Evidence of meeting #47 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was number.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Howard Sapers  Correctional Investigator of Canada, Office of the Correctional Investigator
Ivan Zinger  Executive Director and General Counsel, Office of the Correctional Investigator

5 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Sure, yes.

I've gone over my time before, but if Dr. Zinger wants to comment, I'll let him.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

You have a minute, and you're the last one.

We have a minute.

5 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Dr. Zinger, go ahead.

5 p.m.

Executive Director and General Counsel, Office of the Correctional Investigator

Dr. Ivan Zinger

Certainly.

I just want to add to Mr. Sapers' response here by simply saying that we can certainly inspire ourselves from the work that has been done by the UN special rapporteur on the convention against torture, as well as the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners that in 2015 have been renamed the Nelson Mandela rules. They set out very clear provisions to try to comply with solitary confinement, and make sure that it is used in exceptional instances, under very rigorous procedural safeguards.

That is all I wanted to add about the matter.

Thank you.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

You have 10 seconds.

5 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Thank you, committee members, for your questions. They were excellent.

Thank you, Mr. Zinger and Mr. Sapers, for your visit today. Mr. Sapers, I echo again the committee's thanks for your service to Canadians both in and out of prison, in your work as investigator, and very best wishes in your new work.

December 1st, 2016 / 5 p.m.

Correctional Investigator of Canada, Office of the Correctional Investigator

Howard Sapers

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

As I said, I always appreciate the opportunity to meet before this committee. This has been an indulgence, so thank you for the time and thank you for the questions. I thought after 12 years I wouldn't feel quite so challenged, but you held up your end of the bargain, too, so I appreciate it.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

We said we would. Thank you very much.

We're going to take a very brief suspension, as Mr. Sapers says good-bye, and then come back.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Let's gather again.

Colleagues, as I said at the beginning of the meeting, I want to move into a business session. I didn't have anybody expressing concerns about that, but I think we should still have a motion to do business considerations.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I'll move a motion to consider committee business.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

It's been moved that we consider committee business.

5 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Great.

Go ahead, Ms. Damoff.

5 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I'll give you a motion that we move in camera.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Are we all agreed that we'll go in camera?

5 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

We just ask that those who should be here are here.

We'll suspend for a moment as we move in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]