Journals of the Senate
57 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2008, Canada
Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 44
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Angus, Bacon, Brown, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fox, Furey, Grafstein, Gustafson, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Johnson, Joyal, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, Mahovlich, Massicotte, McCoy, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Moore, Munson, Nolin, Oliver, Peterson, Pitfield, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, *Andreychuk, Angus, Bacon, *Banks, Brown, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, *Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, *Fortier, Fox, Furey, *Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, *Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, *Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, *Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, *Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, Massicotte, McCoy, *Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, *Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Nolin, Oliver, Peterson, Pitfield, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, St. Germain, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, *Zimmer
PRAYERS
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of Sergeant Jason Boyes, whose tragic death occurred recently while serving his country in Afghanistan.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission for the year 2007, pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, S.C. 1998, c. 9, sbs. 61(4), and the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, s. 32.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-496.
Report of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for the year 2007, pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, S.C. 1998, c. 9, sbs. 61(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-497.
The Honourable Senator Comeau tabled the following:
Canadian Security Intelligence Service's Public Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-498.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service's Public Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-499.
Reports on Plans and Priorities, Main Estimates, 2008-2009:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Assisted Human Reproduction Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Industrial Relations Board
Canada Public Service Agency
Canada Revenue Agency
Canada School of Public Service
Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Canadian Forces Grievance Board
Canadian Grain Commission
Canadian Heritage
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat
Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Trade Tribunal
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Canadian Space Agency
Canadian Transportation Agency
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Copyright Board Canada
Correctional Service Canada
Courts Administration Service
Department of Finance Canada
Department of Justice Canada
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Environment Canada
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission Canada
Health Canada
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada
Indian Specific Claims Commission
Industry Canada
Infrastructure Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada
NAFTA Secretariat ± Canadian Section
National Defence
National Energy Board
National Film Board
National Parole Board
National Research Council Canada
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Natural Resources Canada
Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Northern Pipeline Agency Canada
Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada
Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Canada
Parks Canada
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board Canada
Privy Council Office and Public Appointments Commission Secretariat
Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Public Sector Integrity Canada
Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal Canada
Public Service Commission of Canada
Public Service Labour Relations Board
Public Service Staffing Tribunal
Public Works and Government Services Canada
RCMP External Review Committee
Registry of the Competition Tribunal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Security Intelligence Review Committee
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Statistics Canada
Status of Women Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Correctional Investigator Canada
The National Battlefields Commission
Transport Canada
Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Veterans Affairs Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-500.
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 National Governors Association: Winter Meeting, held in Washington, D.C., United States, from February 23 to 25, 2008. —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-501.
Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C. moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Milne:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans have the power to sit at 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 1, 2008, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that Rule 95(4) be suspended in relation thereto.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Inquiries
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Watt, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, for the second reading of Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act and the Excise Tax Act (tax relief for Nunavik).
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Bacon, Bryden, Callbeck, Carstairs, Chaput, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dawson, De Bané, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fox, Grafstein, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Joyal, Mahovlich, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Moore, Munson, Peterson, Poulin, Robichaud, Rompkey, Sibbeston, Smith, Stollery, Tardif, Trenholme Counsell—34
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Brown, Champagne, Cochrane, Comeau, Di Nino, Gustafson, Johnson, Keon, LeBreton, Nolin, Oliver, Rivest, Spivak, St. Germain , Tkachuk—15
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senators
Nil
Accordingly, Bill S-214 was read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Milne, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
Order No. 8 (Bill S-202) was called and pursuant to rule 27(3) was dropped from the Order Paper.
Orders No. 9 to 16 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill C-343, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (motor vehicle theft).
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Johnson, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., 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 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 4 (inquiry), 11 (motion), 11 (inquiry), 6 (motion), 13 (inquiry), 88, 68, 3, 69 (motions), 8 (inquiry), 79, 4, 78 (motions), 10 (inquiry), 62, 76 (motions), 9 and 3 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Order No. 5 (motion) was called and pursuant to rule 27(3) was dropped from the Order Paper.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Stollery, calling the attention of the Senate to the need for reforms to the Canadian International Development Agency.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon, 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):
Federal-Provincial Implementation Amending Agreements with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, pursuant to the Farm Income Protection Act, S.C. 1991, c. 22, sbs. 6(1). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-478.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2008-2012 and of the Capital Budget for 2008 of the Royal Canadian Mint, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-479.
Report on operations under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act for the year 2007, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1993, c. 34, s. 11.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-480.
Report on operations under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Agreement Act for the year 2007, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1993, c. 34, s. 66.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-481.
Summary of the Corporate Business Plan for 2008-2009 to 2010-2011 of the Canada Revenue Agency, pursuant to the Canada Revenue Agency Act, S.C. 1999, c. 17, sbs. 49(2). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-482.
Reports of the Canadian Tourism Commission for the year ended December 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. 2/39-483.
Report of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, together with the Auditors' Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the British Columbia Treaty Commission Act, S.C. 1995, c. 45, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-484.
Report on the administration of the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1992, c. 46, s. 67.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-485.
Report on the Public Service Pension Plan for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Public Service Superannuation Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-36, s. 46.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-486.
Report on the administration of the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-24, s. 12.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-487.
Report on the administration of the Canada Small Business Financing Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Canada Small Business Financing Act, S.C. 1998, c. 36, ss. 18 and 20.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-488.
Report of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Patent Act, R.S. 1985, c. P-4, s. 26.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-489.
Amendments to the summaries of the Corporate Plan and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2007-2008 of the Old Port of Montreal Corporation Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-490.
Report of the Governor of the Bank of Canada and Statement of Accounts for the year ended December 31, 2007, pursuant to the Bank of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. B-2, sbs. 30(3). —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-491.
Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Recommendation Regarding Korhani Manufacture Inc. (Textured Polypropylene Multifilament Yarn)" dated February 25, 2008, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, S.C. 1988, c. 65, s. 54. —Sessional Paper No. 2/39-492.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2008-2012 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2008 of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-493.
Report on the administration of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Account, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-11, s. 31.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-494.
Reports of Export Development Canada and Exinvest Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2007, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39- 495.
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 3:59 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 Gustafson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Meighen (March 27).
The name of the Honourable Senator Fox added to the membership (March 31).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The name of the Honourable Senator Nolin substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth (March 31).
The name of the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Nolin (April 1st).
Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
The name of the Honourable Senator Baker substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Hubley (March 31).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The name of the Honourable Senator Fox removed from the membership (March 31).