Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think when it comes to the actual government, to the progress, we would be the clearing house that would gather the information from federal departments about where they are vis-à-vis specific recommendations. We would integrate that for the consideration of our federal deputy ministers committee, which has a specific role horizontally across the government, and of course, for the consideration our own ministers, to brief them.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think we need to be transparent at a point where we can let all Canadians, including civil society, know what progress is being made against the recommendations and the engagements that have been made. That may lean toward having perhaps either a more formal or a stronger consultation process with civil society.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It's a procedural question that I don't feel particularly competent to answer. I think what is important for us is that whatever procedure follows--following ministerial approval and assuming the minister's acceptance of the procedure--is the one that we will go with. I would like to point out, though, that the continuing committee is not the only body at all levels of government that is addressing these issues.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I personally did not. I am not completely new to this position, since I started last year. I will be participating in the consultations in June and I will be attending my first meeting of the Continuing Committee in May. But I can say that my team was always in attendance and it was they who coordinated and led the consultations with the civil society groups.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  There are a number of aspects to the questions you've just put down. If I can come back to it, one is that I think in any public policy area I have worked in, civil society today has been seeking everywhere a more active and integrated role. I think we recognize and respect that.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It is the government of the day that decides whether it will accept or reject the Universal Periodic Review recommendations. Our role in the department is to prepare—as for all similar decisions—studies and recommendations as part of the cabinet process.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It is not a policy committee; it does not have the power to make recommendations on a specific topic. The committee is rather there to coordinate, facilitate and communicate the various positions of the various governments on certain issues. This type of committee can certainly identify solutions from time to time, but it is always up to the ministers to decide what to do with the UN recommendations.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I read the history of the committee, which has been in existence for two decades now. In my opinion, the objective of the committee is to always be able to reconcile those differences. It is clear that, according to a Supreme Court decision from 1937, I believe, the federal government is not in a position to implement something that is under provincial jurisdiction in an international treaty.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  To think about where Canada will be in three years would be entirely pure speculation on my part. It should certainly be the ministers answering this question. I can clearly state what I want to achieve with the committee. I want us to make sure that we are in a position to provide all the parties involved with information about the progress made on the recommendations in the last review.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The continuing committee is chaired by an official within the Department of Canadian Heritage, but each provincial and territorial government also--

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes. She's actually sitting right behind me. Her name is Martha LaBarge and she's the director general of strategic policy and management inside my organization. So the person who is chairing the committee is one of the individuals who reports to me and has a small team inside the organization to help in the role of chairing that committee.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It was my understanding, in the last Speech from the Throne, that the government indicated that it was going to reconsider or re-examine its position regarding that particular declaration. It's also my understanding that the lead for that is with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I didn't mean to lead you astray. I guess the question is asked about...yes. The short answer is yes. As part of our consultations with civil society, we'll be including aboriginal groups as well.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Perhaps I'll try to answer the three parts of your question. On the role of Canadian Heritage, one of the themes mentioned within its enabling legislation deals with human rights. I suspect that's one of the reasons that we have the coordinating role we do. I would point out that the role we do have is one of coordination and facilitation, and not necessarily, or very rarely, I would say, do we have the policy lead on the issues that are being dealt with in the 68 recommendations.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  As it comes to the Universal Periodic Review, much of the work is done between three departments, the Ministry of Justice, obviously, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and ourselves, given the role we have in coordinating between the federal and provincial and territorial governments.