Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  At this time we believe the system under which he is being brought to trial is appropriate. There were certainly violations of international law, and the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that. The Canadian Supreme Court also recognized the U.S. decision. We acknowledge those difficulties.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Sir, I'm not a U.S. constitutional expert, nor am I a lawyer. However, I and our Canadian Coalition for Democracies believe that Mr. Khadr has been treated relatively well compared to how other states treat their citizens. Mr. Khadr has been granted very able counsel, and he has been able to communicate with his family.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We do believe, sir, that he has been treated appropriately.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  As I noted, Afghanistan, first of all, had a jurisdictional claim to Mr. Khadr. They could have charged him in Afghanistan and tried him there. The Americans have asserted their right to try Mr. Khadr. In doing so he has been afforded the protection of U.S. constitutional law. The U.S.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Good afternoon. On behalf of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, I'd like to thank the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development for inviting me to testify. Founded in 2003, the Canadian Coalition for Democracy--CCD for short--is a national, non-partisan, multi-ethnic, multi-religious organization of concerned Canadians dedicated to promoting democracy at home and abroad and to defending civil liberties and national security.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Sorry. CCD's second concern is about the government's determination to proceed with the process of registering new voters at the polling stations on election day. In Quebec, voters are required to be registered and on the voters list prior to election day in order to receive a ballot and vote.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, good morning. My name is Naresh Raghubeer, and I am executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, CCD for short. I appear before you today on behalf of my organization. We at the Canadian Coalition for Democracies--a non-partisan, multi-ethnic, multi-religious organization of concerned Canadians dedicated to human rights, national security, and the promotion of democracy--are concerned that provisions enacted by Bill C-18 may make the system of voting more susceptible to abuse.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  To agree with David, I think that should we not insist that it be both—either a male or a female—screening all voters, we will subjugate male scrutineers, male poll clerks, male poll captains, and other members of the public, prevent them from actually validating the identity of voters.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  On that consultation, there was a report in the Toronto Sun newspaper that Elections Canada did consult on the telephone with the group called the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR-CAN. I've submitted a copy of that news article to Madame Faille to review.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  My name is Naresh Raghubeer. I'm executive director with the Canadian Coalition for Democracies. Mr. Reid, in response to your question first about the number of women in Canada who wear the veil, I think as parliamentarians we cannot be setting precedents, when we make our laws, based on the current numbers.

Foreign Affairs committee  We were not consulted regarding the creation of the Office for Democratic Governance. I believe that was an interdepartmental creation. As for Bill C-293, Clement has written about this, and I will ask Clement to comment.

Foreign Affairs committee  I can take the first question, and I will ask Clement to speak about Bill C-293. Regarding President Mahmoud Abbas, article 8 of their constitution states that “The Israeli existence in Palestine is a Zionist invasion...”--

Foreign Affairs committee  I just want to correct the record, but I will do that by leaving a note.

Foreign Affairs committee  Okay.

Foreign Affairs committee  First of all, let me address your false assumption that the paragraph in the Palestinian Authority charter was changed.