Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings

WHITEHORSE, YUKON, Monday, February 18, 2008
(11)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 8:15 a.m., this day, in Conference Room 1, in the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel & Conference Center, the chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Mahovlich, Mercer and Peterson (4).

In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its consideration of rural poverty in Canada. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Larry Bagnell, P.C., M.P., Yukon — Official Opposition Critic for Northern Affairs;

The Honourable Ione Christensen, Former Senator for Yukon.

Association of Yukon Communities:

Bev Buckway, First Vice-President and Mayor of the City of Whitehorse.

Maryhouse:

Kate O'Donnell, Director.

Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition:

Ross Findlater, Co-Chair.

Yukon Council on disABILITY:

Kim Lawson, Employer Liaison, Job Coach.

Groupe de concertation Solidarité Pauvreté:

Claude Gosselin, Priest.

Government of Yukon:

Tony Hill, Director, Agriculture Branch;

Diane Reed, Director, Forestry Management Branch;

Robert Holmes, Director, Mineral Resources, Energy, Mines and Resources;

Lesley McCullough, Director, Intergovernmental Relations.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon (FASSY):

Judy Pakozdy, Executive Director.

Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre:

Cate Innish, Program Coordinator.

Kaushee's Place — Yukon Women's Transition Society:

Barbara Powick, Executive Director.

Yukon Status of Women Council:

Charlotte Hrenchuk, Coordinator.

The chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Buckway, Mr. Bagnell and Senator Christensen each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

Ms. Lawson, Ms. O'Donnell, Mr. Findlater and Mr. Gosselin each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 9:56 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:24 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. McCullough, Mr. Hill, Ms. Reed and Mr. Holmes and each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 11:27 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:31 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Hrenchuk, Ms. Powick, Ms. Innish and Ms. Pakozdy and each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 12:26 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

WHITEHORSE, YUKON, Monday, February 18, 2008
(12)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 1:41 p.m., this day, in Conference Room 1, in the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel & Conference Center, the chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Mahovlich, Mercer and Peterson (4).

In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its consideration of rural poverty in Canada. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Chris Danfa, Future Info Tech;

Judi Johnny;

Brian Eaton, Resource Coordinator, Second Opinion Society;

Liz Walker, Director of Health Partnerships, Council of Yukon First Nations;

Lori Duncan, Director of Health and Social Developments, Council of Yukon First Nations;

Peter Becker, Member of the Board, Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition;

Arthur Mitchell, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Yukon (Copperbelt).

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Danfa, Ms. Johnny, Mr. Eaton, Ms. Walker and Ms. Duncan each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 2:28 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:45 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Beckut each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 3:36 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, Tuesday, February 19, 2008
(13)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 8:59 a.m., this day, in the auditorium in the Yellowknife United Church, the chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Mahovlich, Mercer, Peterson and Sibbeston (5).

In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Bob McLeod, M.L.A., Minister of Human Resources, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Government of Northwest Territories.

WITNESSES:

City of Yellowknife:

Gordon Van Tighem, Mayor.

As individuals:

Kevin Menicoche, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories (Nahendeh);

David Krutko, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories (Mackenzie Delta).

Government of Northwest Territories:

Jill Christensen, Manager, Integrated Services, Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority.

Savoie Law Office:

Jeanette Savoie, Barrister and Solicitor.

Northwest Territories Economic Development Officer:

Simon Lamoureux, President;

Batiste Foisy, Researcher;

Patrick Lachapelle, Economic Development Council.

SideDoor Youth Centre:

Spencer Heslep, Program Coordinator.

Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories:

Sharon Thomas, Executive Director.

National Anti-Poverty Organisation:

Mira Hall, Chair, Women's Committee and Territorial Representative.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Van Tighem, Mr. Menicoche and Mr. Krutko each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 10:05 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:13 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. McLeod, Ms. Christensen, Ms. Savoie and Mr. Lamoureux each made a statement and, together with Ms. Foisy and Mr. Lachapelle, answered questions.

At 11:36 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:45 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Thomas, Ms. Hall and Mr. Heslep each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 12:48 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, Tuesday, February 19, 2008
(14)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 1:41 p.m., this day, in the auditorium in the Yellowknife United Church, the chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Mahovlich, Mercer, Peterson and Sibbeston (5).

In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

WITNESSES:

Fédération franco-ténoise:

Dorice Pinet, Assistant Director General and Project Leader.

Centre for Northern Families:

Arlene Hache, Executive Director.

Native Women's Association:

Nancy Peel, Executive Director.

As an individual:

Cece McCauley, Chief, Writer, News North Newspaper.

The chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Pinet, Ms. Hache, Ms. Peel and Ms. McCauley each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 3:24 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jessica Richardson

Clerk of the Committee

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry