Jewish advocates say details around investigation into human-rights chief murky
CTV
Three weeks after the federal Liberals promised to do a "formal, independent review" of the appointment of Canada's new human-rights commissioner, the government hasn't provided any details about what that review will entail.
Three weeks after the federal Liberals promised to do a "formal, independent review" of the appointment of Canada's new human-rights commissioner, the government hasn't provided any details about what that review will entail.
Birju Dattani, former executive director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, was named as the new head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on June 14.
On Aug. 8, he is set to start a five-year term in the new job, as the first person of colour and the first Muslim man to hold the role.
But his appointment fell under scrutiny after media reported that he made anti-Israel comments as a graduate student under different names that were not flagged during the vetting process.
The Privy Council Office, the administrative arm of government that serves the Prime Minister's Office and cabinet, oversees the screening process of federal appointees.
It says an "administrative oversight" occurred that meant the vetting process didn't include all of Dattani's aliases. They have since been shared with the RCMP and CSIS, which "are now completing necessary reviews," said spokesman Daniel Savoie.
A new directive has also been issued within the Privy Council Office to ensure this problem doesn't happen again.
