THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Friday, June 10, 2022
(12)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of May 5, 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference, at 2:01 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Brian Francis, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Francis and Pate (2).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Audette, Christmas, Duncan, Loffreda and Patterson (6).

Participating in the meeting: Vincent Labrosse, Procedural Clerk and Lori Meldrum, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Brittany Collier and Sara Fryer, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 3, 2022, the committee continued its examination on the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples and any other subject concerning Indigenous Peoples. (Topic: Follow up on An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général))

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action:

Shelagh Day, Chair, Human Rights Committee, and Co-Founder.

Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer:

Yves Giroux, Parliamentary Budget Officer;

Mark Mahabir, Director of Policy (Costing) and General Counsel.

Statistics Canada:

Laurent Martel, Director, Centre for Demography;

Stéphanie Langlois, Senior Analyst, Centre for Demography.

Indigenous Services Canada:

Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister;

John Gordon, Indian Registrar, Office of the Indian Registrar;

Michael Walsh, Senior Director of Registration and Integrated Program Management.

Shelagh Day made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:34 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:38 p.m., the committee resumed.

Yves Giroux and Laurent Martel each made a statement and, together with Mark Mahabir, answered questions.

At 3:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:04 p.m., the committee resumed.

Christiane Fox made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:36 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:39 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera portion of today's meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or their staff, the members of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure or by the committee analysts; and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

It was agreed that the email received from Shelagh Day entitled “APPA committee study on Bill S-3”, dated Friday, June 3, 2022, presented by the Honourable Senator Francis, be filed as an exhibit. (Exhibit 2022-06-10_APPA-SS-1_Exhibit(1)_ email from Shelagh Day_e).

It was agreed that the document presented by Shelagh Day entitled “APPA: Letter to Minister Freeland”, dated Friday, June 10, 2022, be filed as an exhibit. (Exhibit 2022-06-10_APPA-SS-1_Exhibit(2)_Letter to Minister Freeland_e).

It was agreed that the chair seek permission, at the earliest opportunity, to deposit two interim reports with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting.

At 3:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the Committee