Journals of the Senate
45 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1996, Canada
Journals of the Senate
Issue 5
Thursday, March 21, 1996
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams Anderson Andreychuk Atkins Austin Beaudoin Berntson Bonnell Bosa Bryden Carstairs Cochrane Comeau Cools Corbin De Bané Doody Doyle Fairbairn Graham Grimard Gustafson Haidasz Hébert Kinsella Kirby Landry Lavoie-Roux LeBreton Lewis Losier-Cool Lucier Lynch-Staunton MacDonald (Halifax) MacEachen Molgat Murray Nolin Pearson Petten Poulin Riel Robertson Rossiter Roux Simard Sparrow Spivak Stratton Taylor Tkachuk Wood
PRAYERS.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:
Annual Report of the Parliamentary Librarian for the fiscal year 1994-95.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-64.
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Carstairs tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 2/35-65S):
THURSDAY, March 21, 1996
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament are as follows:
|
Hospitality |
$ 587.69 |
|
Miscellaneous |
80.00 |
|
Total |
$ 667.69 |
The following expenses, incurred by the Committee, were charged to the budget of the Committees and Private Legislation Directorate:
|
Witnesses' expenses |
$ 71,602.66 |
In the course of the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament, the Committee held eighty-six meetings and heard three hundred and twenty-one witnesses. The Committee considered fifteen bills, including twelve Government public bills, one Senate public bill and two Senate private bills. In addition, the Committee had referred to it the 1994 Proposals for a Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act. The Committee also reviewed the proposed regulations adapting the Canada Elections Act.
Respectfully submitted,
SHARON CARSTAIRS
Chair
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, presented its Second Report (Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Judges Act, without amendment).
The Honourable Senator Lewis moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cools, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a third reading at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 2/35-66S):
THURSDAY, March 21, 1996
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of estimates and such legislation as was referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament are as follows:
|
Contract Consulting |
$250,520.00 |
|
Hospitality |
901.11 |
|
Miscellaneous |
110.00 |
|
TOTAL |
$251,531.11 |
The following expenses, incurred by the Committee, were charged to the budget of the Committees and Private Legislation Directorate:
|
Witnesses' expenses |
$6,154.92 |
During this Session of Parliament, your Committee held 39 meetings, during which it heard 129 witnesses. It reviewed two sets of Main Estimates (1994-95, 1995-96), five sets of Supplementary Estimates: Supplementary Estimates (B), 1993-94, Supplementary Estimates (A), 1994-95, Supplementary Estimates (B), 1994-95, Supplementary Estimates (C), 1994-95, Supplementary Estimates (A), 1995-96, and 12 Bills (C-3, C-17, C-26, C-207, C-73, C-43, C-76, C-65, C-85, C-82, C-108). It issued 20 reports.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TKACHUK
Chairman
Government Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Taylor:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday next, March 26, 1996, at 2:00 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-21, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1996, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.
The Bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Taylor, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 26, 1996.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-22, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1997, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.
The Bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wood, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 26, 1996.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Gustafson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Taylor:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine the present state and the future of agriculture in Canada; and
That the Committee present its report no later than March 31, 1997.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Ordered, That Order No. 1 under OTHER BUSINESS, Other, be brought forward.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., calling the attention of the Senate to the state of the coal mining industry in Cape Breton and the policy of the Cape Breton Development Corporation in relation thereto.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Berntson for the Honourable Senator Buchanan, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Doyle, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Second reading of Bill C-8, An Act respecting the control of certain drugs, their precursors and other substances and to amend certain other Acts and repeal the Narcotic Control Act in consequence thereof.
The Honourable Senator Poulin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, that the Bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Poulin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, 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.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Bacon, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C.:
That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To His Excellency the Right Honourable Roméo A. LeBlanc, a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Berntson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bosa:
That the Senate do unite with the House of Commons in the appointment of a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons to develop a Code of Conduct to guide Senators and Members of the House of Commons in reconciling their official responsibilities with their personal interests, including their dealings with lobbyists;
That seven Members of the Senate and fourteen Members of the House of Commons be members of the Committee;
That the Committee be directed to consult broadly and review the approaches taken with respect to these issues in Canada and in other jurisdictions with comparable systems of government;
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament be referred to the Committee;
That the Committee have the power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate;
That the Committee have the power to report from time to time, to send for persons, papers and records, and to print such papers and evidence as may be ordered by the Committee;
That the Committee have the power to retain the services of expert, professional, technical and clerical staff;
That the quorum of the Committee be eleven members, whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, so long as both Houses are represented, and that the Joint Chairpersons be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof, whenever six members are present, so long as both Houses are represented;
That the Committee be empowered to appoint, from among its members, such sub-committees as may be deemed advisable, and to delegate to such sub-committees all or any of its power, except the power to report to the Senate and House of Commons;
That the Committee be empowered to authorize television and radio broadcasting of any or all of its proceedings;
That the Committee present its final report no later than June 21, 1996;
That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the Senate is not sitting when the final report of the Committee is completed, the report may be deposited with the Clerk of the Senate and it shall thereupon be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate; and
That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kinsella, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, for the second reading of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (sexual orientation).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Berntson for the Honourable Senator Beaudoin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill S-5, An Act to restrict the manufacture, sale, importation and labelling of tobacco products.
The Honourable Senator Haidasz, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cools, that the Bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Haidasz, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cools, that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Cools called the attention of the Senate to the child and neglect (CAN) death of 5 year old Matthew Vaudreuil at the hands of his mother, Verna Vaudreuil, in July 1992; and the Inquiry by Judge Thomas J. Gove into child protection services in British Columbia as they relate to the terrible child abuse and neglect (CAN) death of Matthew Vaudreuil; and Judge Gove's report entitled: The Report of the Gove Inquiry into Child Protection in British Columbia, November 1995.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Berntson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Graham for the Honourable Senator Kirby moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Haidasz, P.C.:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce be authorized to examine and report upon the present state of the financial system in Canada;
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament and any other relevant Parliamentary papers and evidence on the said subject be referred to the Committee;
That the Committee be empowered to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Committee submit its final report no later than December 12, 1996.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report of the Director of Investigation and Research, Competition Act, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, pursuant to the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985 (2nd Supp.), c. 19, s. 125.- Sessional Paper No. 2/35-62.
Report of the Governor of the Bank of Canada and statement of accounts for the year ended December 31, 1995, pursuant to the Bank of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. B-2, s. 30(3).-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-63.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Taylor:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
__________________________
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
The name of the Honourable Senator Taylor substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Hays (March 20).
The name of the Honourable Senator Hays substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Olson (March 21).