Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 53 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 1, 2019

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 1, 2019
(119)

[Français]

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 6:46 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 Christmas, Coyle, Doyle, Dyck, Francis, Griffin, LaBoucane-Benson, Pate, Patterson 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, February 2, 2016, the committee continued its examination of the study on the federal government's constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

The chair made a statement.

It was agreed that the following special study budget application (Indigenize the Senate) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

SUMMARY OF BUDGET

General Expenses	$1,850
TOTAL	$1,850

At 6:48 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on 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. 52.)

WITNESSES:

Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island (MCPEI):

Marilyn Birch, Director of Child and Family Services.

Manitoba First Nations Family Advocate Office:

Marcel Balfour, Senior Policy Analyst (by video conference);

Kayla Frank, Policy Analyst (by video conference).

Youth in Care Canada:

Ashley Bach, President.

Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society:

Holly Anderson, Guardianship Manager;

Cheyenne Andy, Senior Youth Advisory member.

Ms. Birch and Mr. Balfour each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:49 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:55 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Bach and Ms. Andy each made a statement and, together with Ms. Anderson, answered questions.

It was agreed that the clerk would circulate an English only document electronically with the French translation to follow.

At 8:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee