47 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1998, Canada

Journals of the Senate

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Issue 66

Tuesday, June 2, 1998
2:00 p.m.

The Honourable Eymard G. Corbin, Acting Speaker

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The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Atkins, Austin, Bacon, Balfour, Beaudoin, Bolduc, Bryden, Callbeck, Carstairs, Cohen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Eyton, Ferretti Barth, Forest, Forrestall, Gauthier, Gigantès, Graham, Gustafson, Hébert, Hervieux-Payette, Jessiman, Johnstone, Joyal, Kelleher, Kelly, Keon, Kinsella, Kirby, Kolber, Lavoie-Roux, LeBreton, Lewis, Losier-Cool, Lucier, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Meighen, Mercier, Milne, Moore, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Perrault, Phillips, Pitfield, Poulin, Prud'homme, Rivest, Roberge, Robertson, Robichaud, (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud, (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Rompkey, Rossiter, Simard, Stewart, Stollery, Stratton, Tkachuk, Watt

The Clerk at the Table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker was unavoidably absent.

The Honourable Senator Graham, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton:

That during the absence of the Honourable the Speaker, the Honourable Senator Corbin do preside as Speaker.

Whereupon the Honourable Senator Corbin took the Chair.

PRAYERS

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate, The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Perrault, P.C.:

That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3, 1998, at 1:30 p.m.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Presentation of Petitions

The Honourable Senator Perrault, P.C., presented petitions:

Of Residents of the Province of British Columbia concerning Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit coercion in medical procedures that offend a person's religion or belief that human life is inviolable.

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Pursuant to Rule 25(2), the Honourable Senator Carstairs tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 88, dated March 18, 1998, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Cape Breton Development Corporation.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-609S.

Reply to Question No. 91, dated March 18, 1998, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Department of Finance.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-610S.

Reply to Question No. 101, dated March 31, 1998, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Natural Resources Canada.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-611S.

Reply to Question No. 113, dated April 30, 1998, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Oliver, respecting permits issued by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in 1997.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-612S.

Reply to Question No. 115, dated April 30, 1998, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Oliver, respecting refugee claimants.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-613S.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

Third reading of Bill S-16, An Act to implement an agreement between Canada and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, an agreement between Canada and the Republic of Croatia and a convention between Canada and the Republic of Chile, for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, that the Bill be read the third time.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Bill was then read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate have passed this Bill to which they desire their concurrence. Orders No. 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting. Second reading of Bill C-36, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 24, 1998.

The Honourable Senator Bryden moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pearson, that the Bill be read the second time.

After debate, The Honourable Senator Bolduc moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Beaudoin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting. Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Oliver, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gustafson, for the second reading of Bill S-17, An Act to amend the Criminal Code respecting criminal harassment and other related matters.

After debate, The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Oliver moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gustafson, that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees

Resuming debate on consideration of the Fourth Report (Interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology entitled: "The State of Health Care for War Veterans and Service Men and Women - First Report: Long-Term Care, Standards of Care and Federal-Provincial Relations", tabled in the Senate on April 2, 1998.

Debate concluded. Orders No. 2 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting. Resuming debate on the consideration of the Eleventh Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, entitled: "The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board: Getting it Right", tabled in the Senate on March 31, 1998.

The Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that the Report be adopted.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Other

Orders No. 67 (motion), 30 (inquiry), 72 (motion), 27 (inquiry), 45 (motion), 23, 32 (inquiries), 1 (motion), 21 and 14 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting. Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Ghitter calling the attention of the Senate to the concerns expressed by Albertans with regard to the Senate as an institution: (a) its effectiveness, usefulness and viability; (b) alternative means by which to select members of the Senate; (c) the nature of its regional representation, particularly a desire to see equal numbers of Senators representing each province; (d) the length of term of office; (e) the role which a revised Senate might take at a national level; and (f) the powers which would be appropriate for it to exercise in harmony with the House of Commons.

After debate, The Honourable Senator Atkins moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eyton, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Order No. 25 (inquiry) was called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Cools called the attention of the Senate to the poor attendance and participation of the House of Commons Members in the work meetings and hearings of the Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access.

Debate concluded.

REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):

Report on Transportation in Canada for the year 1997, pursuant to the Canada Transportation Act, S.C. 1996, c. 10, sbs. 52(1).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-605.

Corporate Business Plan for 1997-2000 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, pursuant to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, S.C. 1997, c. 6, s. 22.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-606.

Reports of the Public Service Staff Relations Board required by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for the period ended March 31, 1998, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 72(2) and the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-607.

Report on the Operations of the Exchange Fund Account, together with the Auditor General's report, for the year 1997, pursuant to the Currency Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-52, sbs. 21(1). -Sessional Paper No. 1/36-608.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The name of the Honourable Senator Cools substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Mercier (June 1).

The names of the Honourable Senators Comeau, Di Nino, Callbeck and Lavoie-Roux substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Lavoie-Roux, Cohen, Stollery and Comeau (June 2).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The name of the Honourable Senator Bacon substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Perrault (June 1).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The name of the Honourable Senator Simard substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Angus (June 2).

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