Evidence of meeting #97 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was control.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Would we be able to receive those comments in writing? Thank you very much.
The final two and a half minutes will go to Mr. Housefather.
February 29th, 2024 / 9:45 a.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank the witnesses.
I'm actually going to talk about something else. On December 11 I put forward a notice of motion related to a really important study. I know we don't have time to deal with this in my two and a half minutes. I just want to put it on the record that I will be moving the following at the next meeting of the committee, when we come back in two weeks:
That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and in view of the alarming escalation of antisemitism in Canada, the committee undertake a study on the issue of antisemitism and the additional measures that could be taken to address the valid fears that are being expressed by Canada’s Jewish community.
That the study include but not be limited to the issue of antisemitism on university campuses.
That the study be at least three meetings and that the committee report its findings to the House.
I know that the subcommittee will be discussing this afterwards, but I also know that a lot of my colleagues sympathize and agree that this is an important study that we should be doing. This has not gone away since October 7. There has been a dramatic escalation in anti-Semitic incidents all across the country in Canada's big cities. That's not to say that there hasn't been an increase in other incidents for other communities, such as the Muslim community. I would welcome other studies on that issue as well.
With regard to the numbers on anti-Semitism, Jews constitute 1.1% of Canada's population, but over 70% of religious-based incidents are anti-Jewish. Students at campuses across the country have come to me. I have spoken at Hillels across the country. Yesterday at UBC, there was a referendum proposal to end the lease with Hillel. There are just constant incidents across the country. I think we as a committee have to do our due diligence in terms of looking at what we as a national government...and what moral suasion we can give to university administrations, municipal governments and provincial governments to act.
I appreciate that with my colleagues. I look forward to the subcommittee's discussing it. I intend to move that when we come back.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you, Mr. Housefather.
With that final word, I will thank the witnesses who've appeared before us—
9:45 a.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Roebuck, I'd like to briefly follow up on the answer you gave to my colleague Mr. Van Popta's question about tests. The issue was about subjective versus objective tests. I would've thought that victims would prefer an objective approach to the problem, meaning that they wouldn't have to testify on the effects they experienced.
If I understood correctly, you believe that we need to consider the effect the actions have had on the victim in order to understand the context.
Could you, in a few seconds, explain your reasoning?
9:45 a.m.
Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime
I think it's important to acknowledge how the victim feels, but I don't think there should be a burden of proof on them to establish that their trauma is significant enough to merit intervention.
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you very much.
Ms. Barron, would you also like an additional minute?
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I'll always take extra time. Thank you.
I have a very quick question for you, Ms. Omeniho. You spoke about how two-thirds of Métis women self-report intimate partner violence. I believe that's what you said. Maybe you can clarify that and provide any further thoughts based on that statistic that you put forward.
9:45 a.m.
President, Women of the Métis Nation - Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak
Those are statistics we have from Stats Canada and other reports that have been done: 65% of Métis women have experienced intimate partner violence. However, I also want to tell you that with regard to a lot of this bill, what isn't being talked about in this committee is how the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community is also affected by gender-based violence and the issues that relate to coercive control.
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you very much to both our witnesses.
We will suspend for a minute or two and allow all our witnesses who are on Zoom and in the room to leave. We will then go in camera for committee business.
[Proceedings continue in camera]