Journals of the Senate
56 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2007, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 94
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Baker, Banks, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Carney, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gill, Grafstein, Harb, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, Massicotte, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Baker, Banks, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Carney, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gill, *Goldstein, Grafstein, Harb, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, Massicotte, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
PRAYERS
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of Corporal Benoît Chevalier who died in an aircraft accident while working with the Multinational Forces and Observers in the Sinai.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Keon, Deputy Chair of the Special Senate Committee on Aging, presented its third report (budget—study on the implications of an aging society in Canada).
(The report is printed as appendix "A'')
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Meighen, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration two days hence.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, presented its eleventh report (budget—study on Canada's international and national human rights obligations—power to hire staff).
(The report is printed as appendix "B'')
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Nolin, 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 Chaput, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, tabled its seventh report (possible leak of the 5th report of the Committee entitled: Reflecting Canada's Linguistic Duality at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games: A Golden Opportunity).—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-810S.
The Honourable Senator Grafstein, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, presented its eighteenth report (budget—study on domestic and international financial system).
(The report is printed as appendix "C'')
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stollery, 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 Grafstein, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, presented its seventeenth report (budget—study on interprovincial barriers to trade—power to travel).
(The report is printed as appendix "D'')
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bryden, 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 Keon, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, presented its sixteenth report (budget—study on early learning and child care).
(The report is printed as appendix "E'')
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cochrane, 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 Keon, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, presented its fifteenth report (budget—study on literacy).
(The report is printed as appendix "F'')
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fortier, P.C., 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 Keon, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, presented its fourteenth report (budget—study on cities).
(The report is printed as appendix "G'')
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, 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 Keon, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, presented its thirteenth report (budget—study on population health).
(The report is printed as appendix "H'')
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton, 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.
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-22, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (age of protection) and to make consequential amendments to the Criminal Records Act, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Nolin, 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.
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, respecting its participation at the sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament, held in Midrand, South Africa, November 13 and 14, 2006.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-811.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator St. Germain, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Segal, for the second reading of Bill S-6, An Act to amend the First Nations Land Management Act.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, 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 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Milne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, for the second reading of Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Access to Information Act.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Angus, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Second reading of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Access to Information Act and the Canadian Wheat Board Act.
The Honourable Senator Mitchell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Peterson, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk, for the Honourable Senator Gustafson, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Commons Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Consideration of the fifteenth report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (committee budgets—legislation), presented in the Senate on May 3, 2007.
The Honourable Senator Moore moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, that the report be adopted.
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, that the debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages (budget—study on the application of the Official Languages Act), presented in the Senate on May 3, 2007.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, that the report be adopted.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 5 to 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 26 (inquiry) and 166 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
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,
The Honourable Senator Di Nino, for the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 25 (inquiry), 167, 171 (motions), 20 (inquiry), 92, 140 (motions), 23, 22, 9, 12, 14, 8 (inquiries), 119 (motion), 6, 21, 19, 11, 27 and 28 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Moore called the attention of the Senate to the matters of the Canada Social Transfer and the Canada Health Transfer contained in the Harper budget tabled on 19 March 2007.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan, 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 Segal moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon:
That the Senate call upon the Government of Canada to immediately withdraw its High Commissioner in Harare and sever all diplomatic relations until further notice in view of:
(a) the massive violations of human rights by president Robert Mugabe;
(b) the oppression of the black majority and white minority citizens of Zimbabwe;
(c) the confiscation of legally-held land; and
(d) the brutal and illegal beating and imprisonment of Zimbabwe's leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai; and
That a message be sent to the House of Commons requesting that House to unite with the Senate for the above purpose.
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 Chicken Farmers of Canada, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year ended December 31, 2006, pursuant to the Farm Products Marketing Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39- 798.
Report of the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year ended December 31, 2006, pursuant to the Farm Products Marketing Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/ 39-799.
Report of the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year ended December 31, 2006, pursuant to the Farm Products Marketing Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-800.
Report of the Canadian Broiler Hatching Egg Marketing Agency, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year ended December 31, 2006, pursuant to the Farm Products Marketing Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-801.
Report of the Canadian Tourism Commission, together with the Auditor General's 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. 1/39-802.
Reports of the Canadian Tourism Commission for the year ended December 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. 1/39-803.
Sustainable Development Strategy of the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, pursuant to the Act to amend the Auditor General Act, S.C. 1995, c. 43, s. 5.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-804.
Report of the Canada Development Investment Corporation (including Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation), together with the Auditor General's 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. 1/39-805.
Report of the Canadian Forces Grievance Board for the year 2006, pursuant to the National Defence Act, S.C. 1998, c. 35, s. 7. —Sessional Paper No. 1/39-806.
Report on Northern oil and gas for the year 2006, pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.), s. 109.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-807.
Report of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, together with the Auditor General's 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. 1/39-808.
Report on the administration of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act for the year 2006, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.), s. 109.—Sessional Paper No. 1/39-809.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 4:26 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 Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The name of the Honourable Senator Dawson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Peterson (May 3).
The name of the Honourable Senator Johnson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Eyton (May 7).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The name of the Honourable Senator Moore substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Jaffer (May 3).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The name of the Honourable Senator Peterson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Dawson (May 1).
The name of the Honourable Senator Dawson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Peterson (May 3).
The name of the Honourable Senator Carney substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Eyton (May 8).