Indigenous and Northern Affairs

The committee’s first meeting of the session was devoted entirely to organizational business. Members elected Terry Sheehan as chair, Jamie Schmale as first vice-chair, and Sébastien Lemire as second vice-chair.

Jamie Schmale proposed completing two unfinished studies from the previous Parliament: one on taxation (excise tax) and one on procurement. He also suggested creating a study schedule for the fall, with each party choosing its own topic in rotation. Jaime Battiste recommended starting the fall session with cultural sensitivity training, such as a KAIROS blanket exercise, and asked analysts what work could be done over the summer without new motions. Brendan Hanley supported the training idea and noted the importance of summer consultations on issues like Bill C-5.

Sébastien Lemire gave notice of three motions for future studies: one on federal consultation obligations with First Nations regarding resource and infrastructure projects; one on issues facing Indigenous communities without a land base; and one to resume the previous study on barriers to Indigenous economic development, with an added section on “pretendians.” He also flagged a motion at the Procedure and House Affairs committee about voting issues affecting Indigenous communities in the recent election. The committee adjourned without voting on any of these proposals, leaving them to be taken up in the fall.