THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 17, 2023
(58)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples met this day at 9 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brian Francis, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Audette, Coyle, Francis, Greenwood, Hartling, LaBoucane-Benson, Martin, Poirier, Sorensen and Tannas (11).
Participating in the meeting: Ericka Dupont, Procedural Clerk and Martine Willox, Legislative Clerk, Committees Directorate; Allison Lowenger and Sara Fryer, analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 4, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation.
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Seetal Sunga, Senior Counsel, Legal Services.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada:
Mary-Luisa Kapelus, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Strategic Direction.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-29.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Audette moved that Bill C-29 be amended in clause 2, on page 2,
(a) by replacing lines 25 and 26 with the following:
“governments means the Government of Canada, provincial and local governments and Indigenous governing bodies. (gouver-”;
(b) by adding the following after line 27:
“Indigenous governing body means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. (corps dirigeant autochtone)”.
Seetal Sunga and Mary-Luisa Kapelus were invited to the table and answered questions. They answered questions from time to time for the remainder of the meeting.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 2, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
It was agreed that clause 4 carry.
It was agreed that clause 5 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 6 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Greenwood moved that Bill C-29 be amended in clause 6, on page 3, by replacing line 22 with the following:
“between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people.”.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Greenwood moved that the motion in amendment be amended by replacing “people” with “peoples”.
At 9:34 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10 a.m., the committee resumed.
After debate, the question being put on the subamendment, it was adopted.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, as amended, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 6, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether clause 7 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Tannas moved that Bill C-29 be amended in clause 7,
(a) on page 3, by replacing lines 24 to 29 with the following:
“(a) monitor, evaluate and report annually to Parliament and the people of Canada on the Government of Canada’s post-apology progress towards reconciliation, to ensure that government accountability for reconciling the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Crown is maintained in the coming years;
(b) monitor, evaluate and report to Parliament and the people of Canada on the progress being made towards reconciliation across all levels and sectors of Canadian society, including the progress being made towards the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of “;
(b) on page 4,
(i) by replacing lines 3 to 5 with the following:
“(c) develop and implement a multi-year National Action Plan for Reconciliation that includes
(i) research on practices that advance reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society, by all governments in Canada and at the international level,
(ii) policy development, and
(iii) public education programs;”,
(ii) by replacing lines 16 and 17 with the following:
“(g) stimulate and promote innovative dialogue, partnerships between public and private sector bodies and public initiatives aimed at reconciliation;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 7, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 8 carry.
It was agreed that clause 9 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 10 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Martin moved that Bill C-29 be amended in clause 10, on page 5,
(a) by replacing line 7 with the following:
“been nominated by the Métis National Council;”;
(b) by replacing line 10 with the following:
“Canada; and
(e) one director who may only be elected after having been nominated by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Arnot, Hartling, Martin, Poirier, Tannas — 5
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Audette, Coyle, Greenwood, LaBoucane-Benson, Sorensen — 5
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senator
Francis— 1
At 10:56 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Andrea Mugny
Clerk of the Committee