THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, March 18, 2024
(49)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 5:01 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, Omidvar and Pate (6).

Participating in the meeting: Robert Mason and Laura Salter, analysts, Library of Parliament; Amely Coulombe, Communications Officer, Communications, Broadcasting and Publications Directorate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the committee continued its study of the Government Response to the Fourth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights entitled “Human Rights of Federally-Sentenced Persons”, tabled in the Senate on June 16, 2021, during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament.

WITNESSES:

Office of the Correctional Investigator:

Ivan Zinger, Correctional Investigator of Canada.

St. Leonard's House Windsor:

Catherine Brooke, Executive Director.

As an individual:

Rick Sauvé, Peer Mentor, St. Leonard's Society of Canada.

The Honourable Senator Pate moved that notwithstanding usual practice, pursuant to rule 12-17, the committee be authorized to hold this afternoon’s meeting without a quorum if necessary for the purpose of receiving evidence, provided that two committee members are present.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Ivan Zinger made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:58 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.

Catherine Brooke and Rick Sauvé each made a statement and answered questions.

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

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

It was agreed that the committee allow the audio recording of the in camera portion of today’s meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members or by the committee analysts, and that the audio recording be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

At 7:51 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee