Thank you very much for a very thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation. It brought to mind, as I sat here, that the first and probably the most important role an MP has is to protect and ensure the rights of all Canadians, of course including children.
We have had presentations from government officials on the Continuing Committee of Officials on Human Rights, and talked about their processes. One of the things that is almost an undercurrent in the halls of this place is about the UPR and the assessment of Canada in that UPR: that those countries that were being critical were somehow rogue states that seemed to be attached to the Middle East and some other things that were going on at the UN. When I looked at the report, I found strong allies of Canada with some sincere criticism. Did you see it that way?
As well, I will go directly to the point: do you find the continuing committee--the officials--dismissive of NGOs? You seemed to indicate that you had problems accessing information and you were not included. That seems to be the story we've heard from other NGOs prior to these hearings--Amnesty International, for one.
We have a number of protocols on torture, people with disabilities--which the government is moving on--and of course aboriginals as well. So in the context of all of that, if you look at the report, we have to say to some degree that the report had some foundation in the realities of what is happening in Canada.
I'd like your comments.