Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 5 - Minutes

OTTAWA, Monday, November 26, 2001
(9)

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4:05 p.m., in Room 257 East Block, the Chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

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

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 British Columbia Human Rights Commission:

Mr. Harinder Mahil, Acting Chief Commissioner.

From the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission:

Mr. Charles Ferris, Legal Counsel.

From the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission:

Mr. James E. Dewar, Q.C., Chair;

Ms Mayann E. Francis, Executive Director.

From the Canadian Human Rights Commission:

Ms Michelle Falardeau-Ramsay, Q.C., Chief Commissioner;

Mr. John Hucker, Secretary General;

Mr. Richard Tardif, General Counsel.

Messrs. Mahil and Ferris made statements and answered questions.

Mr. Dewar and Ms Francis made a statement and answered questions.

Ms Falardeau-Ramsay and Mr. Hucker made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:25 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 2:40 p.m., in Room 505 Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

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

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Jaffer and Joyal, P.C. (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:

From the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission:

Ms Donna Scott, Chief Commissioner and Director.

From the Manitoba Human Rights Commission:

Ms Janet Baldwin, Chairperson.

The committee considered a draft report.

It was agreed that the committee adopt the draft report with changes as discussed, and that the Chair and Deputy Chair be authorized to finalize the text and make minor changes that do not affect the substance of the report.

Ms Scott and Ms Baldwin made statements and answered questions.

At 6:40 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Till Heyde

Clerk of the Committee