Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 53 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 2, 2019

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 2, 2019
(120)

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 1:01 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Lillian Eva Dyck, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Christmas, Coyle, Doyle, Dyck, Francis, LaBoucane-Benson, McPhedran, Ngo, Pate, Patterson and Tannas (12).

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 continued its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 51.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indigenous Services.

WITNESSES:

Indigenous Services Canada:

Jean-François Tremblay, Deputy Minister;

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

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

Department of Justice Canada:

Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio.

Canadian Bar Association:

David Taylor, Executive Member, Aboriginal Law Section;

Gaylene Schellenberg, Lawyer, Advocacy.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami:

Natan Obed, President;

Jenny Tierney, Manager, Health and Social Development.

As individuals:

Pamela D. Palmater, Associate Professor and Chair in Indigenous Governance, Ryerson University;

Hadley Friedland, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta;

Naiomi W. Metallic, Professor and Chancellor's Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, Dalhousie University.

The chair made a statement.

Minister O'Regan made a statement and, together with Ms. Gros-Louis and Mr. Tremblay, answered questions.

At 2 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:05 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Schellenberg, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Obed each made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:26 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:40 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Palmater, Ms. Friedland and Ms. Metallic each made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:45 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:07 p.m., the committee resumed in camera, pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, to continue its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 51.)

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered a draft report.

It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room for the in camera portion of the meeting.

It was agreed to permit audio-recording of the in camera portion of the meeting, and that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members or staff present, and that the audio-recording be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of the parliamentary session.

At 4:51 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee