48 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1999, Canada

Journals of the Senate

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Issue 121

Wednesday, March 17, 1999
1:30 p.m.

The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

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The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Angus, Austin, Balfour, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bryden, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Cochrane, Cogger, Cohen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Eyton, Fairbairn, Ferretti Barth, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Gauthier, Gill, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Gustafson, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Johnstone, Joyal, Kelleher, Keon, Kinsella, Kroft, Lavoie-Roux, Lawson, Lewis, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Maloney, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Perrault, Phillips, Poulin, Poy, Prud'homme, Rivest, Roberge, Robichaud, (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud, (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Roche, Rompkey, Rossiter, Ruck, St. Germain, Simard, Spivak, Stewart, Stollery, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Whelan

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Angus, Austin, Balfour, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bryden, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Cochrane, Cogger, Cohen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Eyton, Fairbairn, Ferretti Barth, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Gauthier, Gill, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Gustafson, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Johnstone, Joyal, Kelleher, Keon, Kinsella, *Kirby, Kroft, Lavoie-Roux, Lawson, Lewis, *Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Maloney, *Meighen, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Perrault, Phillips, Poulin, Poy, Prud'homme, Rivest, Roberge, Robichaud , (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud , (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Roche, Rompkey, Rossiter, Ruck, St. Germain, Simard, Spivak, Stewart, Stollery, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Whelan,

PRAYERS

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees

The Honourable Senator Forrestall, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, presented its Eleventh Report (Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act) without amendment.

The Honourable Senator Poulin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Perrault, P.C., 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-73, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1999, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Perrault, P.C., that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 23, 1999.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-74, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 2000, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Perrault, P.C., that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 23, 1999.

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

Presentation of Petitions

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

Of Residents of Canada concerning the protection of conscience in medical procedures.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees

Consideration of the Tenth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (Supplementary Estimates (C) 1998-99), presented in the Senate on March 16, 1999.

The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver, that the Report be adopted.

After debate, The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Consideration of the Eleventh Report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (Main Estimates 1998-99), presented in the Senate on March 16, 1999.

The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator DeWare, that the Report be adopted.

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

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees

Orders No. 1 to 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton calling the attention of the Senate to the Budget presented by the Minister of Finance in the House of Commons on February 16, 1999,

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

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

Orders No. 34, 39, 47, 65, 64, 49, 63, 44, 58 (inquiries), 1 (motion), 59, 46 (inquiries), 118, 45 (motions) and 50 (inquiry) were called and postponed until the next sitting. Order No. 51 (inquiry) was called and pursuant to Rule 27(3) was dropped from the Order Paper.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator DeWare:

That a Special Committee of the Senate be appointed to examine and report upon the conduct of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's Office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Solicitor General and the Privy Council Office in the security arrangements for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference held in Vancouver in November 1997, and any issues subsequently arising therefrom. In particular, the allegations that political motivations rather than security considerations were used unlawfully which resulted in the violation of the constitutional right to freedom of expression, freedom assembly and freedom of association of certain Canadian citizens and the suppression of legitimate protest.

That seven Senators, nominated by the Committee of Selection act as members of the Special Committee, and that three members constitute a quorum;

That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records, to examine witnesses under oath, 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 Committee have power to authorize television and radio broadcasting, as it deems appropriate, of any or all of its proceedings;

That the Committee have the power to engage the services of such counsel and other professional, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purposes of its examination;

That the political parties represented on the Special Committee be granted allocations for expert assistance with the work of the Committee;

That it be empowered to adjourn from place to place within and outside Canada;

That the Committee have the power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate;

That the Committee submit its report not later than one year from the date of it being constituted, provided that if the Senate is not sitting, the report shall be deemed submitted on the day such report is deposited with the Clerk of the Senate.

After debate, The Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator DeWare, 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 Roche moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lavoie-Roux:

That the Senate recommend that the Government of Canada urge NATO to begin a review of its nuclear weapons policies at the Summit Meeting of NATO April 23-25, 1999.

After debate, The Honourable Senator Roche moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, 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 Transport and Communications

The names of the Honourable Senators Perrault, Rompkey and Maloney substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Kenny, Bryden and Rompkey (March 15).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The names of the Honourable Senators Moore and Pearson substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Pearson and Pépin (March 16).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The names of the Honourable Senators Johnstone, Butts and Carstairs substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Robichaud (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Mahovlich and Moore (March 16).

Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders

The names of the Honourable Senators Grafstein, Sparrow, Stollery and Cook substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Fraser, Hervieux-Payette and Robichaud (Saint-Louis-de-Kent) (March 16).

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