Journals of the Senate
56 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2008, Canada
Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 26
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Bacon, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, Carstairs, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cook, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, De Bané, Di Nino, Eggleton, Eyton, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Massicotte, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Phalen, Poy, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Robichaud, St. Germain, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Bacon, Biron, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, Carstairs, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cook, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, *Day, De Bané, Di Nino, *Downe, Eggleton, Eyton, Fitzpatrick, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Massicotte, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Phalen, Poy, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Robichaud, St. Germain, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
PRAYERS
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of Gunner Jonathan Dion, Warrant Officer Hani Massouh, Corporal Éric Labbé, Trooper Richard Renaud and Sapper Etienne Gonthier, whose tragic deaths occurred recently while serving their country in Afghanistan.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of seven students of Bathurst High School, New Brunswick, and a teacher, who died in an accident that occurred on January 12, 2008.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-8, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (railway transportation), 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 Oliver, 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.
Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills
The Honourable Senator Grafstein presented a Bill S-226, An Act to amend the Business Development Bank of Canada Act (municipal infrastructure bonds) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.
The bill was read the first time.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Pursuant to rule 25(2), the Honourable Senator Comeau, tabled the following:
Reply to Question No. 9, dated October 17, 2007, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, respecting Agent Orange Ex Gratia payment. —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-378S.
Reply to Question No. 11, dated October 18, 2007, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., respecting Palliative and End-of-Life Care.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-379S.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Oliver, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, for the third reading of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal procedure, language of the accused, sentencing and other amendments), as amended.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill, as amended, was then read the third time and passed.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, with certain amendments, to which it desires its concurrence.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 5 (motion), 7 (inquiry), 6, 3, 11, 69 (motions), 4, 6 (inquiries) and 65 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Callbeck, calling the attention of the Senate to the thousands of Canadian seniors who are not receiving the benefits from the Canada Pension Plan to which they are entitled.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bacon, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 1 (inquiry) and 4 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report on the operations of the Exchange Fund Account, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Currency Act, S.C. 2005, c. 30, s. 114.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-808.
Report of operations under the Export and Import Permits Act for the year 2006, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-19, s. 27. —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-365.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for the period 2007-2008 to 2011-2012 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2007-2008 of the Blue Water Bridge Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-366.
Interim Order Respecting Prohibited Items (JUS-10000-1001), dated December 12, 2007, pursuant to the Aeronautics Act, S.C. 2004, c. 15, sbs. 11(3).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-367.
Report of the Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation, together with the Auditor General's 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. 2/39-368.
Reports of the Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, 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. 2/39- 369.
Statement on the Operations of the Returned Soldiers' Insurance Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Act to amend the Returned Soldiers' Insurance Act, S.C. 1951, c. 59, s. 12.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39- 370.
Statement on the Operations of the Veterans Insurance Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. V-3, sbs. 18(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-371.
Report on Crown Corporations and Other Corporate Interests of Canada for the year 2007, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 151(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-372.
Copy of the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations (P.C. 2007-1913 and JUS-610627) and the Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order (P.C. 2007-1914), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-373.
Report of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Alternative Fuels Act, S.C. 1995, c. 20, s. 8.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-374.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2008-2012 and the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2008 of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-375.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2008-2012 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2008 of the Pacific Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-376.
Actuarial Report on the Pension Plan for Federally Appointed Judges, and the certificate of assets of the Pension Plan for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Public Pensions Reporting Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 13 (2nd Supp.), sbs. 9(1). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-377.
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 3:29 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 Banking, Trade and Commerce
The name of the Honourable Senator Meighen substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Nolin (December 14).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The names of the Honourable Senators Stratton and St. Germain substituted for those of the Honourable Senators St. Germain and Di Nino (December 12).
The name of the Honourable Senator Di Nino substituted for that of the Honourable Senator St. Germain (December 14).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The name of the Honourable Senator Nolin substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (December 14).
The name of the Honourable Senator Peterson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Mitchell (December 17).
The names of the Honourable Senators Mitchell and Tkachuk substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Peterson and Nolin (December 18).
Special Senate Committee on Anti-terrorism
The name of the Honourable Senator Oliver substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Segal (January 22).