Journals of the Senate
46 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1997, Canada
Journals of the Senate
Issue 76
Tuesday, March 4, 1997
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Anderson Andreychuk Atkins Bacon Berntson Bolduc Bonnell Bosa Carstairs
Cogger Cools Corbin De Bané DeWare
Di Nino Doody Doyle Fairbairn Ghitter Gigantès Graham Grimard Gustafson Haidasz
Hays Hébert Kelly Kenny Kinsella Kolber Lavoie-Roux LeBreton Lucier
Lynch-Staunton MacDonald (Halifax) Marchand Mercier Molgat Nolin Pearson
Perrault Petten Pitfield Poulin Prud'homme Rivest Roberge Rossiter Sparrow
Spivak Stanbury Stewart Taylor Tkachuk Twinn
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., tabled the following:
Document entitled: "University Tuition Fees for Full-Time Canadian Students".-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-588S.
The Honourable Senator Graham tabled the following:
1997-98 Estimates, Part I: The Government Expenditure Plan and Highlights by Ministry.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-589.
1997-98 Estimates Part II: The Main Estimates.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-590.
Supplementary Estimates (B) 1996-97.-Sessional PaperNo. 2/35-591.
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Ghitter, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, presented its Sixth Report (Interim Report on Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances).
(The Report is printed as an Appendix at pages 950 - 1062.)
The Honourable Senator Ghitter moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Atkins, that the Report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration on Tuesday next,March 11, 1997.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Ghitter, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, presented its Seventh Report (Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances) without amendment.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lucier, 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.
Government Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lucier:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon:
the expenditures set out in the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, with the exception of ParliamentVote 10 and Privy Council Vote 25; and
the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bacon:
That the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Privy Council Vote 25 of the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998; 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.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Corbin:
That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Parliament Vote 10 of the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998; 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.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stanbury:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, 1997, at 1:30 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Pursuant to Rule 25(2), the Honourable Senator Graham tabled the following:
Reply to Question No. 152, dated November 28, 1996, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Spivak, respecting federal air and water quality standards.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-592S.
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A Point of Order was raised concerning the Sixth and Seventh Reports of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources (Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances), presented earlier this day.
After debate,
The Speaker reserved his decision.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Second reading of Bill C-23, An Act to establish the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
The Honourable Senator Taylor moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marchand, P.C., that the Bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Kinsella for the Honourable Senator Spivak moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Doyle, 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.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 15, 30 (inquiries), 90, 88 (motions), 21, 25, 24 and 27 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion as amended of theHonourable Senator Beaudoin, seconded by the HonourableSenator Lynch-Staunton:
That a special committee of the Senate be appointed to examine and report upon the issue of Canadian unity, specifically recognition of Quebec, the amending formula, and the federal spending power in areas of provincial jurisdiction;
That the committee be composed of twelve Senators, three of whom shall constitute a quorum;
That the committee have power to send for persons, papers and records, to examine witnesses, to report from time to time and to print such papers and evidence from day to day as may be ordered by the committee;
That the papers and evidence received and taken by the Special Committee of the Senate on Bill C-110, An Act respecting constitutional amendments, during the First Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament be deemed to have been referred to the committee established pursuant to this motion;
That the committee have power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate;
That the committee submit its final report no later thanJune 17, 1997; and
That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the Senate is not sitting when the final report of the committee is completed, the committee shall deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, and said report shall thereupon be deemed to have been tabled in this Chamber.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bolduc, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Di Nino called the attention of the Senate to the Liberal Government's Red Book promises.
Debate concluded.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Kinsella for the Honourable Senator Buchanan, P.C., moved, seconded by the HonourableSenator Doyle:
That the Special Committee of the Senate on the Cape Breton Development Corporation be authorized to hold hearings in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Graham for the HonourableSenator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stanbury:
That, notwithstanding the Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operation of Senate Committees, the Special Senate Committee on the Cape Breton Development Corporation be authorized to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of its examination and consideration of this study; and
That the Committee be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption to its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
1997 Budget Plan;
Budget in Brief;
The Government's Jobs Strategy;
Working Together Towards a National Child Benefit System;
Canada Foundation for Innovation;
Tax Fairness.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-583.
Expenditure Plans, Part III, 1997-98 Estimates for the following:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Atomic Energy Control Board
Canada Information Office
Canada Labour Relations Board
Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal
Canadian Centre for Management Development
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Canadian Heritage
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat
Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Trade Tribunal
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Canadian Space Agency
Canadian Transportation Agency
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Civil Aviation Tribunal of Canada
Competition Tribunal
Copyright Board Canada.
Correctional Service Canada.
Department of Finance Canada
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Department of Justice Canada
Environment Canada
Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
Fisheries and Oceans
Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission Canada
Health Canada
Human Resources Development Canada
Human Rights Tribunal Panel
Immigration and Refugee Board
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission
Industry Canada
Medical Research Council of Canada
NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section
National Archives of Canada
National Battlefields Commission
National Defence
National Energy Board
National Film Board
National Library of Canada
National Parole Board
National Research Council Canada
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Natural Resources Canada
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Northern Pipeline Agency Canada
Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Office of the Correctional Investigator
Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada
Patented Medicine Prices Review BoardPrivy Council Office
Public Service Commission of Canada
Public Service Staff Relations Board
Public Works and Government Services Canada
RCMP External Review Committee
RCMP Public Complaints Commission
Registry of the Federal Court of Canada
Revenue Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceSecurity Intelligence Review Committee
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Solicitor General Canada
Statistics Canada
Status of Women Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
Tax Court of Canada
Transport Canada
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat
Veterans Affairs Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Document entitled: "Getting Government Right-Governing for Canadians", dated February 20, 1997; and
Document entitled: "Program Expenditure Detail: A Profile of Departmental Spending", dated February 20, 1997.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-582.
Report of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Statistical Summary of Steel Imports for the year 1996, pursuant to the Export and Import Permits Act, R.S.C. 1985 (3rd Supp.), c. 13, s. 5.1(3).-Sessional PaperNo. 2/35-584.
Report of the Northern Pipeline Agency, including its accounts and financial statements certified by the Auditor General, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, pursuant to the Northern Pipeline Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-26,s. 14.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-585.
Review and Report to Parliament of the Farm Income Protection Act (FIPA) for the period 1991-96, pursuant to the Farm Income Protection Act, S.C. 1991, c. 22, s. 21.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-586.
Statement on the operations under the Veterans Insurance Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. V-3, s. 18(2). -Sessional Paper No. 2/35-587.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marchand, P.C.:
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 andTechnology
The names of the Honourable Senators Carney and Perrault substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Cohen and Haidasz (February 10).
The names of the Honourable Senators Cohen and Haidasz substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Carney and Perrault (February 11).
The name of the Honourable Senator Perrault substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Haidasz (February 18).
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The names of the Honourable Senators Landry, Milne, Cools, Kenny and Pearson substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Anderson, Grafstein, Hervieux-Payette, Mercier and Whelan (February 20).
The names of the Honourable Senators Kirby and Adams substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Milne and Cools (February 25).
The names of the Honourable Senators Rossiter, Bonnell and Perrault substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Buchanan, Rompkey and Kirby (February 28).
The names of the Honourable Senators Marchand, Nolin and Anderson substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Adams, Cochrane and Landry (March 3).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The name of the Honourable Senator Kolber substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Carstairs (February 21).
The name of the Honourable Senator Simard substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Meighen (February 27).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The name of the Honourable Senator Roberge substituted for that of the Honourable Senator St. Germain (February 27).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The name of the Honourable Senator Lewis substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Corbin (March 3).