‘After Arar’ workshop today explores intelligence and intelligent governance

The Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security is presenting its final workshop in the After Arar series on security and human rights today from 2:30 to 4:30pm at York’s Osgoode Hall Law School.

A three-person panel will discuss the topic, titled "Intelligence and Intelligent Governance: Institutional Design and Reform After Arar" at the workshop, to be held in the school’s Faculty Common Room.

Ron Atkey, a retired partner at the Osler law firm and former chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, will join Margaret Beare, an Osgoode professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts, and Al Nause, chief superintendent and director general of the RCMP’s national security criminal operations department, in discussing the issue.

The panel will look at whether the recommendations of the O’Connor Commission of Inquiry are being implemented. The mandate of the inquiry, headed by Justice Dennis O’Connor, was to examine the actions of Canadian officials in relation to Maher Arar who was accused of being a terrorist. He was deported by US officials to Syria where he was tortured.

The three members of the panel will also explore broader issues of police and security intelligence governance in today’s world.

Everyone is invited to attend the workshop sponsored by the Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime & Security at York University.

The focus of the Nathanson Centre is to develop a cross-disciplinary program of research and project initiatives to enhance knowledge of issues related to a variety of transnational phenomena that are rapidly changing society, law and governance.

York researchers from law, criminology, political science, law & society, sociology, geography, environmental studies, business, philosophy, health and beyond, are active in the evolving scholarly and policy debates.

To RSVP for today’s workshop, click here.