THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

EDMONTON, Thursday, September 8, 2022
(17)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 1:27 p.m. MT, in the Ballroom, 2nd Floor, Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton, the chair, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Ataullahjan, Jaffer, Martin and Simons (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:

Islamic Family & Social Services Association:

Omar Yaqub, Servant of Servants (ED).

Sisters Dialogue:

Wati Rahmat, Founder and Director.

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society:

Vernon Boldick, Promotions and Communications Coordinator.

As individuals:

Ibtissam Nkaili, Senior Financial Analyst, Export Development Canada;

Timiro Mohamed, Poet;

Nasra Adem, Director at Black Art Matters, Poet, Artist and Queer Activist;

Ibrahim Karidio, Engineer, City of Edmonton;

Temitope Oriola, Professor of Criminology and Sociology at the University of Alberta and President-Elect of the Canadian Sociological Association.

The chair informed the committee of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and the committee observed a minute of silence.

Omar Yaqub, Ibtissam Nkaili, Timiro Mohamed and Nasra Adem each made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:32 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:46 p.m., the committee resumed.

Wati Rahmat, Vernon Boldick, Ibrahim Karidio and Temitope Oriola each made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:59 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee