THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, June 6, 2022
(11)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of May 5, 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference, at 5:02 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Audette, Gignac, Gerba and Hartling (5).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Boyer and Omidvar (2).

Participating in the meeting: Barbara Reynolds, Procedural Clerk, Martine Willox, Legislative Clerk and Marc-André Lanthier, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Robert Mason and Brendan Naef, analysts, Library of Parliament; Ben Silverman, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.

The chair informed the committee that being the sponsor of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons), which the committee would be considering today, she would not be presiding over these proceedings.

At 5:04 p.m., the Honourable Senator Hartling, took the chair.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 28, 2022, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons).

WITNESSES:

The Honourable Senator Salma Ataullahjan, sponsor of the bill.

Department of Justice Canada:

Nathalie Levman, Senior Counsel (by videoconference).

Public Safety Canada:

Kristin Solvason, Acting Director General, Law Enforcement (by videoconference).

The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking:

Julia Drydyk, Executive Director (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Janine Benedet, Professor of Law, University of British Columbia (by videoconference).

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:25 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:31 p.m., the committee resumed.

Nathalie Levman made a statement and, with Kristin Solvason, answered questions.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:05 p.m., the committee resumed.

Julia Drydyk and Janine Benedet each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:40 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee