SOCI – Committee & Appearance Overview – November 17, 2025

About The Committee

Committee Mandate

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the mandate to study matters relating to social affairs, science and technology generally. The committee has conducted studies and examined bills in a wide range of areas, including social and labour matters, immigration and citizenship, health and welfare, pensions, housing as well as child and youth matters.

Motion for this Study

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, in relation to Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025):

• 1[…];
• if, before this order is adopted, the bill has been placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at a sitting subsequent to the one at which this order is adopted, second reading be brought forward, upon the adoption of this order, so that the bill be taken into consideration at second reading as the next item of business;
• if the bill is adopted at second reading, it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, which, for the purposes of its consideration of the bill, be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned; […]

Past Reports

A full list of studies and legislation the committee has considered in the 45th Parliament can be found here.

SOCI recently completed a study on Bill S-235, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and presented their twentieth report with amendments to the bill.

About The Appearance

Environmental Scan

Senator groups have recently not been vocal on Bill C-3, due to the bill’s recent arrival in the Senate.

While the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has no members in SOCI, the party is critical of the bill. The CPC has voiced concern of the lack of preparation in the creation of the bill, and issues surrounding lack of security.

The Independent Senator Group (ISG) are supportive of Bill C-3 and are against the current first-generation limit.

The Progressive Senator Group (PSG) have not been vocal on Bill C-3. They have voiced previous concern of the impact of Bill C-71 on adopted children.

The Canadian Senator Group (CSG) have concerns in relation to security checks and security status of the extra-generation Canadians coming to Canada in relation to Bill C-3.

Non-Affiliated members have not been vocal on Bill C-3.

Appearance Details

The Minister has been invited to deliver a five-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning from committee members. The Parliamentary Budget Officer will be in attendance with the Minister. We recommend that the Minister appear for the first hour supported by IRCC officials, who would then remain for the second hour to respond to further questions.

To support the Minister and remain for the second hour, we recommend the following officials:

• Catherine Scott, Assistant Deputy Minister, Settlement and Citizens
• Uyen Hoang, Director General, Citizenship Branch
• Erika Schneidereit, Counsel, Legal Services

Membership

Independent Senator Group

Rosemary Moodie
Ontario
Chair os SOCI

Dawn Arnold
New Brunswick
Member

Victor Boudreau
New Brunswick
Member

John M. McNair
New Brunswick
Member

Chantal Petitclerc
Quebec–Grandville
Member

Paulette Senior
Ontario
Member

Membership

Progressive Senator Group

Rodger Cuzner
Nova Scotia
Member

Katherine Hay
Ontario
Member

Tracy Muggli
Saskatchewan
Member

Canadian Senator Group
Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler
Manitoba

Deputy Chair of SOCI
Sharon Burey
Ontario

Non-Affilated

Patrick Brazeau
Quebec–Repentigny

Marilou McPhedran
Manitoba

Independent Senator Group

Top party Issues

The Independent Senators Group (ISG) does not function as a conventional political party, rather, it governs itself through a set of guiding principles and invites like-minded senators to join under its banner.

The ISG’s purpose is to: share information and expertise, engage in dialogue, take collective action on bills or issues that the ISG has designated as priorities, and build on their Modernization Agenda, through which they promote changes in Senate rules and practices.

Members of the ISG generally approach issues independently, and without whipped votes (except for agenda items designated as ISG priorities).

Recent Party Activity

• November 6 – Debates: Voiced support for Bill C-3 and its allowance to access citizenship by descent going forward (Coyle).
• November 6 – Debates: Concerned for the first-generation limit, in relation to children born to Canadian diplomats and Armed Forces personnel (Coyle).
• November 6 – Debates: Noted that citizenship is more than paperwork but about connection to the country and land (Coyle).
• December 5, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired if there was concern or a risk that people will want to become Canadians of convenience and who could benefit from the advantages of citizenship without establishing a real lasting connection (Cormier)
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Asked the witness if they are concerned that Bill C-71 would further cause more “lost Canadians” (Arnot).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Asked the witness if they believe that having substantial connection to Canada (present for 1 095 non-consecutive days before birth of the child) is reasonable and realistic (Petitclerc).
• June 5, 2024 – Debates: Inquired if the government will consider an amendment to Bill C-71 to correct the inequality for Canadians born abroad and adopted by Canadian parents. (Arnot)
• May 28, 2024 – Debates: Stated that not one Senator in the SOCI committee disagreed about the need for immigrant minors who aged out of care to have a route to citizenship. (Omidvar)
• March 21, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired if the amendments proposed by Senator Jafferto Bill C-235 would be inclusive to all children. (Petitclerc)
• February 7, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired if there is a risk of different treatment between children returning to their parents and those who never left the child welfare system in relation to citizenship grants. (Petitclerc)
• January 15, 2024 – Twitter: Shared a link on what the recent court ruling on Canada’s Citizenship Act means for lost Canadians. (Omidvar)

Progressive Senate Group

Top party Issues

The Progressive Senators Group (PSG) does not function as a conventional political party, rather, it governs itself through a set of guiding principles and invites like-minded senators to join under its banner.

The PSG formed in 2019 as a more progressive, unstructured offshoot of the ISG. The group does not whip votes.

The PSG believes that Canadians share a responsibility to advance the public good, including advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. They view government as a positive force in advancing the public interest.

Recent Party Activity

• December 5, 2024 – SOCI: Concerned for the impact the bill will have on adopted children (Muggli).
• December 5, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired if the government has conducted a Gender-based Analysis Plus for Bill C-71 (Bernard).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Raised concern that Bill C-71 discriminates against internationally adopted children due to birth, nationality, and country origin (Bernard).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Noted that there should be an attachment to Canada test (Harder).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired how Bill C-71 would impact different identity groups and various intersections of race, gender, age, and religion and 2SLGBTQQIA+ (Bernard).

Canadian Senator Group

Top party Issues

The Canadian Senators Group (CSG) was founded in November 2019 by 11 senators who share an interest in furthering the modernization and independence of the Senate, while actively representing regional interests in the Senate Chamber and in committees.

CSG members act and vote independently. There is no requirement or expectation for members to agree on all issues or to vote en bloc. Each member will continue to work with all senators on legislation and important issues to Canadians. 

CSG senators are committed to maintaining openness and transparency, engaging in solid research and robust debate, and preserving the highest level of decorum in the Senate Chamber.

Recent Party Activity

• November 6 – Debates: Inquired on security status and security checks of the extra-generation Canadians coming to Canada (Downe).
• June 19 – Debates: Mentioned Bill C-71, now Bill C-3, which proposes to restore citizenship to “Lost Canadians” by fixing the “second-generation cut-off” (Prosper).
• December 5, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired if the government will commit to serious consideration of the witness testimony heard at committee and make necessary changes to Bill C-71 (Osler).
• December 5, 2024 – SOCI: Voiced concerns on how the citizenship act would affect Indigenous families, adopted children, and other groups (Osler).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Asked about the steps the federal government should take to effectively reach out and inform individuals on their citizenship status (Osler).
• March 21, 2024 – SOCI: Asked how the process of grants rather than automatic citizenship would address the situation of young adults without citizenship once they enter the legal system. (Osler)

Non-Affiliated

Top party Issues

Senators have not affiliated themselves with any group or party.

Recent Party Activity

• December 5, 2024 – SOCI: Noted that witnesses are concerned that children who have First Nations status but who do not have Canadian citizenship will be forgotten (Brazeau).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Voiced concern of the wait times to receive their status for children of Canadians (Brazeau).
• December 4, 2024 – SOCI: Inquired, if the bill passed, if there was an estimate or an approximation of how many individuals may be affected by the bill (Brazeau).
• November 21, 2024 – Debates: Called upon a motion for committee to study Bill C-71. (Gold)