Evidence of meeting #4 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.
2 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
The registered disability savings plan.
2 p.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
It's excellent. Our members who work on the issue of children with disabilities are supportive of that measure for sure.
2 p.m.
Conservative
March 30th, 2010 / 2 p.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
I'd like to add a quick point. The reason I didn't go into the catalogue of children's issues today is because I understood we were here to talk about the UPR and how Canada improves. If you want, we would gladly bring a briefing on children's issues.
2:05 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Coming back to the UPR and Canada's response to the UPR, to my understanding, neither document has been tabled in the House. So they're not in the hands of members.
I'd like to highlight a couple of things from the UPR. First of all, concerns that were raised about Canada's treatment of aboriginal and indigenous peoples were by Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Mexico, the Netherlands, Finland, United Kingdom, and India. Concerns about actions on the optional protocol to the convention on torture were by Chile, Brazil, France, and Denmark.
When we start looking at the validity of some of the concerns raised, they're being raised by folks with whom we have been allies for a long time, and hopefully this committee will reach a point where they will listen to you, and some of the other presenters we're about to have, on ways we can improve the work of the continuing committee.
You mentioned Norway and the United Kingdom in your remarks as being fairly progressive. Would they, or others, be countries we could turn to for some examples of perhaps changes we might make?
2:05 p.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
I would name those, and the Netherlands, on children's rights and I think generally. They have done some excellent consultations, with excellent ways of engaging their public.
In terms of federal states, Australia and New Zealand have done very good work in the areas of children's rights. Those would be ones I would look at.
The European Union is doing some very interesting work in terms of how one can do these assessments and develop indicators that can move rights-based mechanisms into the policy process. Of course, the European Union is doing that as a region, as well as individual countries.
Those would be some good practice examples. I will get back to you with a firm list.
2:05 p.m.
NDP
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
In that case, thank you.
Thank you very much as well, Ms. Vandergrift. We really appreciated you coming here. While it was unfortunate that our other witness couldn't make it, I'm glad we had the time to give you a full hour. There certainly were enough questions to fill that time, and, I suspect, some additional time as well.
Thanks from all of us.
2:05 p.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
You're most welcome.