THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
VANCOUVER, Wednesday, September 7, 2022
(14)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 9:10 a.m. PT, in the Junior Ballroom CD, 3rd floor, North Tower, Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, the chair, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Ataullahjan, Busson and Jaffer (4).
Participating in the meeting: Mireille Aubé, Procedural Clerk, and Lyne Héroux, Logistics Officer, Committees Directorate; Robert Mason and Brendan Naef, analysts, Library of Parliament; Amely Coulombe, Senate Events Coordinator, 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:
The National Council of Canadian Muslims:
Kashif Ahmed, Board Chairman.
Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:
Dr. Neila Miled, Anti-Racism Advisor, Faculty of Medicine of the University of British Columbia.
Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline:
Hasan Alam, Co-Founder and Community Liaison.
British Columbia Muslim Association Board of Women Council:
Tahzi Ali, Assistant Secretary.
As an individual:
Amyn B. Sajoo, Scholar-in-Residence and Lecturer, School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University.
The Honourable Senator Arnot moved that notwithstanding usual practice, pursuant to rule 12-17, the committee be authorized to hold meetings without a quorum on September 7, 8, 20, 21 and 22, 2022, for the purpose of receiving evidence, provided that two committee members are present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Busson moved that the committee allow electronic and photographic media coverage of its public meetings in Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec City and Toronto with as little disruption of its meetings as possible.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:13 a.m., pursuant to the declaration of June 13, 2022, and 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 the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
At 9:14 a.m., the Honourable Senator Jaffer took the chair.
Kashif Ahmed made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:03 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:16 a.m., the committee resumed.
At 10:16 a.m., the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan resumed the chair.
The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved that the committee also allow the media to video record its public meetings in Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec City and Toronto with as little disruption of the meetings as possible.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Neila Miled, Hasan Alam, Tahzi Alim and Amyn B. Sajoo each made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:57 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Sébastien Payet
Clerk of the Committee