50 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2001, Canada

Journals of the Senate

1st Session, 37th Parliament

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Issue 13

Monday, March 12, 2001
8:00 p.m.

The Honourable Daniel Hays, Speaker

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The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Angus, Bacon, Banks, Beaudoin, Bolduc, Buchanan, Callbeck, Carney, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Christensen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, De Bané, Di Nino, Doody, Eyton, Fairbairn, Finestone, Finnerty, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Furey, Gauthier, Gill, Graham, Hays, Johnson, Joyal, Keon, Kinsella, Kroft, Lawson, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, Milne, Morin, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Pitfield, Poulin (Charette), Poy, Prud'homme, Rivest, Robichaud, Roche, Rompkey, Rossiter, Setlakwe, Simard, Sparrow, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tkachuk, Watt, Wiebe, Wilson

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

*Andreychuk, Angus, *Austin, Bacon, Banks, Beaudoin, Bolduc, Buchanan, Callbeck, Carney, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Christensen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, De Bané, Di Nino, Doody, Eyton, Fairbairn, Finestone, Finnerty, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Furey, Gauthier, Gill, Graham, Hays, Johnson, Joyal, *Kelleher, Keon, Kinsella, Kroft, Lawson, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, Milne, Morin, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Pitfield, Poulin (Charette), Poy, Prud'homme, Rivest, Robichaud, Roche, Rompkey, Rossiter, Setlakwe, Simard, Sparrow, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, *Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Wiebe, Wilson

PRAYERS

 

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

 

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees

The Honourable Senator Chalifoux tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 1/37-118S).

MONDAY, March 12, 2001

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples 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 of the Rules, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament are as follows:

1. With respect to its examination and consideration of legislation:

Professional Services	$ 1,212.95
Transportation	0.00
Other, Miscellaneous	78.00
Witness Expenses	81,751.78
Total	$ 83,042.73

 

2. With respect to its special study on Aboriginal self-government:

Professional Services	$ 7,200.00
Transportation	0.00
Other, Miscellaneous	0.00
Witness Expenses	0.00
Total	$ 7,200.00

 

3. With respect to its special study on Aboriginal Economic Development in relation to Northern National Parks:

Professional Services	$ 177.25
Transportation	1,810.68
Other, Miscellaneous	38.88
Witness Expenses	4,754.45
Total	$ 6,781.26

 

During the session, your Committee held 26 meetings, heard 83 witnesses, and examined two bills including Bill C-9, an Act to give effect to the Nisga'a Final Agreement, and C-14, An Act respecting an agreement with the Norway House Cree Nation for the settlement of matters arising from the flooding of land, and respecting the establishment of certain reserves in the province of Manitoba.

The Committee also completed a special study on the recommendations of the Royal Commission Report on Aboriginal Peoples (Sessional paper 2/35-508.) respecting Aboriginal governance. In its report of February 2000, the Committee formulated a number of recommendations designed to build good relations. Among other things, it recommended a new Office of Aboriginal Relations outside the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development; and an independent oversight body for relationships involving Aboriginal peoples and the Government of Canada, which would report to Parliament and have an investigative and ombudsman-type role, compliance monitoring functions; and a facilitation role.

On June 13, 2000, the Committee received an Order of Reference to examine and report upon Aboriginal economic development in relation to northern national parks. This Order of Reference was delegated to a Subcommittee, which began hearings in Ottawa last September.

The Committee submitted six reports.

Respectfully submitted,

THELMA CHALIFOUX

Chair

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Stratton presented a Bill S-20, An Act to provide for increased transparency and objectivity in the selection of suitable individuals to be named to certain high public positions.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

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

 

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

Third reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Blue Water Bridge Authority Act.

The Honourable Senator Milne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that the Bill be read the third time.

After debate,

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.

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Wiebe, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, for the second reading of Bill S-17, An Act to amend the Patent Act.

After debate,

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

The Bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wiebe, that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.

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

 

Motions

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

 

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

Orders No. 1 to 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

 

Reports of Committees

Consideration of the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (Senate Estimates 2001-2002) presented in the Senate on March 1, 2001.

The Honourable Senator Kroft moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wiebe, that the Report be adopted.

After debate,

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

 

Other

Orders No. 2, 17 (motions), 6, 7 (inquiries) and 3 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

 

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Oliver called the attention of the Senate to the Coca-Cola settlement and the preceding lawsuit regarding racial bias in order to inform the Senate about recurrent issues concerning employment discrimination. He also referred to the details of the settlement, analysis of the case, the reality of North America's corporate culture and the importance of the issue to the Canadian political consciousness.

Debate concluded.

The Honourable Senator De Bané, P.C., called the attention of the Senate to certain allegations made in the press against Minister Gagliano.

Debate concluded.

 

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Chalifoux moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C.:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples be authorized to examine and report upon the opportunities to expand economic development, including tourism and employment, associated with national parks in Northern Canada, within the parameters of existing comprehensive land claim and associated agreements with Aboriginal Peoples and in accordance with the principles of the National Parks Act;

That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject and the work accomplished by the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples during the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament be referred to the Committee; and

That the Committee submit its final report no later than September 28, 2001.

After debate,

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

The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Comeau:

That the papers and evidence received and taken by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance during its consideration of Bill S-13, Public Service Whistleblowing Act, in the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament, be referred to the Committee for its present study of Bill S-6, Public Service Whistleblowing Act.

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

The Honourable Senator Milne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poy:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings.

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

The Honourable Senator Milne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pearson:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs have power 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 such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it.

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 Canada Ports Corporation, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year 2000, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-110.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 1999-2000 to 2003-04 and of the Capital and Operating Budgets for 1999-2000 of the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-111.

Report on the Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime for the period of August 15, 1998, to August 15, 2000, pursuant to the Canada Shipping Act, S.C. 1993. c. 36, s. 6.-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-112.

Report of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Annual Summary of Steel Import Permit Information for the year 2000, pursuant to the Export and Import Permits Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 13 (3rd Supp.), s. 1.-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-113.

Actuarial Report (including Cost Certificate) on the Pension Plan for the Public Service of Canada as at March 31, 1999, and certificate of assets of the Pension Plan, pursuant to the Public Pension Reporting Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 13 (2nd Supp.), sbs. 9(1).-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-114.

Actuarial Report (including Cost Certificate) on the Pension Plan for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as at March 31, 1999, and certificate of assets of the Pension Plan, pursuant to the Public Pension Reporting Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 13 (2nd Supp.), sbs. 9(1).-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-115.

Report of the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year 1999, pursuant to the Budget Implementation Act 1998, S.C. 1998, c. 21, sbs. 38(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-116.

Reports of the Department of Human Resources Development for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/37-117.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Watt:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 9:33 p.m. the Senate was continued until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.)

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

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The name of the Honourable Senator Stratton substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Comeau (March 8).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The name of the Honourable Senator Christensen substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Milne (March 9).

The name of the Honourable Senator Christensen removed from the membership (March 9).

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