THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, May 15, 2023
(38)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4:02 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, Hartling, Jaffer and Pate (7).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dalphond and Shugart, P.C. (2).

Participating in the meeting: Barbara Reynolds, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Robert Mason and Brendan Naef, analysts, Library of Parliament; Amely Coulombe, Communications Officer, 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: Anti-Black Racism, Sexism and Systemic Discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Commission)

WITNESSES:

The Honourable Senator Ian Shugart, P.C., former Clerk of the Privy Council.

British Columbia's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner:

Kasari Govender, Human Rights Commissioner (by videoconference).

Public Service Alliance of Canada:

Chris Aylward, National President;

Tasia Brown, Political Assistant to the National President;

Seema Lamba, Human Rights Officer.

Association of Justice Counsel:

David McNairn, President.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association:

Harini Sivalingam, Director, Equality Program (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Dominique Clément, Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta (by videoconference);

Kasari Govender and Dominique Clément each made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:01 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:08 p.m., the committee resumed.

Chris Aylward and David McNairn each made a statement and, together with Tasia Brown and Seema Lamba, answered questions.

At 6:18 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:32 p.m., the committee resumed.

The Honourable Senator Shugart, P.C., made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:04 p.m., the committee resumed.

Harini Sivalingam made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:35 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that the committee would not meet on Monday, May 29, 2023.

At 7:58 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee