It was agreed, — That a proposed budget in the amount of $6,250, for the study of the subject matter of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the Second Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your subcommittee met on Thursday, March 4, 2021, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, in relation to the committee’s study of the subject matter of C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the analysts, in consultation with the Chair and clerk and using lists submitted by the parties, prepare a draft work plan of seven meetings, and that, if adopted, the work plan also apply to study of the bill subject to it being referred to the committee.

2. That, in relation to the committee’s study of the subject matter of C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and subject to the bill being referred to the committee, clause-by-clause consideration of the bill be held on Thursday, April 22, 2021, and that proposed amendments be submitted to the clerk of the committee in both official languages no later than 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

3. That, in relation to the committee’s study of the subject matter of C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and subject to the bill being referred to the committee, the clerk of the committee write immediately to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to inform them of the subject matter study of the bill by the committee and to invite them to prepare and submit any proposed amendments to the bill for the committee’s consideration during the clause-by-clause study of the bill.

4. That written briefs of no more than 2,000 words in relation to the committee’s study of the subject matter of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and, subject to the bill being referred to the committee, study of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

5. That, in relation to the committee’s study of the subject matter of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and, subject to the bill being referred to the committee, study of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a news release announcing the study and inviting Canadians to share their recommendations be prepared by the analysts and the clerk, in consultation with the Chair, and be published on the committee’s website and on social media.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the committee's study of the subject matter of Bill C-15, parties be permitted to make adjustments to the placement of their own witnesses within panels and alternates lists of the draft work plan.

It was agreed, — That all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members.

It was agreed, — That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the committee that the House Administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality; and that the Chair advises the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.

At 12:10 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:17 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Todd Nadon, Frank Suraci and Tara Tootoo Fotheringham made statements and answered questions.