Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples
Issue 55 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 28, 2019
OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 28, 2019
(124)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 8:02 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 Christmas, Coyle, Doyle, Dyck, Francis, McCallum, McPhedran, Oh, Pate, Patterson, Plett, Sinclair and Tannas (13).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Dalphond (1).
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 Monday, May 27, 2019, the committee began its examination of Bill C-91, An Act respecting Indigenous languages.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, P.C., M.P., Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Heritage:
Hélène Laurendeau, Deputy Minister;
Stephen Gagnon, Federal Representative, Indigenous Languages Legislation, Citizenship, Heritage and Regions Sector.
The chair made a statement.
Minister Rodriquez made a statement and answered questions.
At 8:57 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:02 a.m., the committee resumed and, pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 16, 2019, the committee began its examination of Bill C-262, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Honourable Senator Dyck moved:
That the committee hold four public hearings on its examination of Bill C-262.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Christmas, Coyle, Dyck, Francis, McCallum, McPhedran, Pate,
Sinclair — 8
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Doyle, Oh, Patterson, Plett, Tannas — 5
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio;
Koren Marriott, Legal Counsel.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada:
Joe Wild, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Treaties and Aboriginal Government Sector;
Ross Pattee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Implementation Sector.
As individuals:
Romeo Saganash, Member of Parliament for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, sponsor of the bill;
The Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair;
Wilton Littlechild, Grand Chief, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations.
The chair made a statement.
Ms. Sargent and Mr. Wild each made a statement and, together with Mr. Pattee, answered questions.
At 9:53 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10 a.m., the committee resumed.
Senator Sinclair, Mr. Littlechild and Mr. Saganash each made a statement and answered questions.
At 11 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee