Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 3 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, May 31, 2010
(7)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day, at 10 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Janis G. Johnson, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Brazeau, Dyck, Jaffer, Johnson, Kochhar, Lang, Mitchell and Nancy Ruth (9).
In attendance: Tonina Simeone and Anna Gay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the committee continued its examination of Bill S-4, An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)
WITNESSES:
Assembly of First Nations:
Jody Wilson-Raybould, Regional Chief, British Columbia;
Karen Campbell, Advisor.
Native Women's Association of Canada:
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, President;
Celeste McKay, Director of Human Rights and International Affairs.
First Nations Land Advisory Board:
Austin Bear, Chief;
William McCue, Councillor.
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples:
Betty Ann Lavallée, National Chief.
Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians:
Randall Phillips, Grand Chief;
Jody Kechego, Senior Policy Analyst.
As individuals:
Danalyn MacKinnon, Barrister and Solicitor;
Mary Eberts, Barrister and Solicitor.
Six Nations of the Grand River:
William K. Montour, Chief;
Ava Hill, Councillor.
Chiefs of Ontario:
Angus Toulouse, Ontario Regional Chief.
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne:
Mike Mitchell, Grand Chief;
Julie Phillips-Jacobs, Chief;
Martha Lafrance, Justice Court Administrator.
Chief Wilson-Raybould, Ms. Corbiere Lavell and Chief Bear each made a presentation and, together with Ms. Campbell, Councillor McCue and Ms. McKay, answered questions.
At 11:15 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:20 a.m., the committee resumed.
Chief Lavallée, Grand Chief Phillips, Ms. MacKinnon and Ms. Eberts each made a presentation and, together with Ms. Kechego, answered questions.
At 12:40 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:45 p.m., the committee resumed.
Chief Montour, Councillor Hill, Chief Toulouse and Grand Chief Mitchell, each made a presentation and; together with Councillor Hill, Ms. Lafrance and Chief Phillips-Jacobs, answered questions.
At 1:40 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, May 31, 2010
(8)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day, at 2:30 p.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Janis G. Johnson, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Brazeau, Dyck, Jaffer, Kochhar, Mitchell, Nancy Ruth and Stratton (8).
In attendance: Julian Walker and Anna Gay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the committee continued its examination of Bill S-4, An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Human Rights Commission:
David Langtry, Deputy Chief Commissioner;
Valerie Phillips, Counsel, Legal Advisory Services;
Sherri Helgason, Director, National Aboriginal Initiative.
Canadian Bar Association:
Christopher Devlin, Executive Member, National Aboriginal Law Section;
Gaylene Schellenberg, Lawyer, Legislation and Law Reform.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada:
Line Paré, Director General, External Relations and Gender Issues Branch.
Department of Justice Canada:
Karl Jacques, Senior Counsel.
Mr. Langtry, Ms. Schellenberg and Mr. Devlin each made a statement and, together with Ms. Helgason and Ms. Phillips, answered questions.
At 3:23 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:32 p.m., the committee resumed.
The minister made a presentation and, together with Mr. Jacques and Ms. Paré, answered questions.
At 4:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee