Ottawa - A new approach to deal with arising aboriginal issues will be undertaken by the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. In addition to their current work, members of the committee will hold meetings with key stakeholders and witnesses on issues affecting aboriginal peoples as they arise. This approach will help Senators more appropriately and effectively address specific issues or crises. The first special topics meetings will be held this week on Indian Moneys and the Jay Treaty with a focus on border crossings.

“These special hearings provide a chance for the committee to look at specific issues or problems, bring in the affected parties and see if there are solutions and recommendations that can be made in the short term,” said Senator Lillian Eva Dyck, Chair of the committee. “The committee believes that in addition to its usual practice of conducting in-depth reports on issues such as housing on reserves, it would be beneficial to conduct brief hearings on focused topics which are timely and of special interest such as Indian Moneys and the Jay Treaty. The committee would bring together the relevant parties to draw attention to the issue, identify the problems and develop solutions.”

Following these meetings, the committee will suitably communicate the findings to Canadians. When appropriate, the committee will bring forward recommendations to the Federal government or it will decide to further study the issue. Unlike traditional studies usually done over several weeks or months, this brand-new approach will quickly bring together relevant stakeholders to discuss very specific and current topics that affect aboriginal groups.

“The Indian Moneys and the Jay Treaty issues were brought to our attention by members of First Nations communities,” said Senator Dennis Glen Patterson, Deputy Chair of the committee. “Our committee is of the opinion that we should serve the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people within our mandate by examining and shining a light on topics of importance they identify.”

Over the last few years, the committee received mandates to examine and report on the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and on other matters generally relating to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.

More information on current work of the committee can be found on the parliamentary website.

The Senate of Canada is on Twitter: @SenateCA, follow the committee using the hashtag #APPA.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Palmer
Committee Clerk
Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
613-993-9035
mark.palmer@sen.parl.gc.ca

Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Senate of Canada
613-996-2751
melisa.leclerc@sen.parl.gc.ca