Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 7 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, November 29, 2010
(17)
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day, at 4:07 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Nancy Ruth, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Baker, Brazeau, Hubley, Kochhar, Nancy Ruth, and Zimmer (8).
In attendance: Allison Goody, Julia Nicol, Julian Walker and Shauna Troniak, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 25, 2010, the committee began its examination Bill C-3, An Act to promote gender equity in Indian registration by responding to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia decision in McIvor v. Canada (Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs).
APPEARING:
The Honourable John Duncan, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
WITNESSES:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada:
Roy Gray, Director, Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector;
Brenda Kustra, Director General, Regional Operations Sector.
Department of Justice Canada:
Martin Reiher, Senior Counsel.
The Honourable John Duncan, P.C., M.P., made a statement and, together with Messrs. Gray and Reiher and Ms. Kustra, answered questions.
At 5:03 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:10 p.m., the committee resumed.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, the committee continued its examination of the role that the Government of Canada may play in supporting the promotion and protection of women's rights in Afghanistan after Canada has ended its combat operations in 2011. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 5.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian International Development Agency:
Françoise Ducros, Vice-President, Afghanistan Task Force;
James Melanson, Director General, Afghanistan Task Force.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police:
Assistant Commissioner Graham Muir, Canadian Police Commander, Afghanistan, June 2009-June 2010;
Constable Marie-Josée Fournier, Toronto Police Service, EUPOL, Afghanistan, Gender/Human Rights Section, November 2009-August 2010.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:
Gordon Venner, Assistant Deputy Minister, Afghanistan, Middle East and Maghreb;
Adrian Norfolk, Director, Policy and Advocacy Division/Afghanistan Task Force.
Mr. Venner, Ms. Ducros and Assistant Commissioner Muir each made a statement and, with Messrs. Norfolk and Melanson and Constable Fournier, answered questions.
At 6 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:10 p.m., the committee resumed.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 25, 2010, the committee continued its examination Bill C-3, An Act to promote gender equity in Indian registration by responding to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia decision in McIvor v. Canada (Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs).
WITNESSES:
Canadian Bar Association:
Christopher Devlin, Executive Member, National Aboriginal Law Section (by video conference).
As individuals:
Larry Chartrand, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, University of Ottawa;
Charlene Desrochers.
Mr. Devlin, Mr. Chartrand and Ms. Desrochers each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 7:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee