Barriers to Indigenous Economic Development

Order of reference dated Tuesday, November 19, 2024:

That the second report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, presented on Monday, April 25, 2022, be not now concurred in, but that it be recommitted to the committee for further consideration, with a view to studying the economic and antireconciliatory barriers posed by fraudulent bids and applications for procurement opportunities set aside for Indigenous businesses, including those from non-Indigenous-owned companies, provided that, for the purposes of this study:

(a) the following be ordered to appear as witnesses, for at least two hours each, at dates and times to be fixed by the Chair of the committee, but no later than Tuesday, December 17, 2024,

(i) the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages,

(ii) the Minister of Indigenous Services, (iii) the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations,

(iii) the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations,

(iv) the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant,

(v) Arianne Reza, Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement,

(vi) Catherine Poulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Departmental Oversight Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services;

(b) Felix Papineau and Shawna Parker, individuals currently or formerly associated with Global Health Imports, shall each be ordered to appear as witnesses, separately, for at least one hour each, at dates and times to be fixed by the Chair of the committee, but no later than Tuesday, December 17, 2024; and

(c) it be an instruction that the committee,

(i) hold at least four other meetings to receive evidence from Indigenous partners, stakeholders and experts, proposed by the members of the committee,

(ii) report its findings to the House by Friday, January 31, 2025,

(iii) give priority to this study, subject only to its order of reference concerning Bill C-61, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands,

(iv) have the first priority for the use of House resources for committee meetings, subject to any special orders previously adopted, for the studies referred to in subparagraph (iii).

Accordingly, the report was referred back to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.