Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 22, 2016

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 22, 2016
(28)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 9:04 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Lillian Eva Dyck, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Dyck, Enverga, Lovelace Nicholas, Moore, Oh, Patterson, Raine and Tannas (9).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Lankin, P.C. and Watt (2).

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 Thursday, November 17, 2016, the committee began its examination of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based inequities in registration).

WITNESSES:

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada:

Joëlle Montminy, Assistant Deputy Minister, Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector;

Candice St-Aubin, Executive Director, Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector;

Nathalie Nepton, Executive Director, Indian Registration and Integrated Program Management;

Effie Panousos, Senior Policy Analyst, Treaties and Aboriginal Government Sector.

Department of Justice Canada:

Martin Reiher, General Counsel.

As an individual:

Stéphane Descheneaux, Plaintiff: Descheneaux v. Canada (Attorney General), The Abenaki of Odanak.

The Abenaki of Odanak:

Tammy Yantha, Plaintiff: Descheneaux v. Canada (Attorney General), The Abenaki of Odanak.

Dionne Schulze:

David Schulze, Counsel for the plaintiffs and for the intervenors the Council of Abenaki of Odanak and the Council of Abenaki of Wôlinak: Descheneaux v. Canada (Attorney General).

Ms. Montminy made a statement and, together with Ms. St-Aubin, Ms. Nepton, Ms. Panousos and Mr. Reiher, answered questions.

At 10:11 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:20 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Yantha, Mr. Schulze and Ms. Descheneaux made statements and answered questions.

At 11:17 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee