Journals of the Senate
56 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2007, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 92
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Baker, Banks, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Day, Di Nino, Downe, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, Mahovlich, McCoy, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Pépin, Peterson, Phalen, Poulin (Charette), Poy, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Smith, Spivak, 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, Campbell, *Carstairs, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, *Dawson, Day, Di Nino, Downe, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, *Harb, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, *Losier-Cool, Mahovlich, McCoy, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, *Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Phalen, Poulin (Charette), Poy, Prud'homme, Ringuette, *Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:
The May 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the House of Commons together with an addendum (Environmental Petitions), pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 7(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-795.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
A point of order was raised with respect to Senators' statements and electronic disturbances in the Senate Chamber.
Debate.
SPEAKER'S RULING
I have heard enough to make a ruling on the point of order of the Honourable Senator Corbin. Pursuant to the Rules of the Senate, the Speaker determines when he or she has heard enough on a point of order. On the first part of Senator Corbin's point of order, he very correctly reads the rule that governs what is appropriate for statements during the time for Senators' Statements.
Senator Fraser has parsed correctly what has transpired. I looked at today's Order Paper and found nothing indicating that what Senator Goldstein said, anticipated anything on it. However, Senator Corbin was correct in saying that statements cannot concern matters that are on the Orders of the Day.
With reference to the matter of electronic devices in the Chamber, there was a ruling of the Speaker on May 16, 2006. That ruling was not appealed, which means it has the agreement of this House and it is categorical. The Rules of the Senate provide that electronic devices, which create a disturbance, not be brought into the Chamber.
In this Chamber, I have heard, as other Honourable Senators have heard, bells and other sounds go off. Having such electronic devices here is contrary to the Rules of the Senate and to the Speaker's ruling. The matter has been decided. Some Honourable Senators might wish to refer this problem to the Rules Committee for review in the light of changing technology, et cetera, including better microphones. Even when some kinds of Blackberries are turned off, the wavelengths continue. Not all of the microphones in the Chamber have been changed and that is why even when the devices are turned off, the signal comes through and causes static.
Honourable Senators, that is my ruling.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill C-18, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to DNA identification.
The Honourable Senator Nolin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Trenholme Counsell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Chaput, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Inquiries
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, seconded by the Honourable Senator Johnson, for the second reading of Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (sports and recreation programs).
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Angus, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 2 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the consideration of the seventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, entitled: Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service — Not There Yet, tabled in the Senate on February 20, 2007.
The Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif, that the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 13 and 14 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Dallaire calling the attention of the Senate to the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan and the importance of Canada's commitment to the people of this war-torn country.
After debate,
Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting in the name of the Honourable Senator Andreychuk.
Orders No. 167, 171 (motions), 20 (inquiry), 92, 140 (motions), 23, 22, 9, 12 and 14 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., calling the attention of the Senate to the crisis in Canada's cultural sector.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 168 (motion), 8 (inquiry), 119 (motion), 26, 6 (inquiries), 166 (motion), 21, 19, 11, 27 and 28 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report of the Canada Post Corporation, together with the Auditors' Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-791.
Report of VIA Rail Canada Inc., together with the Auditors' Report, for the year ended December 31, 2006, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1). —Sessional Paper No. 1/39-792.
Report of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year 2006, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1). —Sessional Paper No. 1/39-793.
Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2007-2011 of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-794.
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 3:27 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 Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The names of the Honourable Senators Lavigne and Sibbeston substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Dawson and Robichaud (May 2).