THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, May 25, 2026
(20)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Paulette Senior, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Arnot, Ataullahjan, Bernard, Ince, Karetak-Lindell, Martin, McPhedran, Senior and Wells (Alberta) (10).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Simons (1).
Participating in the meeting: Robert Mason and Madalina Chesoi, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 30, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places).
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Kristen Ali, Manager and Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Joanna Wells, Senior Counsel and Team Lead, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Marianne Breese, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.
National Council of Canadian Muslims:
Mustafa Farooq, Consultant;
Ahmad Al-Qadi, Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer.
Canadian Council of Imams:
Imam Sikander Hashmi, Executive Director.
Canadian Muslim Lawyer’s Association:
Nora Fathalipour, Legal Counsel.
Canadian Muslim Healthcare Network:
Dr. Nehal Al Tarhuni, Doctor of Dental Surgery (by videoconference);
Dr. Romesa Khalid, Doctor, Family Physician.
Egale Canada:
Eric Freeman, Senior Staff Lawyer.
DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada:
Bonnie Brayton, Chief Executive Officer.
Women's Shelters Canada:
Anuradha Dugal, Executive Director (by videoconference).
Black LGBTQ Justice Canada:
Wesley Crichlow, Professor of Criminology, Black LGBTQ Critical Race Theory Scholar.
As individuals:
Dwight Newman, Professor of Law and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Rights, Communities, and Constitutional Law (by videoconference).
Sophie Xiaoyi Liu, PhD Candidate in Sociology, University of British Columbia.
Kristen Ali, Joanna Wells and Marianne Breese answered questions.
At 4:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:02 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mustafa Farooq, Ahmad Al-Qadi, Imam Sikander Hashmi, Nora Fathalipour, Dr. Nehal Al Tarhuni and Dr. Romesa Khalid each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:02 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Eric Freeman, Bonnie Brayton and Anuradha Dugal each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:57 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:04 p.m., the committee resumed.
Dwight Newman, Wesley Crichlow and Sophie Xiaoyi Liu each made a statement and answered questions.
At 8:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Caroline Woodward
Clerk of the Committee