Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on June 16th, 2009

[A. Borovoy]

Of course in some respects this is already happening. There may be situations in which it ought to happen more, but very often when a person of some standing in the community makes a racist statement, all hell breaks loose. People begin denouncing them all over the place. I think that's a very healthy response and ought to be encouraged.

Human rights commissions at various times might even publish documents responding to some polemics in the community. That's also a good thing.

Then there's also the indirect stuff. When the legal sanctions against discrimination are vigorously and imaginatively used, it helps to create a climate favourable to human rights and inimical to hatred in the community. The more you see of that, the more helpful it is, and I would encourage that.

These are some of the ways we deal with these things. When those kids walked out of school in Keswick, when the youngster was being penalized and they just walked out, they were engaging in the kind of conduct that helps to shore up this feeling in society.

[The Chair, Conservative, Scott Reid]

Thank you very much, Mr. Borovoy.

I want to draw the attention of members of the subcommittee to an important scheduling matter. On Thursday we'll be meeting at 12 o'clock instead of in our usual 12:30 time slot. That's to permit us to have one hour to question Professor Martin, who will be our witness, followed by an hour in camera to begin giving drafting instructions to our analysts on our report on human rights in Iran. On the basis that there may not be enough time in that hour to give full instructions after all the hearings we've had, I've also convened a second meeting, which can be cancelled if we don't need it, that will take place at 3:30 on Thursday so that we can finish our drafting instructions. With any luck, we won't need it, but if we do need it, it's there. It's easier to cancel than it is to set up a room de novo.

On that basis, please clear your schedules. And please take advantage of the two days we have to organize yourselves to ask any questions you have for our analysts, so that we can come prepared for this.

Thank you very much, everybody.

We are adjourned.