Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Issue 12 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 16, 2012

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 16, 2012
(30)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room 160- S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, De Bané, P.C., Downe, Fortin- Duplessis, Frum, Johnson, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Robichaud, P.C., and Smith, P.C. (Cobourg) (10).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Kinsella (1).

In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn and Brian Hermon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 2, 2012, the committee continued its examination on Canadian foreign policy regarding Iran, its implications, and other related matters. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 6.)

WITNESSES:

Human Rights Watch:

Faraz Sanei, Researcher, Middle East and North Africa (by video conference).

Amnesty International:

Nassim Papayianni, Campaigner, East Gulf Team (by video conference).

Iranian Canadian Congress:

Farrokh Zandi, President;

Samad Assadpour, Secretary of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Sanei and Mr. Papayianni made statements and answered questions.

At 5:20 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:25 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Zandi made a statement and with Mr. Assadpour answered questions.

At 6:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Line Gravel

Clerk of the Committee