Committee overview: Standing Committee National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs: Bill C-12 – Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act (February 9, 2026)

Committee Members

Committee Mandate

Pursuant to Rule 12-7(17), the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs has the mandate to study issues related to national security, defence and veterans affairs generally. The committee has conducted studies and examined bills in the areas of firearms control, customs and preclearance, security and defence in the Arctic, and to issues related to the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Veterans.

CBSA-Related recent studies and reports

• Bill C-20 (June 2024), An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments
  • Report(s): 11th Report (October 2024): Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission, without amendment but with observations
• The subject matter of those elements contained in Division 39 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024 (May 2024)
  • Report(s): 9th Report (June 2024): The subject matter of those elements contained in Division 39 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024
• Bill C-21 (June 2023), An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms)
  • Report(s): 8th Report (December 2023): Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain amendments (firearms), without amendment but with observations
• Bill S-7 (May 2022), An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016
  • Report(s): 3rd Report (June 2022): Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016, with amendment

Committee Members biographies

Hassan Yussuf (Chair)

Independent Senators Group (Ontario)

• Appointed to the Senate in June 2021
• After emigrating from Guyana, Yussuff worked as a truck mechanic for General Motors before becoming involved in the labour movement, joining the Canadian Auto Workers union in 1988. He became the Canadian Labour Congress's (CLC) first person of colour elected to an executive position in 1999
• He served as the CLC's Secretary-Treasurer from 2002 to 2014, and was then elected CLC President in May 2014, becoming the first person of colour to lead Canada's union movement. He was re-elected in 2017 and retired in June 2021
• Prominent international activist, elected for his second term as President of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas in 2016
• Member of the Executive Bureau and General Council of the International Trade Union Confederation and a member of the Ministerial Council of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• Serves as a voice for labour and social justice, drawing on experience with key government bodies like the NAFTA Council, the Sustainable Development Advisory Council, and the Net-Zero Advisory Body
• Recipient of the Pearson Centre Progressive Leadership Award and received honorary Doctorate of Laws from Brock University and Ryerson University

Mohammad Al Zaibak (Deputy Chair)

Canadian Senators Group (Ontario)

• Appointed to the Senate in January 2024
• Senator Al Zaibak is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors, a graduate of Harvard Business School, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Electro-Physics Engineering from Alexandria University, in Egypt
• A Syrian-born Arab Canadian, Senator Al Zaibak is an entrepreneur and businessman with a commitment to advancing social development, promoting diversity and cultural understanding, and making a difference in his community
• Senator Al Zaibak is an expert in public-private partnerships, corporate governance, and international negotiations on capital projects in various technology industries. He is the co-founder, President, and CEO of Canadian Development and Marketing Corporation, involved in the development, financing, ownership, and management of specialized information technology services
• Throughout his career, Senator Al Zaibak has worked to strengthen Canada's economic, social, and cultural ties, particularly with Arab countries. He served as Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Chair of its International Strategy Advisory Committee, and is former Chair of the Canada Arab Business Council

Dawn Anderson

Progressive Senate Group (Northwest Territories)

• Appointed to the Senate in December 2018
• As Senator for the Northwest Territories, Ms Anderson is committed to raising the profile of Arctic, Inuit and Indigenous issues across Canada to ensure representation that recognizes the uniqueness and diversity of people in the regions. She believes in a holistic approach which recognizes community driven approaches and partnership to improve well-being in the North and to bridging socio-economic gaps between the Arctic and the rest of Canada
• Senator Anderson was born and raised on the shores of the Arctic Ocean in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories; her professional experience has enabled her to engage with the majority of the 33 communities throughout the Northwest Territories
• Ms. Anderson has a Bachelors of Child and Youth Care from University of Victoria. She has more than 20 years of experience as a public servant, working with communities and Indigenous peoples across the Northwest Territories
• She served in various roles with the Government of Northwest Territories, Department of Justice. Notably, she was the Director of Community Justice and Policing, and Assistant Director, Corrections Services. She was involved in the feasibility study, development and implementation of the NWT Wellness Court Program, a therapeutic program that attempts to reduce recidivism
• Prior to her appointment, Ms. Anderson worked as a Policy Analyst with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation where she participated in Inuvialuit self-government negotiations with the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Government of Canada

Andrew Cardozo

Progressive Senators Group (Ontario)

• Appointed to the Senate in November 2022
• Holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from York University, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Carleton University and studied art at the Ottawa School of Art
• Former President and co-founder of the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy
• Past Executive Director of the Alliance of Sector Councils, and Executive Director of the Canadian Ethnocultural Council
• Former columnist and an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University
• Served as a Commissioner of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) where he championed Canadian content, diversity in broadcasting, and played a key role in the licensing of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Claude Carignan

Conservative (Quebec – Mille Isles)

• Appointed to on August 27, 2009, and was Leader of the Opposition from November 2015 to March 2017
• Holds a law degree from the Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, and a graduate degree in public law from the Université de Montréal. He has worked as a lawyer since his admission to the Quebec Bar in 1988, specializing in civil litigation, public law, labour relations, and health and social services law
• Sits on the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, and the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency. Senator Carignan is also a member of the Privy Council
• Sat on the boards of several social agencies in his region
• Taught public and labour law at the Université de Montréal Faculty of Law and at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He also taught at the École nationale d'administration publique. Elected mayor of Saint-Eustache in November 2000

Donna Dasko

Independent Senators Group (Ontario)

• A respected national pollster, media commentator, and private-sector business leader with significant public policy experience. She holds a Ph.D. and MA from the University of Toronto and a BA (Hons) from the University of Manitoba
• As former Senior Vice-President of Environics Research Group Ltd., she built the firm into a leading Canadian research firm. She led major studies on topics from the economy and health promotion to national unity, and pioneered media-sponsored polling for organizations like the CBC and The Globe and Mail
• A committed community volunteer, her roles have included President of St. Stephen's Community House, Director of the United Way of Greater Toronto, and Chair of the National CEO Roundtable for the Alzheimer Society
• Her passion for promoting women in politics has guided much of her advocacy. She co-founded and served as National Chair of Equal Voice, and co-founded the Campaign for an Equal Senate for Canada. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) and works with the National Democratic Institute on international issues related to women in politics
• She is a Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and is a member of Statistics Canada's Advisory Committee on Social Conditions
• Issues raised relating to the Canada Border Services Agency portfolio: Firearms (e.g., C-21)

Marty Deacon

Independent Senators Group (Ontario – Waterloo Region)

• Appointed to the Senate of Canada on February 15, 2018
• As an Educator with a Masters of Education (Western University) she taught (Physics, Science, Physical and Health Education) in Secondary Schools (Waterloo Region District School Board), at two Universities (University of Toronto, Western University), was a Consultant, and an Administrator at the Elementary and Secondary School level
• Was an Apprentice Coach for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Has coached, led or served at 15 Olympic, Commonwealth and Pan Am Games and served as a Director on the Canadian Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Canada, Ontario Excellence Leadership Centre and the Grand River Jazz Society
• Recognized through a variety of awards including: The Women of Distinction and Lifetime Achievement Award (YWCA), Waterloo Region, The International Olympic Committee, Education and Youth Award, the Jules Nisse "Playground to Podium" award, the Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal, Induction in the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame and the Cambridge Hall of Fame
• Issues raised relating to the Canada Border Services Agency portfolio: Firearms legislation (C-21) and Foreign interference

Katharine Hay

Progressive Senators Group (Ontario)

• Appointed to the Senate in March 2025
• Senator Hay leverages her executive background to champion innovation-driven policies in artificial intelligence, the "brain economy," and modernized youth mental health systems to bolster Canada's global competitiveness
• As Kids Help Phone President and CEO (2017 to 2025), she spearheaded a massive digital transformation, evolving the organization into a 24/7 multilingual e-mental health leader that utilizes AI, machine learning, and data-driven insights to manage a 250% growth in service demand
• Cross-Sector Expertise and Recognition: With a career spanning financial services, academia, and healthcare, she has held leadership roles at major Canadian institutions (U of T, Women's College Hospital) and has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and a Top 10 Leader in Digital Health
• Ms. Hay holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and an Institute of Corporate Directors designation from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto

Tony Ince

Canadian Senators Group (Nova Scotia)

• Appointed to the Senate in March 2025
• Tony Ince is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Nova Scotia and a lifelong advocate for social justice, equity, and diversity – particularly within African Nova Scotian communities
• Mr. Ince was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in 2013, representing the riding of Cole Harbour-Portland Valley, re-elected in 2017, and again in 2021, this time to represent Cole Harbour. He served as an MLA until his retirement from politics last year. While in the Legislative Assembly, he held Cabinet positions, including Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs, Minister of Communications, Minister of Public Service Commission, and Minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives
• Prior to his career in politics, Mr. Ince contributed to his community as a counsellor for the Department of Community Services, an educational assistant for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, and a regional educator for the Black Educators Association. He also served in Canada's Reserve Force
• Mr. Ince co-founded and co-chaired the Canadian Congress of Black Parliamentarians, where he advocated for Black Canadians' rights. He was a member of the African Nova Scotian School Board and the Africville Genealogy Society, and he chaired the Nova Scotia Community College African NS Advisory Board

Stan Kutcher

Independent Senators Group (Nova Scotia)

• Appointed to the Senate in December 2018
• Formerly Head of Psychiatry Department at Dalhousie University and Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, he developed and deployed innovative school mental health literacy and capacity-building programs. Was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia in 2014
• Leading psychiatrist and professor who earned his medical degree from McMaster University after studying history and political science. His early career included transforming Sunnybrook Hospital's adolescent psychiatry division and pioneering research into youth mental illnesses
• Continues to advocate on behalf of young people with mental illness
• Led the development of a national youth mental health framework as a member of the Child and Youth Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, a body formed following the Senate's ground-breaking 2006 report
• Is married to Jan Sheppard Kutcher, whose work has focused on integrating immigrants into their professional careers in Canada

John M. McNair

Independent Senators Group (New Brunswick)

• First appointed to the Senate in October 2023
• Mr. McNair holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Brunswick
• Mr. McNair is actively involved in the community. He is currently a director and treasurer of the Harrison McCain Foundation and has previously served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including Housing Alternatives, Rehabitat, the Saint John YMCA, Junior Achievement (Saint John), Literacy New Brunswick, Symphony New Brunswick, the Saint John branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Saint John Airport Authority, the Region 2 Hospital Corporation, the Saint John chapter of wetlands conservation organization Ducks Unlimited, and the Exhibition Association of the City and the County of Saint John
• Mr. McNair started his legal career with the Saint John law firm Clark, Drummie & Company in 1984, advancing to become a partner in the firm, a role he held from 1990 to 1998
• He served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to Service NB between 2009 and 2023. In this role, he was responsible for the interpretation and provision of legal advice on a wide range of issues, including the 28 public acts administered by Service NB, as well as oversight on Service NB memorandums to the Executive Council. Mr. McNair has also been working with Opportunities NB (ONB) as Corporate Secretary since 2009

Judy A. White

Progressive Senators Group (Newfoundland and Labrador)

• First appointed to the Senate in July 2023
• Senator White is the first Indigenous Senator appointed from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is a Mi'kmaq, a member of the Flat Bay Band, and a King's Counsel lawyer with notable experience in human rights issues, Indigenous governance, and legislative matters
• Ms. White holds a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University with an emphasis on Indigenous law. She also completed the Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources, and Governments at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School, the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities Program at Harvard Business School, and the Chartered Director Program at McMaster University. She was also a partner at an Indigenous law firm
• Prior to her appointment to the Senate, Ms. White was member of numerous boards, and served as the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador, Chair of the Inuvialuit Arbitration Board, Chairperson of the First Nations Centre on Governance, board member with the First Nations Financial Management Board and Co-Chair (Indigenous) of Equal Voice's Newfoundland and Labrador chapter

Suze Youance

Independent Senators Group (Quebec)

• First appointed to the Senate in September 2024
• A civil engineer with over 25 years of experience, Ms. Youance has held key roles at firms like FNX-INNOV and CIMA+, specializing in infrastructure and sustainable development across both Canada and Haiti
• Since 2008, she has served as a lecturer and researcher at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and has worked as a science communicator, hosting television programs focused on engineering and sustainability
• She is a dedicated advocate for women in STEM and the Haitian community, serving as Chair of the Bureau de la communauté haïtienne de Montréal and President of the Scientific Council for the UNESCO Chair "Women and Science for Development"
• She earned her degree in civil engineering from the Université d'État d'Haïti, followed by both a Master's and a PhD in Construction Engineering from the ÉTS in Montréal