Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue No. 25 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 8, 2018

KITCHENER, Thursday, February 8, 2018
(51)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 6:14 p.m., in Kitchener Suites, Crowne Plaza Hotel, the chair, the Honourable Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Bernard, Cordy and Pate (4).

In attendance: Jean-Philippe Duguay and Erin Shaw, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Tony Spears, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 15, 2016, the committee continued its study on the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 14.)

WITNESSES:

Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committee:

Sophia Brown Ramsay, Vice-Chair and Manager, Community Development, Black Community Action Network of Peel.

Black Community Action Network of Peel:

Ambreen Jamil, Intern;

Tamera Boothe, Intern.

Jane-Finch Concerned Citizens Organization and Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committee:

Winston LaRose, President and Member.

Community Justice Initiatives:

Chris Cowie, Executive Director.

Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies:

Savannah Gentile, Director, Advocacy and Legal Issues.

As an individual:

Halina (Lin) Haag, PhD Student, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfred Laurier University and Researcher, Acquired Brain Injury Research Lab, University of Toronto.

Community Justice Initiatives:

Julie Thompson, Director, Community Relations.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada:

Rod Friesen, Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program.

It was agreed that Senate Communications be authorized to take photos and film during the meeting.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Brown Ramsay, Mr. LaRose, Mr. Cowie, Ms. Gentile, Ms. Haag, Mr. Friesen, and Ms. Thompson made statements and, together with Ms. Jamil and Ms. Boothe, answered questions.

At 7:10 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:12 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 8:05 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:11 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 9:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer
Clerk of the Committee