The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 5:15 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:17 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Arnold Viersen gave notice of the following motion:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a comprehensive study of the Indian Act, an outdated colonial statute, and the Act’s contribution to systemic racism, women’s inequality, violence, injustice and poverty experienced by First Nations and that the scope of the study include but not be limited to discussing the abolition of the Indian Act and the fiduciary obligations of the Federal Crown to improve the living conditions of First Nations; that the witness list include ministers and department officials, band councils, band members, individuals, and community groups; that the committee report its findings and recommendations of concrete steps the government can take to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Leah Gazan moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite the Minister of Indigenous Services and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to provide testimony regarding the Supplementary Estimates (A), 2020-21, no later than June 16, 2020.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Jaime Battiste, Sylvie Bérubé, Pam Damoff, Leah Gazan, Marcus Powlowski, Jamie Schmale, Adam van Koeverden, Gary Vidal, Arnold Viersen, Lenore Zann, Bob Zimmer — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and the Minister of Northern Affairs to provide testimony regarding the Supplementary Estimates (A), 2020-21, no later than June 16, 2020.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 6:14 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6:19 p.m., the sitting resumed.