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CANADA
House of Commons
Parliamentary bodies dealing with human rights :
Subcommittee on International Human Rights

Type of parliamentary body Multifunctional
Nature Permanent
Related to chambers House of Commons
Date of creation At each parliamentary session, the Committee is reconstituted.
Last renewal date
Mandate The Sub-Committee produces recommendations to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. That Committee in turn produces a report for the information of the House of Commons. The Sub-Committee's sphere of activity is focused on human rights and the dissemination of information gathered through investigation.
Membership Seven members. The list is established by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which acts as a selection committee. The House of Commons must adopt a new list at every session. In addition, the composition of the Committee is usually confirmed in September of every year. The Committee Chairperson is elected by his or her peers at the first meeting.
Working methods The Sub-Committee decides its own agenda. The Standing Committee may ask the Sub-Committee to study a particular subject. All meetings are public unless otherwise specified. The Sub-Committee may sit in camera if it so chooses. It holds in camera meetings to discuss draft reports or future business. The Sub-Committee usually produces a report on its findings for each study that it undertakes and presents this report to the Standing Committee. Only the latter committee has the power to report directly to the House of Commons.
Relations with other parliamentary bodies As stated above, the Sub-Committee relates to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The principle modes of interaction include written reports and testimony by the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee to the Committee.
Relations with external bodies As stated above, the Canadian government is required by the Rules of the House of Commons to produce a complete reply to the various reports of the parliamentary committees. In addition, NGOs and ministers dealing with international issues often appear as witnesses before the Sub-Committee.
Subjects dealt with In current Parliament, there have been briefing sessions on human rights in Burma, killing of women in Ciudad Juarez, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and the persecution of people of faith. Topical issues that have been raised recently are: human rights situation in India and Iran; the situation of the Bahá'í Community in Iran.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Main address Sixth Floor, 131 Queen Street
House of Commons
OTTAWA ON K1A 0A6
Phone ...
Fax +613 992 79 74
E-mail SDIR@parl.gc.ca
Website ...
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
Name Mr. Scott Reid
Notes Chair
Address (if different from above)
Phone +613 947 22 77
Fax +613 947 22 78
E-mail ReidS@parl.gc.ca
Website http://www.scottreid.ca
Name Mr. Mario Silva
Notes Vice-Chair
Address (if different from above) ...
Phone +613 992 25 76
Fax +613 995 82 02
E-mail SilvaM@parl.gc.ca
Website http://www.mariosilva.ca
Name Ms. Eve-Mary Thaï Thi Lac
Notes Vice-Chair
Address (if different from above) ...
Phone +613 996 45 85
Fax +613 992 18 15
E-mail ...
Website ...
SECRETARY
Name Mr. Roger Préfontaine
Notes Clerk of the Subcommittee
Address (if different from above) ...
Phone +613 944 56 35
Fax +613 992 79 74
E-mail ...
web site: ...
Notes

Information on this page was last updated on 31 March 2009
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