Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (44th Parliament, 1st Session)

THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, June 13, 2022
(12)

[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 5:01 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Boyer, Gerba, Jaffer and Omidvar (5).

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

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

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 3, 2022, the committee continued its study of such issues as may arise from time to time relating to human rights generally. (Topic: Islamophobia in Canada)

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Canadian Heritage:

Peter Flegel, Executive Director, Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat.

Public Safety Canada:

Dominic Rochon, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, National Security and Cyber Security Branch;

Chad Westmacott, Director General, Community Safety, Corrections and Criminal Justice, Crime Prevention Branch;

Robert Burley, Senior Director, Canada Centre for Community Engagement & Prevention of Violence.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims:

Mustafa Farooq, Chief Executive Director;

Daniel J. Kuhlen, Lawyer;

Nusaiba Al-Azem, Lawyer.

Peter Flegel and Dominic Rochon each made a statement and, together with Chad Westmacott and Robert Burley, answered questions.

Pursuant to rule 15-7(1) of the Rules of the Senate and subsection 12(1) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, a declaration of private interest was made as follows:

The chair, the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, made a written declaration regarding her advisory role with the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

At 5:30 p.m., pursuant to subsection 13(2) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan withdrew from the committee meeting for the duration of the proceedings with this witness.

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

At 5:33 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 5:33 p.m., the Honourable Senator Boyer took the chair.

Mustafa Farooq made a statement and, together with Daniel J. Kuhlen and Nusaiba Al-Azem, answered questions.

At 6 p.m., the Honourable Senator Hartling replaced the Honourable Senator Jaffer as a member of the committee.

At 6 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:03 p.m., the committee resumed.

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

It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-224.

It was agreed that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed that clause 1 carry.

It was agreed that the title carry.

It was agreed that the bill carry.

It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-224, without amendment, to the Senate.

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

At 6:09 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

At 6:10 p.m., the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan took the chair.

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera portion of today’s meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or staff, and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure but no later than the end of this parliamentary session.

It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, with any necessary, editorial, grammatical and translation changes required.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to table the report with the clerk of the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

At 6:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee