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

Issue No. 15 - Minutes of Proceedings - December 8, 2016

OTTAWA, Thursday, December 8, 2016
(39)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 10:30 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the deputy chair, the Honourable Percy E. Downe, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Cools, Cordy, Dawson, Downe, Eaton, Housakos, Ngo and Oh (10).

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

In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn, Pascal Tremblay and Karine Azoulay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on November 17, 2016, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-226, An Act to provide for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and to make related amendments to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No 14.)

WITNESSES:

As an individual:

William Browder, Head of the International Justice Campaign for Sergei Magnitsky and Author of Red Notice (by video conference).

Human Rights Foundation:

Thor Halvorssen, President and Chief Executive Officer (by video conference).

Global Affairs Canada:

Kevin Rex, Acting Director General, Eastern Europe Relations;

Carolyn Knobel, Acting Director General, Legal Affairs;

Marc-Yves Bertin, Director General, International Economy Policy;

Richard Arbeiter, Director General, Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion.

The deputy chair made a statement.

Mr. Browder and Mr. Halvorssen made statements and answered questions.

At 11:20 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:23 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Bertin made a statement and, together with Mr. Rex, Mr. Arbeiter and Ms. Knobel answered questions.

At 11:39 a.m., the Honourable Senator Ngo took the chair.

At 12:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Marie-Eve Belzile

Clerk of the Committee