MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1995
(Meeting No. 1)
The Evidence for this meeting is not available because it was held in camera.
(Meeting No. 1)
The Evidence for this meeting is not available because it was held in camera.
[Text]
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in camera at 3:30 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 208, West Block, the Chairman, Colleen Beaumier, presiding.
Members of the Sub-Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, John English and Lee Morrison.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From Canadian Friends of Burma: Kevin Heppner, Human Rights Monitor; Harn Yawnghwe, Publisher of Burma Alert.
The Orders of Reference from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade being read as follows:
Ordered,--That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Committee establish a Sub-Committee on Human Rights, and a Sub-Committee on International Trade. (Thursday, May 11, 1995)
Ordered,--That further to the Committee's decision of May 11, 1995, a Sub-Committee on Human Rights, composed of five (5) members, namely: Colleen Beaumier, Bernard Patry, Geoff Regan, (a Committee Member or Associate Committee Member of the Bloc Québécois) and (a Committee Member or Associate Committee Member of the Reform Party) be established to enquire into any matters relating to international human rights; that this Sub-Committtee elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair; and that all members of the Standing Committee be ex-officio members of the Sub-Committee. (Tuesday, June 13, 1995)
Ordered,--That notwithstanding the motions adopted by the Committee on May 11, 1995 and June 13, 1995 the Sub-Committee on Human Rights be composed of four members, namely: Colleen Beaumier, Keith Martin, Bernard Patry and Geoff Regan. (Tuesday, June 13, 1995)
Ordered,--That Colleen Beaumier be elected Chair of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights. (Wednesday, June 21, 1995)
Ordered,--That each of the Sub-Committees on Human Rights, International Trade and International Financial Institutions, be granted the power, except as the House otherwise orders, to send for persons, papers and records, to sit while the House is sitting, to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned, to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be required and to report its conclusions and recommendations to the Committee. (Tuesday, September 26, 1995)
Ordered,--That further to the Committee's decisions of May 11, May 31 and June 13, 1995, the membership of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights be amended to read as follows: Colleen Beaumier, John English, Bernard Patry and Lee Morrison; that further, in the event of the designation of a member of the Bloc Québécois, the membership be increased to five (5) members to include a member of the Bloc Québécois. (Tuesday, October 24, 1995)
The Sub-Committee proceeded to sit in camera to discuss future business.
At 4:08 o'clock p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 4:10 o'clock p.m., the sitting resumed in public.
The witnesses made statements and answered questions.
At 5:03 o'clock p.m., the Sub-Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1995
(Meeting No. 2)
(Meeting No. 2)
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:35 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 306, West Block, the Chair, Colleen Beaumier, presiding.
Members of the Sub-Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, John English and Lee Morrison.
Other Member present: Bill Graham.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Ross Hynes, Director, Human Rights and Justice; Adèle Dion, Deputy Director for Human Rights and International Women's Equality; Daniel George, Deputy Director, Africa and Middle East. Individual presentation: Paul Larose-Edwards, Former head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
In accordance with its mandate under Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2) the Sub-Committee resumed its examination of international human rights. (See Minutes of Proceedings, dated Wednesday, October 25, 1995, Issue No. 1, Meeting No. 1).
Ross Hynes from Foreign Affairs and International Trade made a statement and, with Adèle Dion and Daniel George, answered questions.
Paul Larose-Edwards made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:03 o'clock p.m., the Sub-Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1995
(Meeting No. 3)
(Meeting No. 3)
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:42 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, Colleen Beaumier, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, John English and Lee Morrison.
Other Member present: Bill Graham.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From the Canadian Council of Churches: Daisy Francis, Member of Human Rights Council. From the "Ligue des droits et libertés": Gerald McKenzie. From Amnesty International: Roger Clark, Secretary General. From the Network International Human Rights: Allan McChesney, Member of the Executive.From the Human Rights Research and Education Centre: Professor Errol Mendes, Director.
In accordance with its mandate under Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), the Sub-Committee resumed its examination of international human rights. (See Minutes of Proceedings, dated Wednesday, October 25, 1995, Issue No.1, Meeting No. 1).
The witnesses made statements and participated in a roundtable discussion.
At 5:55 o'clock p.m., the Sub-Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1995
(Meeting No. 4)
(Meeting No. 4)
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:57 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 701, La Promenade, the Chair, Colleen Beaumier, presiding.
Members of the Sub-Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, John English and Lee Morrison.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From the Canadian Labour Congress: Paul Puritt, International Affairs. From the Steel Workers Humanity Fund: Moira Hutchinson. From North-South Institute: Ann Weston, Trade Program Director.
In accordance with its mandate under Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), the Sub-Committee resumed its examination of international human rights. (See Minutes of Proceedings, dated Wednesday, October 25, 1995, Issue No. 1, Meeting No. 1).
The witnesses made statements and participated in a roundtable discussion.
At 5:25 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1995
(Meeting No. 5)
(Meeting No. 5)
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:40 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 208, West Block, the Chair, Colleen Beaumier, presiding.
Members of the Sub-Committee present: Colleen Beaumier and Lee Morrison.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Research Officer.
Witnesses: From Parliamentary Centre: Robert Miller, Deputy Director. From South House Exchange: Magda Seydegart, Co-Principal. Individual presentation: Cranford Pratt, Professor of Political Science, Co-author of Human Rights in Canadian Foreign Policy.
In accordance with its mandate under Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), the Sub-Committee resumed its examination of international rights. (See Minutes of Proceedings, dated Wednesday, October 25, 1995, Issue No.1).
The witnesses made statements and participated in a roundtable discussion.
At 5:25 o'clock p.m., the Sub-Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Christine Fisher
Clerk of the Sub-Committee