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44 th Parliament, 1 st Session

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THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, October 30, 2023

(44) [ English ]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4:31 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Gerba, Jaffer, Omidvar and Pate (5).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators McPhedran and White (2).

Participating in the meeting: Robert Mason and Martin McCallum, analysts, Library of Parliament.

The clerk informed the committee of the unavoidable absences of the chair and deputy chair and presided over the election of an acting chair.

The Honourable Senator Arnot moved that the Honourable Senator Omidvar be the acting chair.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The acting chair took the chair.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 3, 2022, the committee began its study of such issues as may arise from time to time relating to human rights generally. (Topic: Forced Global Displacement)

WITNESSES:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

Rema Jamous Imseis, Representative to Canada.

World Refugee and Migration Council:

The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, P.C., Chair.

Human Rights Watch:

Bill Frelick, Director, Refugee and Migrant Rights Division ( by videoconference ).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

Michelle N. Mascoll, Director General, Resettlement Policy Branch;

Mary Da Costa Lauzon, Director, Migration Policy Branch.

Global Affairs Canada:

Matthieu Kimmell, Director, Humanitarian Policy.

As an individual:

The Honourable Allan Rock, P.C., Council Member, World Refugee and Migration Council and Former Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

The Honourable Senator Arnot moved that notwithstanding usual practice, pursuant to rule 12-17, the committee be authorized to hold this afternoon’s meeting without a quorum if necessary for the purpose of receiving evidence, provided that two committee members are present.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Rema Jamous Imseis and the Honourable Allan Rock, P.C., each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:31 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:33 p.m., the committee resumed.

The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, P.C., and Bill Frelick each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:36 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:46 p.m., the committee resumed.

Michelle N. Mascoll and Matthieu Kimmell each made a statement and, together with Mary Da Costa Lauzon, answered questions.

At 7:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee

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