THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, June 6, 2022
(11)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of May 5, 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met in camera this day in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference, at 2:05 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Brian Francis, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Audette, Francis and Pate (4).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Christmas, Coyle, Hartling and Patterson (4).

Participating in the meeting: Mark Palmer, Procedural Clerk and Lori Meldrum, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Brittany Collier and Sara Fryer, analysts, Library of Parliament; Ben Silverman, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.

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))

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered in camera a draft report.

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera meeting today, 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 draft report, as amended, be adopted and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to improve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions and any necessary editorial, grammatical, translation and design element changes required, and that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

It was agreed that the committee request a compete and detailed response from the government to the report.

At 2:30 p.m., 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: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls)

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered in camera a draft report.

It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions and with any necessary editorial, grammatical, translation and design element changes required, and that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

It was agreed that the committee request a compete and detailed response from the government to the report.

At 2:44 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 2 and 3 of Part 5 of Bill C-19, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 and other measures.

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered in camera a draft report.

At 2:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the Committee