Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 4 - Minutes

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 1:00 p.m., in room 257 East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Cochrane, Finestone, P.C., Jaffer, Joyal, P.C., Kinsella, Poy, and Wilson (9).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Kenny (1).

In attendance: David Goetz, Research Officer, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 10, 2001, the committee continued its examination of 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 Order of Reference see Proceedings of the Committee, Issue No. 2).

WITNESSES:

From the Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland, Galway:

William A. Schabas, Director.

From the Canadian Human Rights Foundation:

Ruth Selwyn, Executive Director;

François Crépeau, Faculty of Law, University of Montreal;

El Obaid Ahmed El Obaid, Faculty of Law, McGill University.

From the Ontario Human Rights Commission:

Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner.

Professor Schabas made a presentation and answered questions.

At 2:04 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:08 p.m., the committee resumed.

Professors Crépeau and El Obaid made a presentation and, together with Ms Selwyn, answered questions.

Mr. Norton made a presentation and answered questions.

At 3:50 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Monday, November 5, 2001
(8)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 3:05 p.m., in room 257 East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Losier-Cool, Phalen, Taylor, andWilson (6).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Joyal, P.C., and Tunney (2).

In attendance: David Goetz, Research Officer, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 10, 2001, the committee continued its examination of 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 Order of Reference see Proceedings of the Committee, Issue No. 2).

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Professor Errol P. Mendes, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa;

Philippe LeBlanc, Permanent Delegate of the Dominican Order at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

Professor Mendes made a statement and answered questions.

Mr. LeBlanc made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:25 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Till Heyde

Clerk of the Committee