Evidence of meeting #24 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
I'm going to ask the clerk to refresh our memories.
Mr. Silva proposed an amendment. I can't remember if the amendment was adopted or if we were in the midst of debating it.
12:50 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Julie Lalande Prud'homme
The original motion is on the first page. Mr. Silva's amendment is on the second page.
If you want to, you can start with the second page to pick up where you left off, at Mr. Silva's amendment.
12:50 p.m.
The Clerk
The debate was adjourned.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
All right. Do we have agreement from everybody that we can start by talking about the amendment and then continue debate on it?
I don't see opposition to that, so I'm going to assume that's okay.
Let's see if there are any speakers to the amendment.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Can we have this separated in the future? It's hard to sort out the English from the French, trying to fold it over. I don't have the slightest idea where I am right now.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
I'm trying to understand the purpose of a motion like this. We have a draft of the universal periodic review study we did. This would be more appropriate in recommendations vis-à-vis this study, rather than in a motion in this regard. I just don't understand the rationale.
We did all the work and heard witnesses. It's very germane to our study. I don't know why we're pulling this motion out. Why don't we just make it one or two recommendations--whatever we like--in order to recommend to the government that they do such and such?
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
I am inclined to move a subamendment to the proposed amendment. Instead of using the word “reforming”—which implies that things are not going very well in the council, which is not quite accurate, in my opinion—we could say “improving and strengthening the Council”, which is a better reflection of the current situation.
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
The clerk is telling me that we need unanimous consent to move a subamendment.
Is there unanimous consent?
There is, so that's great.
We're now discussing the subamendment.
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
I have already explained why I moved the subamendment, Mr. Chair.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
By the way, the consent there was just a little rapid.
Nevertheless, I want to reassert that I think this motion would be better served as a recommendation in our study of the UPR. I can't support it for that reason. I'd rather see it in a report that's germane and a demonstration of our work.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
I'd like to ask Mr. Dorion why he wants it as a stand-alone, as opposed to adding it to our report. I can certainly support it--no issue with that. Is there a significant reason why it shouldn't be in the report, just so I have a better understanding?
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
I would ask my colleague to clarify his question. The most important thing in this motion is the idea that Canada participate once again in this council, in other words, that Canada renew its candidacy and obtain a place on the council.
Of course, it is also to ensure that the council functions better. I cannot see how anyone could object to that, unless they want to boycott the council. I think it is important for Canada to reclaim its international role in human rights. Such an amendment would encourage the government to do that.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
If you don't mind my asking a question, does this relate primarily...?
Go ahead, Monsieur Dorion.
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
There is an underlying logic. We have seen, on a number of occasions, that Canada's role in international rights is considered much weaker today than in the past. A number of witnesses have shared that concern with us. That is why I think this amendment is important.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Okay. I'll just ask the question, before I go to Mr. Marston and Mr. Sweet. Does this relate primarily to the periodic review of Canada's human rights performance or of Canada's role in the human rights of other countries? I'm not entirely sure.
12:55 p.m.
Bloc
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
In any case, the UPR was done by the Human Rights Council. I think it is pretty obvious how this motion relates to the consideration of the UPR.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
I assume you're talking about the periodic review of Canada. Our report was about the periodic review of Canada, so that determines whether or not it's relevant to talk about including it in the report, which is how some of the discussion has gone. If this is about the periodic review of Canada, then it can be included in the report. If it's about Canada's participation on the international scene and the human rights records of other countries and our role in that, then there is no way we could include this in our report. It would be outside the bounds of the report. That's why I asked the question.
But I gather from your response that this is referring to the review of Canada's human rights record?
Okay. Let's go to Mr. Sweet.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Monsieur Dorion talked about why somebody would be against it. I don't want to assume any intent on his part, but let me be clear that I was not against the substance of this motion, although I do disagree with the last comment that he made about Canada's work in any way being weakened right now. I think if anything it's strengthened.
But all I was saying, Mr. Chair, as Mr. Dorion has just again repeated and reasserted, was that this is very germane to our report, and as a recommendation it would serve much better than as a stand-alone motion. We did the work, and it would be appropriate to put the recommendation inside the report.