THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, May 1, 2023
(36)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4:04 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, presiding.

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

Participating in the meeting: Barbara Reynolds, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Robert Mason and Brendan Naef, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 3, 2022, the committee began its study of such issues as may arise from time to time relating to human rights generally. (Topic: Anti-Black Racism, Sexism and Systemic Discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Commission)

WITNESSES:

The Honourable Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard.

Sloly Solutions Inc.:

Peter Sloly, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference).

Canadian Association of Black Lawyers:

Raphael Tachie, President (by videoconference).

Black Class Action Secretariat:

Nicholas Marcus Thompson, Executive Director.

As individuals:

Rubin A. Coward, CD Community Advocate and Retired Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Canadian Air Force;

Deborah Ann Coward;

Hugh Scher, Human Rights and Constitutional Lawyer;

Richard Sharpe, Director, Black Equity Branch, Centre for People, Culture and Talent, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario;

Faisal Bhabha, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (by videoconference).

Peter Sloly made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:41 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:43 p.m., the committee resumed.

Rubin A. Coward and Raphael Tachie each made a statement and, together with Deborah Ann Coward, answered questions.

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

At 5:40 p.m., the committee resumed.

Nicholas Marcus Thompson, Hugh Scher and Richard Sharpe each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:05 p.m., the committee resumed.

Faisal Bhabha made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:39 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:41 p.m., the committee resumed.

The Honourable Senator Bernard made a statement and answered questions.

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

At 8:09 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

At 8:37 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee