THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 19, 2022
(18)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples met this day at 6:46 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Brian Francis, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Boniface, Coyle, Francis, Lovelace Nicholas, Martin, Patterson and Tannas (8).

Participating in the meeting: Brittany Collier and Sara Fryer, analysts, Library of Parliament.

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 Métis peoples and any other subject concerning Indigenous Peoples. (Subject: Follow up on the Cannabis Act)

WITNESSES:

Indigenous Services Canada:

Dr. Evan Adams, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Public Health, Director General’s Office of Population and Public Health, First Nation and Inuit Health Branch.

Department of Finance Canada:

Jack Glick, Senior Policy Advisor, Excise Policy, Tax Policy Branch (by videoconference);

Brent Almond, Director, Indigenous Taxation Policy, Tax Policy Branch (by videoconference).

Department of Justice Canada:

Norma Won, Senior Counsel, Health Canada Legal Services (by videoconference).

Health Canada:

Kendal Weber, Assistant Deputy Minister, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch (by videoconference);

John Clare, Director General, Strategic Policy Directorate, Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch (by videoconference).

Public Safety Canada:

Chris Moran, Assistant Deputy Minister (by videoconference);

Kristin McLeod, Director, Drug Policy Division, Crime Prevention Branch (by videoconference).

Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

Maryanne Pearce, Acting Director, National Crime Prevention and Indigenous Policing Services (by videoconference);

Mathieu Bertrand, Superintendent, Acting Director General of Serious and Organized Crime and Border Integrity, Federal Policing Criminal Operations (by videoconference).

Evan Adams made a statement, Jack Glick and Brent Almond made a statement together and all answered questions.

At 7:25 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:28 p.m., the committee resumed.

Kendal Weber and Norma Won each made a statement and, together with John Clare, answered questions.

At 8:05 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:07 p.m., the committee resumed.

Chris Moran and Maryanne Pearce each made a statement and, together with Kristin McLeod and Mathieu Bertrand, answered questions.

At 8:43 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the Committee