Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 52 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 9, 2019

OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 9, 2019
(115)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 8 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Lillian Eva Dyck, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Busson, Christmas, Coyle, Doyle, Dyck, LaBoucane- Benson, McCallum, McPhedran, Pate and Tannas (10).

In attendance: Brittany Collier and Marlisa Tiedemann, Analysts, 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, March 19, 2019, the committee began its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

WITNESSES:

Indigenous Services Canada:

Jean-François Tremblay, Deputy Minister;

Joanne Wilkinson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Child and Family Services Reform;

Isa Gros-Louis, Director General, Child and Family Services Reform.

Department of Justice Canada:

Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio.

As an individual:

Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Former Minister's Special Representative on Child Welfare.

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada:

Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director.

Assembly of First Nations:

Kevin Hart, Regional Chief;

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Senior Advisor.

Native Women's Association of Canada:

Francyne Joe, President;

Virginia Lomax, Legal Counsel;

Melissa Lambert-Tenasco, Policy Advisor.

Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy:

Kevin Page, President and CEO.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Tremblay and Ms. Wesley-Esquimaux each made a statement and, together with Ms. Gros-Louis and Ms. Wilkinson, answered questions.

At 9 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:08 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Blackstock made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:55 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:02 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Joe and Mr. Page each made a statement and, together with Ms. Lomax, answered questions.

At 10:57 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee