Meeting No. 37

Wednesday, June 7, 2000

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 701, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Clifford Lincoln, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Pierre de Savoye, Wendy Lill, Clifford Lincoln, Mark Muise, Bryon Wilfert.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Joseph Jackson, Grant Purves, Researchers.

Witnesses: As Individual: Sarkis Assadourian, M.P.. From the Armenian General Benevolent Union of Canada Inc.: Daniel Boyadjian; Barry Khojajian, Vice-president. From the Centre for Peace in the Balkans: Svetlana Cakareutc, Representative. From the Canadians for a Genocide Museum: James Kafieh, Executive Secretary. From the Canadian Jewish Congress: Nate Leipciger, Chair, Holocaust Remembrance Committee; Eric Vernon, Director, Government Relations. From the B'nai Brith Canada: Sheldon Howard, Director, Government Relations.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of the House of November 30, 1999, Study of the subject-matter of Bill C-224, an Act to establish the beginning of the twenty-first exhibit in the Canadian Museum of Civilization to recognise crimes against humanity as defined by the United Nation been perpetrated during the twentieth century.

Sarkis Assadourian, Barry Khojajian, Nate Leipciger, Sheldon Howard, James Kafieh, Svetlana Cakareutc made opening statements and with the other witnesses answered questions.

At 5:35 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Normand Radford

Clerk of the Committee