Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue No. 42 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 15, 2019

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 15, 2019
(86)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 11:30 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Bernard, Boyer, Cordy, Cormier, Ngo, Pate and Wells (8).

In attendance: Jean-Philippe Duguay and Alexandra Smith, 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 Thursday, September 20, 2018, the committee continued to examine and monitor issues relating to human rights and, inter alia, to review the machinery of government dealing with Canada's international and national human rights obligations. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 34.)

WITNESSES:

DisAbled Women's Network of Canada:

Bonnie Brayton, National Executive Director.

Egale:

Morgan Holmes, Representative.

Contentworks Inc.:

Julie Harris, President and Principal.

As an individual:

Josephine Etowa, Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.

Department of Indigenous Services Canada:

Dr. Tom Wong, Chief Medical Officer of Public Health and Executive Director.

Health Canada:

Abby Hoffman, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Brayton, Ms. Etowa, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Harris each made statements and answered questions.

At 12:34 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:40 p.m., the committee resumed.

Dr. Wong and Ms. Hoffman each made statements and answered questions.

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

ATTEST:

Barbara Reynolds
Clerk of the Committee