THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 26, 2023
(76)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:47 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brent Cotter, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Boisvenu, Clement, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Jaffer, Klyne, LaBoucane-Benson, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut) and Simons (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Prosper (1).
Participating in the meeting: Aoife Mc Donald, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Michaela Keenan-Pelletier and Iryna Zazulya, analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-13, An Act to amend the Interpretation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.
WITNESSES:
Native Women's Association of Canada:
Sarah Niman, Senior Director, Legal Services.
Assembly of First Nations:
Sara Mainville, Partner, JFK Law LLP (by videoconference);
Cheryl Casimer, Executive Member, First Nations Summit (by videoconference).
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami:
Natan Obed, President;
Will David, Director of Legal Affairs.
Nisga'a Lisims Government:
Eva Clayton, President (by videoconference).
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated:
Marie Belleau, Managing Legal Counsel (by videoconference);
Alastair Campbell, Senior Policy Advisor (by videoconference);
Jim Aldridge, Legal Counsel (by videoconference).
Sarah Niman, Sara Mainville and Natan Obed each made a statement and, together with Cheryl Casimer and Will David, answered questions.
At 12:53 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:59 p.m., the committee resumed.
Eva Clayton and Marie Belleau each made a statement and, together with Jim Aldridge, answered questions.
At 1:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee