Journals of the Senate
53 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2004, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 38th Parliament
Issue 17
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Shirley Maheu, Speaker pro tempore
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Austin, Bacon, Banks, Buchanan, Callbeck, Carstairs, Christensen, Cochrane, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Eyton, Fairbairn, Finnerty, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Furey, Gill, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Kirby, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Léger, Losier-Cool, Maheu, Mahovlich, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Moore, Morin, Munson, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Phalen, Plamondon, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stratton, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Austin, Bacon, Banks, Buchanan, Callbeck, Carstairs, Christensen, Cochrane, *Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Eyton, Fairbairn, Finnerty, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Furey, Gill, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, *Jaffer, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Kirby, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Léger, Losier-Cool, *Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Moore, Morin, Munson, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Phalen, Plamondon, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, *Stollery, Stratton, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt
The Clerk at the Table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker was unavoidably absent, whereupon the Honourable Senator Maheu, Speaker pro tempore, took the Chair, pursuant to Rule 11.
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some honourable senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., tabled the following:
The November 2004 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the House of Commons, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, S.C. 1995, c. 43, s. 3.—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-301.
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Kirby, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, tabled its third report (first interim) entitled: Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction: Overview of Policies and Programs in Canada. —Sessional Paper No. 1/38-302S.
The Honourable Senator Kirby moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Kirby, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, tabled its fourth report (second interim) entitled: Mental Health Policies and Programs in Selected Countries.—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-303S.
The Honourable Senator Kirby moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Kirby, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, tabled its fifth report (third interim) entitled: Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction: Issues and Options for Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-304S.
The Honourable Senator Kirby moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill C-6, An Act to establish the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and to amend or repeal certain Acts.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Grafstein, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, 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 to 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Consideration of the first report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (budgets of certain committees) presented in the Senate on November 17, 2004.
The Honourable Senator Furey moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, that the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Other
Orders No. 6, 4 and 1 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Banks:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce be authorized to examine and report on issues dealing with the demographic change that will occur in Canada within the next two decades; the implications of that change for Canada's economy, labour market and retirement income system; and federal actions that could be taken to ensure that any implications of future demographic change are, to the extent possible, properly addressed; and
That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2005.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Banks:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce be authorized to examine and report on issues dealing with interprovincial barriers to trade, in particular the barriers that exist; the extent to which they are limiting the growth and profitability of the affected sectors; and measures that could be taken by the federal government to facilitate the elimination of such barriers in order to enhance trade; and
That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2005.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Banks:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce be authorized to examine and report on issues dealing with productivity, in particular the rate of productivity in Canada and in relation to our major trading partners (especially the United States); the extent to which the rate of productivity is limiting economic growth and the well-being of Canadians; and federal and other measures that could be taken to enhance Canada's rate of productivity growth and competitiveness; and
That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2005.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Lavigne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C.:
That the Rules of the Senate be amended by adding after rule 135 the following:
135.1 Every Senator shall, after taking his or her Seat, take and subscribe an oath of allegiance to Canada, in the following form, before the Speaker or a person authorized to take the oath:
I, (full name of the Senator), do swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Lavigne tabled the following:
Letters supporting the Honourable Senator Lavigne's motion concerning the oath of allegiance.—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-305S.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report of the Canadian Transportation Agency for the year ended December 31, 2003, pursuant to the Canada Transportation Act, S.C. 1996, c. 10, sbs. 42(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-294.
Revised French version of the Report of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, pursuant to the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Act, S.C. 1999, c. 17, sbs. 88(1). —Sessional Paper No. 1/38-256.
Report of the Correctional Investigator for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, pursuant to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, S.C. 1992, c. 20, s. 192.—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-295.
Biennial Report of the Cree-Naskapi Commission for the year 2004, pursuant to the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act, S.C. 1984, c. 18, sbs. 171(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-296.
Reports of the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, 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. 1/38-297.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for the period 2003-2004 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2003-2004 of the Parc Downsview Park Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-298.
Report of the Commissioner of Firearms on the administration of the Firearms Act for the year 2003, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1995, c. 39, sbs. 93(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-299.
Reports of the Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, 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. 1/38-300.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 4:17 p.m. the Senate was continued until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
The name of the Honourable Senator Callbeck substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Robichaud (November 18).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The names of the Honourable Senators Nolin and Tkachuk substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Lynch-Staunton and Meighen (November 18).
The name of the Honourable Senator Christensen substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Munson (November 22).
The name of the Honourable Senator Munson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Christensen (November 23).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The name of the Honourable Senator Mercer substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Downe (November 22).
Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
The name of the Honourable Senator Corbin substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Chaput (November 22).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The name of the Honourable Senator Fairbairn substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Chaput (November 22).
The name of the Honourable Senator Di Nino substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Johnson (November 23).