THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 2, 2023
(78)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:49 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, Dupuis, Jaffer, Klyne, LaBoucane-Benson, Pate, Patterson (Nunavut), Prosper and Simons (12).

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:

Métis National Council:

Cassidy Caron, President;

Ryan Chawner, Acting Director, Justice and Legislative Affairs.

Department of Justice Canada:

Laurie Sargent, Assistant Deputy Minister, Indigenous Rights and Relations Portfolio;

Uzma Ihsanullah, Director General and Senior General Counsel, Aboriginal Law Centre.

As an individual:

Judy Wilson, Former Kukpi7 Chief, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (by videoconference).

Judy Wilson and Cassidy Caron each made a statement and, together with Ryan Chawner, answered questions.

At 12:51 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:56 p.m., the committee resumed.

Laurie Sargent and Uzma Ihsanullah answered questions.

At 1:46 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee