THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
(21)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:18 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Rosemary Moodie, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Boudreau, Burey, Greenwood, Hay, Klyne, McPhedran, Moodie, Muggli, Osler, Petitclerc and Senior (12).
Participating in the meeting: Diana Ambrozas and Laura Blackmore, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
The Honourable Senator Osler moved that the Honourable Senator Burey be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:21 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:22 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).
It was agreed that staff be allowed to remain in the room for the in camera portion of today’s meeting.
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 and/or 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 5:21 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:26 p.m., the committee resumed in public.
At 5:26 p.m., the deputy chair, the Honourable Senator Burey, took the chair.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-212, An Act respecting a national strategy for children and youth in Canada.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-212.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 4 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Hay moved that Bill S-212 be amended in clause 4, on page 3, by adding the following after line 4:
“(i.1) equitable access to mental health services, resources and supports that respond to the diverse needs of all children and youth across Canada, with particular attention to the specific needs of children and youth from distinct communities and groups, including
(A) First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities,
(B) refugee or immigrant families,
(C) persons living in rural or remote locations,
(D) persons belonging to vulnerable groups,
(E) Black persons and persons from other racialized communities, and
(F) children and youth with disabilities,”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Petitclerc moved that Bill S-212 be amended in clause 4, on page 3,
(a) by replacing line 22 with the following:
“September 14, 2005,”;
(b) by replacing line 26 with the following:
“13, 2007, as it relates to children and youth, and
(E) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13, 2006, as it relates to children and youth;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Greenwood moved that Bill S-212 be amended in clause 4, on page 3, by adding the following after line 30:
“(b.1) identify a series of outcomes and quantifiable indicators that are relevant to Indigenous children and youth, developed to reflect the unique realities and needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis and informed by Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Greenwood moved that Bill S-212 be amended in clause 4, on page 4, by replacing lines 17 and 18 with the following:
“of Justice, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Minister of Indigenous Services and the Minister of Employment and Social Development;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Greenwood moved that Bill S-212 be amended in clause 4, on page 4, by adding the following after line 29:
“(3.1) In conducting consultations under paragraph (3)(a), the Minister must ensure that child and youth participants are engaged in a culturally safe environment and in ways that respect their own respective cultures and that they are provided with the opportunity to participate in their own respective languages.”.
After debate, it was agreed that the motion in amendment stand postponed until next meeting.
A point of order was raised concerning the receivability of an amendment.
The chair ruled that amendments are drafted in a standalone fashion, in that, they do not take into consideration numbering of other amendments. The overlapping of the numbering of the lists in two amendments would be treated as a non-substantive change in renumbering that would be applied by the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel. To grant them the authorization to do so, the committee may adopt a routine motion, at the end of the clause-by-clause process. Therefore, the chair ruled that the amendment was in order and debate could continue.
The Honourable Senator Greenwood moved that Bill S-212 be amended in clause 4, on page 5,
(a) by replacing line 5 with the following:
“(c) the Inuit Child First Initiative;”;
(b) by replacing line 9 with the following:
“Girls; and
(e) the unique rights, interests, cultures and languages of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
At 6:13 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ferda Simpson
Clerk of the Committee