Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 43 - Minutes of Proceedings - October 3, 2018

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 3, 2018
(94)

[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 Lillian Eva Dyck, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boyer, Christmas, Doyle, Dyck, Lovelace Nicholas, McCallum, McPhedran, Patterson and Tannas (9).

In attendance: Brittany Collier, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, the committee began its consideration of the Government response to the eleventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, entitled The subject matter of Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, insofar as it relates to the Indigenous peoples of Canada, tabled in the Senate on May 1, 2018. (The Government response was tabled with the Clerk of the Senate on Friday, September 28, 2018.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Jane Philpott, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indigenous Services;

The Honourable Bill Blair, P.C., M.P., Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction.

WITNESSES:

Health Canada:

Eric Costen, Director General, Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat.

Department of Indigenous Services Canada:

Dr. Tom Wong, Chief Medical Officer of Public Health and Executive Director, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

The chair made a statement.

The Minister of Indigenous Services and the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction each made a statement and, together with Mr. Costen, answered questions.

At 7:48 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee