AANO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development met in camera at 3:37 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Barry Devolin, presiding.

The Chair presented the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

1. It was agreed, that Departmental Officials be heard on Supplementary Estimates at the meeting on Tuesday, November 27, 2007; and that the regularly scheduled meeting on the afternoon of November 29, 2007, be replaced with a meeting from 10:00 to 11:30 AM that day, where the Minister will be heard on Supplementary Estimates between 10:15 and 11:15 AM.

2. It was agreed, that the Blues from public meetings be made available to the public on demand.

3. It was agreed, that distribution of documentation intended for committee members be distributed to members' offices and/or to their designated staff person, but that confidential documents be distributed to members' offices only, unless the Clerk is directed otherwise.

It was agreed, — That item 1 be amended as follows: “That Departmental Officials be heard on Supplementary Estimates at the meeting on Tuesday, November 27, 2007; and that the regularly scheduled meeting on the afternoon of November 29, 2007, be replaced with a meeting from 10:00 to 12:15 PM that day, where the Minister will be heard on Supplementary Estimates between 10:15 and 11:15 AM and the Departmental Officials will remain until 12:15 PM.”.

It was agreed, — That the First report of the Subcommittee, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in public.

At 4:01 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:02 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Rod Bruinooge moved, — That the committee, immediately go to a clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-21 so as to delay no further the granting of access to the Human Rights Act to all Aboriginal Canadians.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “immediately” with the words “on December 4^th, 2007”.

The debate continued.

Jean Crowder moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “December 4^th, 2007” the following: “after completing a thorough review of the Supplementary Estimates”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jean Crowder and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

The committee, on December 4^th 2007, after completing a thorough review of the Supplementary Estimates, go to a clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-21 so as to delay no further the granting of access to the Human Rights Act to all Aboriginal Canadians.

Yvon Lévesque moved, — That the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development should invite the leaders of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, as soon as the Committee resumes sitting this fall, to explain their position on the Agreement-in-Principal among Canada, Québec and Makivik Corp. regarding self-government for Nunavik Inuit versus their own land claim.

Debate arose thereon.

Rod Bruinooge moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “Kawawachikamach” the words “as well as representatives of the Makivik Corp”, and by adding the words “on December 11^th 2007” after the words “land claim”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Rod Bruinooge and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

The Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development should invite the leaders of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach as well as representatives of the Makivik Corp, as soon as the Committee resumes sitting this fall, to explain their position on the Agreement-in-Principal among Canada, Québec and Makivik Corp. regarding self-government for Nunavik Inuit versus their own land claim, on December 11^th 2007.

Jean Crowder moved, — That the Committee adopt the recommendations contained in the Sixth Report of this Committee in the 1st Session of the 39th Parliament entitled: No Higher Priority: Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education in Canada; and report them to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

Jean Crowder moved, — That the committee invite the Auditor-General to appear to report on the audit done of the Inuvialuit Final agreement.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “agreement” the words “on November 22nd 2007, or at the earliest opportunity”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the committee invite the Auditor-General to appear to report on the audit done of the Inuvialuit Final agreement on November 22^nd 2007, or at the earliest opportunity.

Jean Crowder moved, — That the committee invite NWAC to appear and report on the outcomes of the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “NWAC” the following: “and representatives from the women's organisations that presented papers at the Summit (Women of the Métis Nation, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, the Assembly of First Nations, the NorthWest Territories Status of Women Council, the Native Association of Friendship Centres, and the Pauktuutik Inuit Women of Canada)” and that the words “on a date to be determined” be added after the words “Women's Summit”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the committee invite NWAC, and representatives from the women's organisations that presented papers at the Summit (Women of the Métis Nation, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, the Assembly of First Nations, the NorthWest Territories Status of Women Council, the Native Association of Friendship Centres, and the Pauktuutik Inuit Women of Canada), to appear and report on the outcomes of the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit.

It was agreed, — That requests for appearances be acknwoledged with a letter from the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee in consultation with the Chair, prepare draft budgets for consideration by the Committee.

At 4:55 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.