THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 10, 2025
(17)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 6:46 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Larry W. Smith, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Aucoin, Cormier, Lewis, Miville-Dechêne, Mohamed, Quinn, Simons and Smith (9).

Participating in the meeting: Geneviève Gosselin and Marion Ménard, Analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 1, 2, 24, 28 and 29 of Part 5 of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025. (Topic: Division 1 of Part 5)

WITNESSES:

Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador:

Francis Verreault-Paul, Chief (by videoconference).

Assembly of First Nations:

Abram Benedict, Regional Chief, Chiefs of Ontario;

Julie McGregor, Chief of Staff.

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society:

Sandra Schwartz, National Executive Director.

Ontario Federation of Agriculture:

Drew Spoelstra, President.

As an individual:

Matti Siemiatycki, Professor, Geography and Planning and Director, Infrastructure Institute, University of Toronto (by videoconference).

Chief Francis Verreault-Paul, Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Sandra Schwartz each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:48 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:52 p.m., the committee resumed.

Drew Spoelstra and Matti Siemiatycki each made a statement and answered questions.

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

ATTEST:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the Committee