Subcommittee on International Human Rights

The Subcommittee on International Human Rights held its first meeting of the session to elect its chair and vice-chairs and to adopt routine motions for its operations. The clerk presided over the election of the chair, and Sameer Zuberi nominated MP El-Khoury, who was elected chair by acclamation. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe nominated Shuvaloy Majumdar for first vice-chair, and Majumdar nominated Brunelle-Duceppe for second vice-chair; both were elected by acclamation.

The subcommittee then adopted a series of routine motions without debate. These included authorizing the chair to hold meetings with a reduced quorum of four members (two from government and two from opposition) when travelling; setting witness speaking times and questioning order; retaining Library of Parliament analysts; controlling document distribution; reimbursing witness expenses; and establishing rules for in camera meetings, including staff attendance and transcript access. Other motions set a 48-hour notice requirement for substantive motions, outlined procedures for bill amendments, and authorized technical tests for witnesses.

Following the motions, Brunelle-Duceppe raised two items for future committee business. He urged the subcommittee to prioritize presenting human rights defender awards to recipients already selected, noting some were in poor health. He also requested that the government respond to a September 2024 subcommittee report on the situation of the Hazara people in Afghanistan, which had not yet received a reply. Zuberi then moved that the subcommittee go into closed session to discuss its calendar and planning, and the meeting proceeded in camera.