THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 22, 2026
(27)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples met this day at 6:50 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Clement, Francis, Osler, Pate and Tannas (5).
Participating in the meeting: Sara Fryer and Allison Lowenger, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
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 Pate moved that the Honourable Senator Francis be the acting chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The acting chair took the chair.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the committee began its examination of the subject matter of Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act.
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Scott Tannas, sponsor of the bill.
As an individual:
Yale D. Belanger, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Lethbridge (by videoconference).
The Honourable Senator Tannas made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:26 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:28 p.m., the committee resumed.
Yale D. Belanger made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:58 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 8 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.
It was agreed that the committee allow the audio recording and/or transcription of the in camera portion of today’s meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members or their staff, and that the audio recording and/or transcript be destroyed by the clerk of the committee when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.
At 8:07 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Sébastien Payet
Clerk of the Committee