MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Thursday, March 21, 2024 (90) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 11:29 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Audett e, Burey, Cordy, Dasko, Jaffer, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Osler, Petitclerc and Seidman (11). Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Cormier, Oudar and Pate (3). Participating in the meeting : Laura Blackmore and Mayra Perez -Leclerc, analysts, Librar y 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: The Honourable Senator Mobina S. B. Jaffer, sponsor of the bill. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Uyen Hoang, Acting Director General, Citizenship Policy; Stephanie Jay-Tosh, Acting Senior Director, Legislation and Program Policy; Gayle Leith, Senior Policy Analyst, Citizenship and Passport Program Guidance; Lauren Heyer, Counsel, Legal Services; Lorra Thompson, Acting Director, Humanitarian and Complementary Pathways.

Canada Border Services Agency: Derek Janhevich, Director, Inadmissibility Policy Division. Legal Aid Ontario: Andrew Brouwer, Senior Counsel, Refugee Law Office. Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers: Samuel Loeb, Member. Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association: Tamara Mosher-Kuczer, Member. The Honourable Senator Mobina S. B. Jaffer made a statement and answered questions. At 11:57 a.m., the committee suspended. At 11:59 a.m., the committee resumed. Uyen Hoang and Derek Janhevich each made a statement and answered questions. At 12:44 p.m., the committee suspended. At 12:48 p.m., the committee resumed.

Andrew Brouwer, Samuel Loeb and Tamara Mosher-Kuczer each made a statement and a nswered questions. At 1:29 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Emily Barrette Clerk of the Committee