Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 21 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 10, 2017

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 10, 2017
(47)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 6:48 p.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Lillian Eva Dyck, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boniface, Doyle, Dyck, Gold, Lankin, P.C., Lovelace Nicholas, Martin, McPhedran, Pate, Patterson and Sinclair (11).

In attendance: Brittany Collier and Sara Fryer, 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 Thursday, November 17, 2016, the committee continued its examination of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based inequities in registration). (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 13.)

WITNESSES:

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).

Women's Legal Education and Action Fund:

Kim Stanton, Legal Director.

As individuals:

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

Sharon McIvor.

Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action:

Shelagh Day, Chair, Human Rights Committee and Co-Founder (by video conference).

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Schulze and Ms. Stanton each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:06 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:11 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Palmater, Ms. McIvor, and Ms. Day each made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mark Palmer

Clerk of the Committee