Evidence of meeting #10 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ukraine.
A recording is available from Parliament.
8:30 p.m.
Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)
I'm sorry, Ms. McPherson. Are we not supposed to go in camera?
8:30 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I would rather do this not in camera. I'll just read it into the record and then hopefully we have consensus on it. It is:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Subcommittee undertake a study on global reproductive rights and justice, including the situation of reproductive rights and justice in the United States of America; that the Committee hold two (2) meetings on this issue; and that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Mr. Chair, we had a discussion at the beginning of this committee where we talked about pressing issues and making sure that there was time and space available for pressing issues. This is a very pressing issue that I think this subcommittee has an obligation to study.
Thank you.
8:30 p.m.
Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)
Thank you, Ms. McPherson.
Would anyone like to speak to this?
Yes, Ms. Vandenbeld.
8:30 p.m.
Liberal
Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In the interest of time, I just want to say that I wholeheartedly support Ms. McPherson's motion and I'm very pleased that she has brought it forward. Thank you.
8:30 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I do believe that this committee is supposed to operate on consensus and I will just state that there will be no consensus on this particular issue. I think that, as the international human rights committee, we ought to be investigating actual human rights abuses around the world. The human rights of preborn children around the world are important as well, and I'd happily pursue a study on that. I would just say that, at this time, given the situation in the United States and the leaks that have happened down there, we should be monitoring it but I don't think Canada needs to be commenting in any way at this point.
Thank you.
8:30 p.m.
Bloc
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think this is a good motion. The only problem is that we don't have enough time to study that issue, as this session will soon end. We have only a few weeks left, and we already have a busy schedule.
We have a very important study on the Tigray conflict. Unlike the war in Ukraine, we are hearing very little about it, but I think that conflict is just as serious. So I think it would be very important to look into that.
The abortion issue that was recently raised is very important. But it is currently getting a lot of coverage. It is being talked about here and internationally, unlike conflicts like the one in Tigray, which is fundamental, and countries like Haiti, which is completely left out of the system and never talked about.
If we had an additional two or three weeks, I would agree to study this issue. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time, and I don't think this can fit into our schedule right now.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Perhaps the clerk could give us a bit of a scan of what we still have left on our agenda. I think this is quite a pressing issue. Certainly, if we are looking at the reduction of rights of women around the world, we have seen the impact of the removal of reproductive health rights for people around the world, which has caused numerous deaths, and the lack of access to those services may have implications for Canadians and for the providing of services in Canada.
There is some implication for us. There is clear proof that the restriction of reproductive health for women causes great harm and death. It is something that is, as I think Mr. Trudel said, very urgent. I, of course, would never want to rank any of the crises that our committee has to look at above another, but this does impact 50% of the population of the world.
Perhaps the clerk could give us a bit of a sense of what our schedule is and refresh my memory.
8:30 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Erica Pereira
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We do have all of our meetings filled at this point up until June 21st. That includes our recognition of international human rights champions, Tigray, Haiti, consideration of our draft report that will be upcoming, and human rights in Iran.
8:30 p.m.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I, personally, as do most members of this committee, support the motion, and I do think that this is an important topic and a very topical conversation that we should be having.
I'm mindful that this committee is also a consensus-based committee and that's an important aspect of how we function. I'm hoping that we can come to a consensus on this issue. I'd like to see us move towards that, if possible.
Again, I strongly support the motion.
8:35 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
It was up again. I'll be very quick.
What I would say is that I recognize that, in the past, this committee has gone by consensus. I think we've seen some examples of how that has not necessarily been the way this committee has worked this time around, unfortunately, to my deep sadness.
Perhaps the solution is that we could keep this study on the record and potentially look at it in the fall, if that's possible.
8:35 p.m.
Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)
Absolutely. I think we can keep it on the....
8:35 p.m.
Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)
There's no consensus to keep it there, or...?
8:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Look, I think we have a number of pressing issues, and I'm certainly not going to give my support to this study.
8:35 p.m.
Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)
Because we haven't taken a vote, automatically it does stay; does it not? This is just a matter of procedure. If something is not disposed of, it remains in the pipeline, so to speak.
8:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
In fairness, just to clarify, we have, at this point, a hypothetical Supreme Court decision in the United States. I guess in that respect, if it stands, it stands until the fall for consideration, based upon what we see unfold.
8:35 p.m.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
What Heather, our colleague at this committee, is suggesting is that it remain on the table for conversation after the summer, at which point if there's consensus, there's consensus. If there isn't, there isn't, but at least it remains on the table for conversation, and we can broach this issue at that point in time. That allows us to continue with the agenda that we've decided on thus far and then approach this issue after the summer.
8:35 p.m.
Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)
I guess we can now move to the next item on the agenda.
Perhaps we could go in camera right now.
[Proceedings continue in camera]