Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 6 - Evidence

OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 23, 2001

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 9:35 a.m. to consider a draft budget in relation to its order of reference to report upon issues affecting urban Aboriginal youth in Canada.

Senator Thelma Chalifoux (Chairman) in the Chair.

[English]

The Chairman: Honourable senators, our first agenda item is consideration of a draft budget prepared by the clerk and the researcher. This budget is to March 31, 2002.

At our last meeting we decided not to travel through the winter, so we need only budget to hear witnesses here in Ottawa. We will need to hear from all the relevant departments about anything pertaining to urban Aboriginal youth issues. That is why this budget is only for $25,500.

Senator Cochrane: Is this budget for legislation that will arise or is it for our youth study?

The Chairman: This budget is just for our youth study.

Mr. Adam Thompson, Clerk of the Committee: We already have a budget allotment to deal with legislation. This is a special budget specifically to deal with our Aboriginal youth order of reference.

Senator Cochrane: Does the item for consultants refer to the consultants that the committee will be using for the length of our study?

The Chairman: I would presume so. We will see. Right now, the budget is only to March 31, 2002. It is for communications, to keep the study in the forefront, to do press releases and to work on that level. We have our own researchers and clerks here, but this amount is for communications.

Senator Hubley: Can you give us an example of some of the organizations that we will be hearing on this study? Will they be coming in from other parts of Canada?

The Chairman: The clerk has prepared a list of proposed witnesses.

Mr. Thompson: We will discuss that in more detail when we come to future business on today's agenda, but as far as bringing people in from outside Ottawa, we can do that. We do not need to budget for that cost because witness expenses for hearings in Ottawa are paid for by the Committees Directorate. Individual committees do not need to budget for that expense.

Senator Hubley: If we were to hear from national organizations prior to doing a tour, we could have more insight into their work.

Mr. Thompson: Yes.

The Chairman: If there are no other questions, I will call for a motion.

Senator Cochrane: I move the adoption of this budget.

Senator Léger: I second the motion.

The Chairman: That is a motion to accept the budget of $25,500 until March 31, 2002. If there is no further discussion, I call the question.

All in favour?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Senator Cochrane: I move that we proceed in camera.

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The committee continued in camera.