Journals of the Senate
55 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2006, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 40
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Bacon, Baker, Banks, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, Harb, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Keon, Kinsella, Lavigne, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Mahovlich, Massicotte, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Phalen, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Smith, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Bacon, Baker, Banks, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, *Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, *Gill, Goldstein, Grafstein, Harb, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, *Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lavigne, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Mahovlich, Massicotte, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Phalen, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Smith, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Grafstein tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, respecting its participation at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region: 2006 Annual Summit, held in Edmonton, Alberta, from July 16 to 20, 2006.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-529.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, respecting its participation at the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments: 60th Annual Meeting, held in Louisville, Kentucky, from July 29 to August 2, 2006.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-530.
The Honourable Senator Trenholme Counsell tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, respecting its participation at the UK Branch Seminar on "Governance and Culture of the United Kingdom'', held in United Kingdom and Belgium, from May 7 to 19, 2006.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-531.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Comeau, for the second reading of Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure).
After debate,
A point of order was raised regarding debate on Bill S-4.
Debate.
SPEAKER'S RULING
Honourable senators, the chair will try to be helpful in dealing with the matter.
The point that was raised by Senator Carstairs and the manner in which she raised it is a valid one. Namely, if there were a report being drafted for submission the Senate cannot anticipate the report nor make it public, just as honourable senators of the given committee cannot make public the contents of that report until it is tabled.
The motion before us is a continuation of debate at second reading on the principle of the bill. That debate is very much before this house, notwithstanding the fact that the subject matter has been under study by the Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform.
I will conclude by recommending that Senator Tkachuk continue and that he, to every extent possible, not anticipate the content of the report because it is much better to speak as an historian than as a prophet.
The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Comeau, for the second reading of Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Hubley moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Grafstein, seconded by the Honourable Senator Callbeck, for the second reading of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (clean drinking water).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Banks moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bryden, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 12 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Private Bills
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Di Nino, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cochrane, for the second reading of Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Scouts Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Banks moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dallaire, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., calling the attention of the Senate to the State of Literacy in Canada, which will give every Senator in this Chamber the opportunity to speak out on an issue in our country that is often forgotten.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 101 (motion), 9, 7 (inquiries), 88 (motion), 15, 3, 5, 6, 8 (inquiries), 5, 10 (motions) and 11 (inquiry) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Dallaire called the attention of the Senate to the final phase of the restoration of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, begun in 2001 under the auspices of the Canadian Battlefield Memorials Restoration Project.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Banks moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif:
That, pursuant to rule 95(3)(a), the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to meet on November 14 and 15, 2006, even though the Senate may then be adjourned for a period exceeding one week.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Reports of Transport Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, 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. 1/39-527.
Reports of the Office of Infrastructure of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, 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. 1/39-528.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 3:44 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 names of the Honourable Senators Meighen and Downe substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Gustafson and Mercer (October 24).
The name of the Honourable Senator Gustafson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Meighen (October 25).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The name of the Honourable Senator Zimmer substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Campbell (October 24).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The name of the Honourable Senator Milne substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Mitchell (October 25).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The name of the Honourable Senator Nolin substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Meighen (October 25).