THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 28, 2026
(21)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 2:02 p.m., in room W120, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Paulette Senior, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Ataullahjan, Bernard, Ince, Karetak-Lindell, Martin, McPhedran, Senior and Wells (Alberta) (9).
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:
British Columbia Assembly of First Nations:
Terry Teegee, Regional Chief (by videoconference).
United Nations:
Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief (by videoconference).
The Democracy Fund:
Mark Joseph, Director of Litigation.
Free Speech Union of Canada:
Lisa Bildy, Lawyer and Executive Director.
Charter Advocates Canada:
James Manson, Senior Lawyer.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Faith and Public Life:
Julia Beazley, Director.
Canadian Centre for Christian Charities:
Deina Warren, Director of Legal Affairs.
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada:
Joseph Wesley Richards II, Vice-president and General Counsel.
Catholic Civil Rights League:
Philip Horgan, President and General Counsel (by videoconference).
Terry Teegee and Nazila Ghanea each made a statement and answered questions.
At 3 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:04 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mark Joseph, Lisa Bildy and James Manson each made a statement and answered questions.
At 3:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:01 p.m., the committee resumed.
Julia Beazley, Deina Warren, Joseph Wesley Richards II and Philip Horgan each made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:59 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Caroline Woodward
Clerk of the Committee