Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 18 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 4, 2015

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 4, 2015
(33)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 8:01 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Eaton, Eggleton, P.C., Jaffer and Nancy Ruth (6).

In attendance: Julia Nicol and Jean-Philippe Duguay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, the committee continued its study on issues of discrimination in the hiring and promotion practices of the Federal Public Service, to study the extent to which targets to achieve employment equity are being met, and to examine labour market outcomes for the minority groups in the private sector. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

Public Service Alliance of Canada:

Jeannie Baldwin, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President (Atlantic region);

Seema Lamba, PSAC Human Rights Officer.

Public Service Commission of Canada:

Christine Donoghue, Acting President;

Jacqueline Bogden, Vice President, Audit and Data Services Branch.

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:

Mary Anne Stevens, Director, Policy and Legislation (Values and Ethics), Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer;

Daniel Watson, Chief Human Resources Officer.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Baldwin made a statement and, together with Ms. Lamba, answered questions.

At 8:58 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:02 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Donoghue and Ms. Stevens made statements and, together with Mr. Watson and Ms. Bogden, answered questions.

At 10 a.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 27, 2014, the committee continued its study of the international mechanisms toward improving cooperation in the settlement of cross-border family disputes, including Canada's actions to encourage universal adherence to and compliance with the Hague Abductions Convention, and to strengthen cooperation with non-Hague State Parties with the purpose of upholding children's best interests. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3.)

It was agreed that the following special study budget application for graphic design, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, be approved, for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:

General Expenses $ 1,000

TOTAL $ 1,000

At 10:01 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee