THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

VANCOUVER, Wednesday, September 7, 2022
(15)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 1:14 p.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, Jaffer and Martin (5).

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:

British Columbia's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner:

Kasari Govender, Human Rights Commissioner.

Muslim Students’ Association of The University of British Columbia:

Abisola Kehinde, Vice-President and Sister.

Foundation For A Path Forward:

Tariq Tyab, Co-Founder.

As individuals:

Rachna Singh, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Surrey-Green Timbers and Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives;

Karim H. Karim, Chancellor’s Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University.

Kasari Govender and Rachna Singh each made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:17 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:28 p.m., the committee resumed.

Abisola Kehinde, Karim H. Karim and Tariq Tyab each made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee