Good afternoon.
This is the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, meeting number 30, on Monday, November 1, 2010. This meeting is televised and is pursuant to the order of reference of Thursday, September 23, 2010, Bill C-35, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
We have three sets witnesses in this panel. The first witness, Stéphane Handfield, appears as an individual.
Good afternoon to you, sir.
We have three representatives from the Canadian Bar Association: Michael Greene, who is a member of the national citizenship and immigration law section; Tamra L. Thomson, who is the director of legislation and law reform; and Chantal Arsenault, who is the chair of the national citizenship and immigration law section.
From the Law Society of Upper Canada, we have: Laurie Pawlitza, who is the treasurer; Malcolm Heins, who is the chief executive officer; and Sheena Weir, who is the manager of government relations.
Good afternoon to all of you.
Each group has up to seven minutes to make a presentation, and then there will be questions from the four caucuses present here today. We'll just take it in order.
Mr. Handfield, you have up to seven minutes to make a presentation.