Journals of the Senate
53 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2004, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 38th Parliament
Issue 24
Wednesday, December 8, 2004
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Shirley Maheu, Speaker pro tempore
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Austin, Bacon, Banks, Bryden, Buchanan, Callbeck, Carney, Carstairs, Chaput, Christensen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Doody, Downe, Eyton, Fairbairn, Finnerty, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Furey, Gill, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Kirby, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Léger, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, Massicotte, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Phalen, Plamondon, Poulin (Charette), Poy, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Sibbeston, Smith, Sparrow, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Austin, Bacon, Banks, Bryden, Buchanan, Callbeck, Carney, Carstairs, Chaput, Christensen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Doody, Downe, Eyton, Fairbairn, Finnerty, Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Fraser, Furey, Gill, *Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, *Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Kirby, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Léger, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, Massicotte, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Phalen, Plamondon, Poulin (Charette), Poy, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Sibbeston, Smith, Sparrow, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Tributes
Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Sparrow, who will retire from the Senate on January 4, 2005.
Senators' Statements
Some honourable senators made statements.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Second reading of Bill C-5, An Act to provide financial assistance for post-secondary education savings.
The Honourable Senator Moore moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Day, 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 Moore moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Phalen, 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.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Harb, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lavigne, for the third reading of Bill S-17, An Act to implement an agreement, conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Gabon, Ireland, Armenia, Oman and Azerbaijan for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the third time and passed.
Ordered, That the Clerk do go down to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.
Orders No. 3 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Consideration of the second report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (Supplementary Estimates (A) 2004-2005) presented in the Senate on December 7, 2004.
The Honourable Senator Oliver moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, that the report be adopted.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS
Ordered, That Motion No. 66 standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Di Nino on the Notice Paper be brought forward.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon:
That, as a follow up to the goodwill generated by the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ottawa last April, the Senate call upon the Government of Canada to use its friendly relations with China to urge it to enter into meaningful negotiations, without preconditions, with representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Ordered, That Motion No. 67 standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Stollery on the Notice Paper be brought forward.
The Honourable Senator Stollery moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Corbin:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the development and security challenges facing Africa; the response of the international community to enhance that continent's development and political stability; Canadian foreign policy as it relates to Africa; and other related matters; and
That the Committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2006.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Order No. 2 (inquiry) was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Hubley calling the attention of the Senate to the merits of establishing a universal publicly-funded system of post-secondary education in Canada as a national social and economic program, and to the adoption of federal legislation setting out the mission, role, and responsibilities of the government with respect to post-secondary education.
After debate,
Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting in the name of the Honourable Senator Stratton.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Lavigne, 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 Robichaud, P.C. moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lapointe, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 6 and 4 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Downe calling the attention of the Senate to the basic flaws in the delivery of the Guaranteed Income Supplement program for low-income seniors.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Corbin for the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cook, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
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 Commissioner of Competition for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, pursuant to the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 19, (2nd Supp.), s. 127.—Sessional Paper No. 1/38-327.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 3:58 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 Aboriginal Peoples
The names of the Honourable Senators St. Germain and Banks substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Forrestall and Christensen (December 7).
Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
The name of the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Chaput (December 7).