THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Monday, December 13, 2021
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met with videoconference this day at 11 a.m. [ET], pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Andrea Mugny, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, as clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator Christmas: I wish to nominate Senator Brian Francis as chair.
Ms. Mugny: Are there any other nominations? It is moved by the Honourable Senator Christmas:
That the Honourable Senator Francis do take the chair of this committee.
If you are opposed to the motion, please say “no.” I declare the motion carried. I invite Senator Francis to take the chair.
Senator Brian Francis (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Wela’lin. Thank you, Ms. Mugny.
I want to begin my remarks by acknowledging that I am joining you today from the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people, who have inhabited and cared for this land since time immemorial and continue to do so today.
Colleagues, a land acknowledgment is not just a symbolic statement. It is an important sign of recognition of and respect for Indigenous peoples and the essential and enduring relationship we have with this land now known as Canada. I hope this practice will remain a constant feature of our proceedings and encourage everyone to incorporate it into your personal and professional lives.
I want to thank the committee members for the confidence you have placed in me. I am honoured, humbled and ready to serve as your chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, also known as APPA.
I am grateful for all those who came before me in this role, including Senator Dan Christmas and Senator Dennis Patterson, who are here today. I know that I have some very big shoes to fill.
I am grateful for the hard work of past members of this committee who, for over two decades, have worked tirelessly to advocate for, with and on behalf of Indigenous peoples, which is critical given that our views have far too often been neglected from political and legislative processes.
I am also grateful for the support of our dedicated and professional staff. I look forward to working closely with returning and new committee members, as well as staff, during the Forty-fourth Parliament. Your distinct backgrounds, knowledge and expertise will greatly add to the quality of our work.
Colleagues, there is no doubt that the work we do in this committee is critical. However, it can be at times overwhelming and triggering. Please take the time to process and heal when needed. We are all in this together, and we are here to support each other.
Before I conclude, I want to make clear to all committee members that, at the risk of sounding cliché, my door is always open. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments, questions, suggestions and/or concerns about our work.
Again, wela’lin, thank you for the confidence you have placed in me.
Now let us proceed with our meeting. I understand that you have received an agenda from the clerk, Ms. Mugny, outlining a number of motions that will enable our committee to begin operations.
First, we will now proceed to the election of deputy chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect. Are there any nominations?
Senator Coyle: Mr. Chair, I would be honoured to nominate our colleague Senator Dan Christmas to the position of deputy chair of APPA.
The Chair: The Honourable Senator Coyle moved:
That the Honourable Senator Dan Christmas be deputy chair of this committee.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
We now have some routine motions to adopt. These are standard motions that are consistent with past practices.
First is the motion to create the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, known as the steering committee. For this session, it was agreed that all four parties and groups would have a representative on the steering committee. Do I have a mover for motion 3?
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and two other members of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultations; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
Are there any objections?
Senator Patterson: Mr. Chair, I’m not raising any objection, but I would like to speak to my motion, just for the benefit of committee members. I understand that the “usual consultations” have taken place amongst the leadership and that Senator Scott Tannas and I will have the privilege of working with you, Mr. Chair, and Senator Christmas on the steering committee, if I may make that observation.
The Chair: Thank you for that.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
I am pleased to announce that Senators Patterson and Tannas will be our two other members of steering.
Motion 4 deals with publishing the committee’s proceedings. Do I have a mover for motion 4?
The Honourable Senator Pate moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
Motion 5 is about the financial report. As per rule 12-26(2), each committee must table a report on the expenses incurred during the previous session, 43-2. A copy of the draft report, prepared by the clerk, was distributed by email. Do I have a mover for the motion?
The Honourable Senator Coyle moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
Motion 6 deals with research staff. Do I have a mover for the motion?
The Honourable Senator Pate moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee’s examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
I now invite the analysts to turn their video on. Welcome, Brittany Collier and Sara Fryer.
Motion 7 pertains to the authority to commit funds and certify accounts. Do I have a mover for that motion?
The Honourable Senator Hartling moved:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
Motion 8 deals with travel. Do I have a proposer for motion 8?
The Honourable Senator Pate moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
Motion 9 pertains to designation of members travelling on committee business. Do I have a proposer for motion 9?
The Honourable Senator Pate moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) Determine whether any member of the committee is on “official business” for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) Consider any member of the committee to be on “official business” if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
Motion 10 deals with the travelling and living expenses of witnesses. Do I have a proposer for motion 10?
The Honourable Senator Pate moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses of one witness per organization upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses of a second witness from the same organization should there be exceptional circumstances.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried.
Motion 11 pertains to communications. Do I have a proposer for motion 11?
The Honourable Senator Pate moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans and products where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of the promotion of their work; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee’s public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its proceedings, at its discretion.
Are there any objections? Hearing none, I declare the motion carried and I welcome Michael Forian to the committee.
Moving on to other business. If there is no other business, we will adjourn the meeting.
Senator Pate: I wanted to thank you, Mr. Chair, Georgina and also your office team for starting us off in such a good way this morning, and I wanted to acknowledge that that was wonderful to be a part of here. I know that we included all of our colleagues across the country in our thoughts. Thank you.
The Chair: Thank you. I appreciate that.
Senator Christmas: I wanted to express my gratitude to you, Mr. Chair, for assuming this role. I’m very pleased that you were able and willing to do it.
I want to thank my colleagues on APPA and my colleagues in the chamber for the time I had to serve as chair. Going forward, I found it impossible to continue to be chair and to be personally present in Ottawa. I was very pleased that you were able to assume that responsibility. I want to express my gratitude to you, Mr. Chair, to my colleagues and to the Senate for allowing this to be.
The Chair: Thank you. I appreciate it. As I mentioned earlier, I certainly have big shoes to fill following you and Senator Patterson, but I will do the best I can. Thank you for putting your faith in me, colleagues.
If there is no other business, I declare the meeting adjourned.
(The committee adjourned.)