THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, May 31, 2021
(7)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 30, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met, by videoconference, this day at 10:02 a.m. [ET], the chair, the Honourable Dan Christmas, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Christmas, Coyle, Forest-Niesing, Francis, Hartling, LaBoucane-Benson, MacDonald, Pate, Patterson, Stewart Olsen and Tannas (12).

Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Cotter and McCallum (2).

Participating in the meeting: Chantal Cardinal, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Sara Fryer and Brittany Collier, 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, April 20, 2021, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

APPEARING (by videoconference):

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P., Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations;

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

National Indigenous Economic Development Board:

Dawn Madahbee Leach, Chair.

National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association:

Shannin Metatawabin, Chief Executive Officer.

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business:

Tabatha Bull, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative:

Mark Sevestre, Senior Advisor & Founding Member, National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association;

Katherine Wheatley, Manager.

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers:

Shannon Joseph, Vice-President, Government Relations and Indigenous Affairs.

Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd.:

Brian Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada:

Ross Pattee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Implementation Sector;

Marla Israel, Director General.

Department of Justice Canada:

Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio;

Sandra Leduc, Director and General Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre;

Koren Marriott, Senior Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio;

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Madahbee Leach, Mr. Metatawabin and Ms. Bull made statements and answered questions.

At 10:59 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:01 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Sevestre, Ms. Wheatley, Ms. Joseph and Mr. Schmidt made statements and answered questions.

At 11:54 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:13 p.m., the committee resumed.

The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada each made a statement and, together with Ms. Sargent and Mr. Pattee, answered questions.

At 3:43 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

Attest:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the committee