Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples
Issue 3 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 12, 2014
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 12, 2014
(11)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 6:45 p.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Dennis Glen Patterson, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Dyck, Meredith, Moore, Ngo, Patterson, Raine, Sibbeston, Tannas and Wallace (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Watt (1).
In attendance: Julie Cool, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 21, 2013, the committee continued its consideration of the federal government's constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples and other matters generally relating to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)
WITNESSES:
Aboriginal Firefighters of Canada:
Arnold Lazare, Director;
Richard Kent, Secretary and Treasurer.
Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs:
John de Hooge, Fire Chief, Ottawa Fire Service.
National Research Council Canada:
Guy Gosselin, Director, Building Regulations, NRC Construction;
Philip Rizcallah, Manager, Canadian Codes Centre, NRC Construction.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Gosselin, Mr. Kent and Mr. de Hooge each made a statement and, together with Mr. Lazare and Mr. Rizcallah, answered questions.
At 8:44 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:50 p.m., the committee resumed in camera.
Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered a draft agenda (future business).
It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room for the in camera portion of the meeting.
It was agreed that the chair, or another senator on his behalf, be authorized to seek from the Senate, an order of reference in the following terms:
That the Standing Senate Committee Aboriginal Peoples be authorized to examine and report on challenges and potential solutions relating to First Nations infrastructure on reserves, including, but not limited to:
(a) housing;
(b) community infrastructure (such as water and wastewater treatment, schools and other community buildings); and
(c) innovative opportunities for financing and more effective collaborative strategies;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee during the Second Session of the Forty-first Parliament, as part of its study on the federal government's constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples and on other matters generally relating to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, as authorized by the Senate on November 21, 2013, form part of the papers and evidence received and taken for the purposes of this study; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2015 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
At 8:57 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Marcy Zlotnick
Clerk of the Committee