Desmarais made a statement and, together with Luc Bisson, answered questions.

At 5:01 p.m., the committee suspended. At 5:11 p.m., the committee resumed. Laura Best, Gabriela Ramo, Christine Beltempo and Efrat Arbel each made statements and, together with Kate Webster, answered questions. At 6:13 p.m., the committee suspended. At 6:23 p.m., the committee resumed. The Honourable Allan Rock, Gauri Sreenivasan and Hanna Gros each made a statement and answered questions. At 7:19 p.m., the committee suspended. At 7:24 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-6(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.

It was agreed that the committee allow the audio recording 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 recording be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session. At 7:40 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Ericka Dupont Clerk of the Committee