Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue No. 25 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 14, 2018

OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 14, 2018
(52)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 11:34 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Bernard, Brazeau, Cordy, Hartling, Martin and Pate (8).

In attendance: Jean-Philippe Duguay, Erin Shaw and Ryan van den Berg, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Karlee Squires, 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:

Theresa Halfkenny, Chair, Atlantic Region for Correctional Services Canada.

As individuals:

Denise Edwards, Former Federal Prisoner (by video conference);

Natalie Charles, Former Federal Prisoner.

It was agreed to allow the Communications Directorate to take photographs during today's hearing.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Edwards and Ms. Charles made statements and answered questions.

It was agreed that the following special study budget application for Public Hearings and Fact Finding in Edmonton, Vancouver and Abbotsford on the human rights of prisoners in the federal correction system, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, be approved, with the changes as discussed, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to approve the final version and for the chair to submit the budget to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:

GENERAL EXPENSES

Activity 1: Alberta and British Columbia	$122,895
TOTAL	$122,895

At 12:26 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 1:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer
Clerk of the Committee