THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 5, 2025
(12)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples met this day at 6:52 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Clement, Francis, Martin, McCallum, McNair, McPhedran, Moreau, P.C., Pate, Prosper, Sorensen, Tannas and White (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Dhillon (1).

Participating in the meeting: Sara Fryer and Allison Lowenger, Analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements).

APPEARING:

The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indigenous Services.

WITNESSES:

Indigenous Services Canada:

Gina Wilson, Deputy Minister;

Catherine Lappe, Assistant Deputy Minister, Services to Individuals Sector;

Lori Doran, Director General, Individual Affairs Branch, Services to Individuals Sector;

Stuart Hooft, Director, Individual Affairs Branch, Services to Individuals Sector;

Sacha Senecal, Director General and Chief Data Officer.

Statistics Canada:

Laurent Martel, Director, Centre for Demography;

Gayatri Jayaraman, Director General, Justice and Indigenous Statistics Branch, Social, Health, and Labour Statistics.

Shuswap Band:

Chief Barbara Cote (by videoconference).

British Colombia Assembly of First Nations:

Rochelle King, Policy Analyst (by videoconference).

The clerk informed the committee of the unavoidable absences of the chair and deputy chair and presided over the election of an acting chair.

The Honourable Senator McCallum moved that the Honourable Senator Prosper be the acting chair.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The acting chair took the chair.

The minister made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:54 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:01 p.m., the committee resumed.

Laurent Martel made a statement and, together with Gayatri Jayaraman, answered questions.

At 8:23 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:29 p.m., the committee resumed.

Chief Barbara Cote made a statement and, together with Rochelle King, answered questions.

The chair informed the committee that clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-2 will take place on Tuesday, November 18.

At 8:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Sébastien Payet

Clerk of the Committee