Journals of the Senate
57 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2008, Canada
Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 48
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Angus, Bacon, Baker, Banks, Biron, Brown, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gill, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, Meighen, Mercer, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Pépin, Phalen, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Sibbeston, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, *Andreychuk, Angus, Bacon, Baker, Banks, Biron, Brown, Bryden, Callbeck, Campbell, *Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gill, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lapointe, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, Meighen, Mercer, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, *Oliver, Pépin, Phalen, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Sibbeston, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt, Zimmer
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Keon, Chair of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, presented its fifth report (use of Aboriginal languages in the Senate Chamber).
(The report is printed as an appendix.)
The Honourable Senator Keon 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.
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Bacon tabled the following:
Report of a Mission of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation of the Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association to the Second Round of the Presidential Elections, in Paris, France, from May 2 to 7, 2007.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-524.
Report of a Mission of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation of the Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association to the Second Round of the Legislative Elections, in Paris, France, from June 13 to 18, 2007.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-525.
ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Pursuant to rule 25(2), the Honourable Senator Comeau tabled the following:
Reply to Question No. 25, dated February 14, 2008, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Spivak, respecting the National Capital Commission.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-526S.
Reply to Question No. 21, dated December 13, 2007, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., respecting the Canadian Foreign Service Spousal Employment and Reciprocal Employment Arrangements.—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-527S.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Inquiries
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 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Order No. 4 (Bill S-217) was called and postponed until the next sitting in the name of the Honourable Senator Nolin.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton, for the second reading of Bill S-225, An Act to amend the State Immunity Act and the Criminal Code (deterring terrorism by providing a civil right of action against perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism).
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 Stratton, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
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 Stollery, for the second reading of Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Spivak, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 7 to 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Spivak, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCoy, for the second reading of Bill S-227, An Act to amend the National Capital Act (establishment and protection of Gatineau Park).
After debate,
Further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting in the name of the Honourable Senator Tkachuk.
Orders No. 11 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Spivak, seconded by the Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-221, An Act concerning personal watercraft in navigable waters.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Spivak moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cools, 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 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the tenth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, entitled: Population Health Policy: Issues & Options, tabled in the Senate on April 2, 2008.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, that further debate on the consideration of the report be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 3 to 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 4, 13, 12 and 9 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Hubley, calling the attention of the Senate to questions concerning post-secondary education in Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Milne, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 3, 7 (inquiries), 11 (motion), 11 (inquiry), 6, 88, 68, 3, 69, 79 and 4 (motions) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Harb, seconded by the Honourable Senator Goldstein:
That the Senate take note of the proposed sale of the Canadarm, RADARSAT satellite business to American arms- maker Alliant Techsystems for $1.325 billion;
That the Senate note that this nationally significant technology was funded by Canadian taxpayers through grants and other technology subsidies for civilian and commercial purposes;
That the Senate note that this sale threatens to put Canada in breach of the 1997 international landmines treaty it was instrumental in writing;
That the Senate acknowledge that although Industry Canada will do a mandatory review of the trade issues relating to the sale there are many vital social, political, moral and technological issues that need to be examined;
That the Senate of Canada urge the Government of Canada to block the proposed sale of the nationally significant Canadarm, RADARSAT satellite business to American arms-maker Alliant Techsystems; and
That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House with the above.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gustafson, 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 inquiry of the Honourable Senator Oliver, calling the attention of the Senate to the progress that has been made on the implementation of the Federal Accountability Act, highlighting the status of key measures of the Act and underscoring the importance of this Act to improving responsibility and accountability in our government.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gustafson, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on October 18, 2007, the Senate adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The name of the Honourable Senator Gustafson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Meighen (April 8).
The name of the Honourable Senator Meighen substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Gustafson (April 9).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The name of the Honourable Senator Dawson substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Massicotte (April 8).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The name of the Honourable Senator Banks substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Massicotte (April 9).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The name of the Honourable Senator Eyton substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Nolin (April 9).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The name of the Honourable Senator Downe substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Kenny (April 9).