Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue No. 27 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 26, 2018

CHERRY BROOK, Nova Scotia, Monday, March 26, 2018
(55)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 6:05 p.m., in the Auditorium, Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, the chair, the Honourable Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard, presiding.

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

In attendance: Jean-Philippe Duguay and Erin Shaw, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Sarah Dea, 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, Correctional Service Canada.

Word in Action Ministry International:

Reverend Mark Colley.

As individuals:

El Jones, Nancy's Chair in Women's Studies, Mount Saint Vincent University;

Archibald Kaiser, Professor, Schulich School of Law and Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University;

Adelina Iftene, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University;

The Honourable Pamela Williams, Chief Judge, Provincial and Family Courts of Nova Scotia;

Heather Finn-Vincent, Parole Officer, Correctional Service Canada;

Treena Smith;

Ifo Ikede;

Bernadette Hamilton-Reid.

It was agreed that photography and filming be authorized during the hearing.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Halfkenny, Ms. Jones and Reverend Colley made statements and answered questions.

At 7:03 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:08 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Kaiser and Ms. Iftene made statements and answered questions.

At 8:01 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:07 p.m., the committee resumed.

The Honourable Pamela Williams and Ms. Finn-Vincent made statements and answered questions.

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

At 9:04 p.m., the committee resumed.

The committee invited the public to make statements in a town hall format.

Ms. Hamilton-Reid, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Ikede made statements and answered questions.

At 9:27 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Joëlle Nadeau
Clerk of the Committee