Journals of the Senate
58 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2009, Canada
Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 40th Parliament
Issue 22
Thursday, March 26, 2009
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Atkins, Baker, Banks, Brazeau, Brown, Bryden, Callbeck, Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cook, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dawson, Day, Dickson, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fortin-Duplessis, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gerstein, Goldstein, Grafstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Johnson, Joyal, Keon, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Manning, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Oliver, Pépin, Poy, Prud'homme, Raine, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Wallace, Wallin
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Atkins, Baker, Banks, Brazeau, Brown, Bryden, Callbeck, Carstairs, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cook, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dawson, Day, *De Bané, Dickson, *Downe, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fortin-Duplessis, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gerstein, Goldstein, Grafstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Johnson, Joyal, Keon, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Manning, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Oliver, Pépin, Poy, Prud'homme, Raine, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Wallace, Wallin
The first list records senators present in the Senate Chamber during the course of the sitting.
An asterisk in the second list indicates a senator who, while not present during the sitting, was in attendance to business, as defined in subsections 8(2) and (3) of the Senators Attendance Policy.
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable Senator Comeau tabled the following:
Reports on Plans and Priorities, Main Estimates, 2009-2010:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Canadian Grain Commission
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Canada Revenue Agency
Canadian Heritage
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Library and Archives Canada
The National Battlefields Commission
National Film Board
Public Service Commission of Canada
Public Service Labour Relations Board
Public Service Staffing Tribunal
Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Environment Canada
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Parks Canada
Department of Finance Canada
Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Canadian International Trade Tribunal
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Canadian International Development Agency
NAFTA Secretariat — Canadian Section
Health Canada
Assisted Human Reproduction Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission Canada
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Canada Industrial Relations Board
Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission
Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission Secretariat
Registry of the Specific Claims Tribunal
Industry Canada
Canadian Space Agency
Registry of the Competition Tribunal
Copyright Board Canada
National Research Council Canada
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Statistics Canada
Department of Justice Canada
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs
Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Courts Administration Service
Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
National Defence
Canadian Forces Grievance Board
Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada
Office of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner
Natural Resources Canada
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
National Energy Board
Northern Pipeline Agency Canada
Privy Council Office and Public Appointments Commission Secretariat
Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Security Intelligence Review Committee
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Canada Border Services Agency
Correctional Service Canada
National Parole Board
The Correctional Investigator Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCMP External Review Committee
Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Transport Canada
Canadian Transportation Agency
Infrastructure Canada
Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Canada School of Public Service
Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
Public Sector Integrity Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-258.
° ° °
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Kinsella tabled the following:
Report of the Parliamentary Delegation of the Senate, led by the Speaker of the Senate, that travelled to Mexico, from January 11 to 17, 2009.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-259S.
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, 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 Keon, 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 Hervieux-Payette, P.C., tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas respecting its participation at the Congress ``Towards a Gender-Sensitive Legislative Agenda for Development in the Americas'', held in Bogotá, Colombia, from November 19 to 22, 2008.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-260.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Inter-parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA), respecting its participation at the 18th Meeting of the FIPA Executive Committee, held in Miami, United States, from December 17 to 19, 2008.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-261.
Notices of Motions
The Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan:
That pursuant to Rule 85(2.1) of the Rules of the Senate the membership of the Standing Committee on Conflict of Interest for Senators be as follows:
The Honourable Senators Andreychuk; Angus; Carstairs, P.C.; Joyal, P.C.; and Robichaud, P.C.
Pursuant to Rule 85(2.1) the motion was deemed adopted.
With leave,
The Senate reverted to Tabling of Documents.
The Honourable Senator Comeau tabled the following:
Document entitled Building the Canadian Advantage: A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector (March 2009). —Sessional Paper No. 2/40-262.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Pursuant to rule 59(10), the Honourable Senator Cowan raised a question of privilege concerning a statement made on a government website.
After debate,
The Speaker reserved his decision.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Third reading of Bill C-21, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2009.
The Honourable Senator Gerstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eaton, that the bill be read the third time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill 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.
° ° °
Third reading of Bill C-22, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2010.
The Honourable Senator Gerstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Segal, that the bill be read the third time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill 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.
Inquiries
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerstein:
That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C.:
That the Address be engrossed and presented to Her Excellency the Governor General by the Honourable the Speaker.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Grafstein, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, for the second reading of Bill S-217, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Segal, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 5 to 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Banks, seconded by the Honourable Senator Day, for the second reading of Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Banks, for the Honourable Senator Lang, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Comeau, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 11 to 25 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Consideration of the second report of the Special Senate Committee on Aging (budget—study on the implications of an aging society in Canada—power to hire staff), presented in the Senate on March 24, 2009.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., that the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 2 (inquiry), 10 (motion), 6, 8 (inquiries), 23, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 25 (motions) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Grafstein, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C.:
That the Senate endorse the following Resolution, adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at its 17th Annual Session, held at Astana, Kazakhstan, from June 29 to July 3, 2008:
RESOLUTION ON EXPANDING TRADE BETWEEN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE
1. Reaffirming the importance of trade for economic growth, political stability and international peace,
2. Recalling the fundamental importance of the economic and environmental dimension in the OSCE's comprehensive approach to security,
3. Considering that expanded free trade between North American and European markets will benefit all OSCE participating States politically as well as economically,
4. Recalling the commitments made by the participating States at the Maastricht Ministerial Council in December 2003 regarding the liberalization of trade and the elimination of barriers limiting market access,
5. Recalling the recommendations of the 2006 OSCE Best Practice Guide for a Positive Business and Investment Climate, published by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, which advocate stronger international trade policies and conditions favourable to the circulation of international capital,
6. Concurring with the conclusions of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities that free trade agreements and the reduction of tariffs are vital to a strong trade policy,
7. Recalling the importance that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade as underlined by the Assembly's Fifth Economic Conference on the theme of ``Strengthening Stability and Co-operation through International Trade'' held in Andorra in May 2007,
8. Recalling the deep historical and cultural ties between the peoples and states of North America and Europe which shaped their common values, on which the OSCE is based, and which are reinforced by the strength of their economic links,
9. Recognizing the considerable impact that the economies of North America and Europe have on international trade,
10. Considering the increasingly interdependent nature of the economic links between North America and Europe,
11. Noting the scope and depth of trade between North America and Europe which benefits public accounts and the private sector in addition to generating opportunities for employment,
12. Welcoming recently signed agreements that promote greater and freer trade between a limited number of markets in North America and Europe, such as the January 2008 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Free Trade Association,
13. Acknowledging the appeal of the emerging markets in Asia and South America, whose growth will generate new levels of competition and economic efficiencies for trade between North America and Europe,
14. Concerned with the persistence of trade barriers in the economic relations between North America and Europe which limit opportunities for greater economic growth and human development,
15. Concerned with the state of the Doha Round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization which is affecting inter-regional trade negotiations such as the Canada-European Union Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement suspended since 2006,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
16. Resolves that seminars and conferences to raise awareness of the opportunities and shared benefits of trade liberalization should be considered;
17. Calls on the parliaments of the OSCE participating States to vigorously support and accelerate all multilateral, inter-institutional and bilateral initiatives that promote the liberalization of trade between North America and Europe, including the harmonization of standards and the elimination of regulatory barriers;
18. Calls on the parliaments of the OSCE participating States to sustain the political will of their governments as members of existing economic agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and the Central European Free Trade Agreement, to develop transatlantic partnership agreements that expand and liberalise trade between and among them;
19. Recommends that current and future initiatives that target expanded trade between the economies of North America and Europe consider greater involvement where appropriate of regional and subregional governments and groupings;
20. Recommends that current and future initiatives that target expanded trade between the economies of North America and Europe reflect the principles and standards of the OSCE, particularly human rights, environmental protection, sustainable development and economic and social rights, including workers' rights, as agreed to in the 1990 Document of the Bonn Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe, the 1990 Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE and the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C., 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 (inquiry) and 12 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Segal, calling the attention of the Senate to the government of Iran's imminent nuclear war capacity and its preparations for war in the Middle East, and to the commitment of Canada and its allies, including the USA, Russia, Turkey, the Gulf States, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and others, to diplomatic and strategic initiatives that exclude first-use nuclear attack, the ability of Canada to engage with its allies in order to understand, measure and contain this threat, and the capacity of Canada to support allied efforts to prevent a thermonuclear exchange in the Middle East.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Segal, 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 Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C.:
That the Senate endorse the following Declaration, adopted by the Conference on Combating Antisemitism, held at London, United Kingdom, from February 15 to 17, 2009:
THE LONDON DECLARATION ON COMBATING ANTISEMITISM
Preamble
We, Representatives of our respective Parliaments from across the world, convening in London for the founding Conference and Summit of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism, draw the democratic world's attention to the resurgence of antisemitism as a potent force in politics, international affairs and society.
We note the dramatic increase in recorded antisemitic hate crimes and attacks targeting Jewish persons and property, and Jewish religious, educational and communal institutions.
We are alarmed at the resurrection of the old language of prejudice and its modern manifestations — in rhetoric and political action — against Jews, Jewish belief and practice and the State of Israel.
We are alarmed by Government-backed antisemitism in general, and state-backed genocidal antisemitism, in particular.
We, as Parliamentarians, affirm our commitment to a comprehensive programme of action to meet this challenge.
We call upon national governments, parliaments, international institutions, political and civic leaders, NGOs, and civil society to affirm democratic and human values, build societies based on respect and citizenship and combat any manifestations of antisemitism and discrimination.
We today in London resolve that;
Challenging Antisemitism
1. Parliamentarians shall expose, challenge, and isolate political actors who engage in hate against Jews and target the State of Israel as a Jewish collectivity;
2. Parliamentarians should speak out against antisemitism and discrimination directed against any minority, and guard against equivocation, hesitation and justification in the face of expressions of hatred;
3. Governments must challenge any foreign leader, politician or public figure who denies, denigrates or trivialises the Holocaust and must encourage civil society to be vigilant to this phenomenon and to openly condemn it;
4. Parliamentarians should campaign for their Government to uphold international commitments on combating antisemitism — including the OSCE Berlin Declaration and its eight main principles;
5. The UN should reaffirm its call for every member state to commit itself to the principles laid out in the Holocaust Remembrance initiative including specific and targeted policies to eradicate Holocaust denial and trivialisation;
6. Governments and the UN should resolve that never again will the institutions of the international community and the dialogue of nation states be abused to try to establish any legitimacy for antisemitism, including the singling out of Israel for discriminatory treatment in the international arena, and we will never witness — or be party to — another gathering like Durban in 2001;
7. The OSCE should encourage its member states to fulfil their commitments under the 2004 Berlin Declaration and to fully utilise programmes to combat antisemitism including the Law Enforcement programme LEOP;
8. The European Union, inter-state institutions and multilateral fora and religious communities must make a concerted effort to combat antisemitism and lead their member states to adopt proven and best practice methods of countering antisemitism;
9. Leaders of all religious faiths should be called upon to use all the means possible to combat antisemitism and all types of discriminatory hostilities among believers and society at large;
10. The EU Council of Ministers should convene a session on combating antisemitism relying on the outcomes of the London Conference on Combating Antisemitism and using the London Declaration as a basis.
Prohibitions
11. Governments should take appropriate and necessary action to prevent the broadcast of explicitly antisemitic programmes on satellite television channels, and to apply pressure on the host broadcast nation to take action to prevent the transmission of explicitly antisemitic programmes;
12. Governments should fully reaffirm and actively uphold the Genocide Convention, recognising that where there is incitement to genocide signatories automatically have an obligation to act. This may include sanctions against countries involved in or threatening to commit genocide or referral of the matter to the UN Security Council or initiate an inter-state complaint at the International Court of Justice;
13. Parliamentarians should legislate effective Hate Crime legislation recognising ``hate aggravated crimes'' and, where consistent with local legal standards, ``incitement to hatred'' offences and empower law enforcement agencies to convict;
14. Governments that are signatories to the Hate Speech Protocol of the Council of Europe `Convention on Cybercrime' (and the `Additional Protocol to the Convention on cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems') should enact domestic enabling legislation;
Identifying the threat
15. Parliamentarians should return to their legislature, Parliament or Assembly and establish inquiry scrutiny panels that are tasked with determining the existing nature and state of antisemitism in their countries and developing recommendations for government and civil society action;
16. Parliamentarians should engage with their governments in order to measure the effectiveness of existing policies and mechanisms in place and to recommend proven and best practice methods of countering antisemitism;
17. Governments should ensure they have publicly accessible incident reporting systems, and that statistics collected on antisemitism should be the subject of regular review and action by government and state prosecutors and that an adequate legislative framework is in place to tackle hate crime.
18. Governments must expand the use of the EUMC `working definition' of antisemitism to inform policy of national and international organisations and as a basis for training material for use by Criminal Justice Agencies;
19. Police services should record allegations of hate crimes and incidents — including antisemitism — as routine part of reporting crimes;
20. The OSCE should work with member states to seek consistent data collection systems for antisemitism and hate crime.
Education, awareness and training
21. Governments should train Police, prosecutors and judges comprehensively. The training is essential if perpetrators of antisemitic hate crime are to be successfully apprehended, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced. The OSCE's Law enforcement Programme LEOP is a model initiative consisting of an international cadre of expert police officers training police in several countries;
22. Governments should develop teaching materials on the subjects of the Holocaust, racism, antisemitism and discrimination which are incorporated into the national school curriculum. All teaching materials ought to be based on values of comprehensiveness, inclusiveness, acceptance and respect and should be designed to assist students to recognise and counter antisemitism and all forms of hate speech;
23. The OSCE should encourage their member states to fulfill their commitments under the 2004 Berlin Declaration and to fully utilise programmes to combat antisemitism including the Law Enforcement programme LEOP;
24. Governments should include a comprehensive training programme across the Criminal Justice System using programmes such as the LEOP programme;
25. Education Authorities should ensure that freedom of speech is upheld within the law and to protect students and staff from illegal antisemitic discourse and a hostile environment in whatever form it takes including calls for boycotts;
Community Support
26. The Criminal Justice System should publicly notify local communities when antisemitic hate crimes are prosecuted by the courts to build community confidence in reporting and pursuing convictions through the Criminal Justice system;
27. Parliamentarians should engage with civil society institutions and leading NGOs to create partnerships that bring about change locally, domestically and globally, and support efforts that encourage Holocaust education, inter-religious dialogue and cultural exchange;
Media and the Internet
28. Governments should acknowledge the challenge and opportunity of the growing new forms of communication;
29. Media Regulatory Bodies should utilise the EUMC `Working Definition of antisemitism' to inform media standards;
30. Governments should take appropriate and necessary action to prevent the broadcast of antisemitic programmes on satellite television channels, and to apply pressure on the host broadcast nation to take action to prevent the transmission of antisemitic programmes;
31. The OSCE should seek ways to coordinate the response of member states to combat the use of the internet to promote incitement to hatred;
32. Law enforcement authorities should use domestic ``hate crime'', ``incitement to hatred'' and other legislation as well as other means to mitigate and, where permissible, to prosecute ``Hate on the Internet'' where racist and antisemitic content is hosted, published and written;
33. An international task force of Internet specialists comprised of parliamentarians and experts should be established to create common metrics to measure antisemitism and other manifestations of hate online and to develop policy recommendations and practical instruments for Governments and international frameworks to tackle these problems.
Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism
34. Participants will endeavour to maintain contact with fellow delegates through working group framework; communicating successes or requesting further support where required;
35. Delegates should reconvene for the next ICCA Conference in Canada in 2010, become an active member of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition and promote and prioritise the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pépin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton:
That the sitting be suspended to await the announcement of Royal Assent, to reassemble at the call of the Chair with a fifteen minute bell.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 3:53 p.m. the sitting was suspended.)
At 5:44 p.m. the sitting resumed.
WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT
At 5:44 p.m. the Honourable the Speaker pro tempore informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:
RIDEAU HALL
March 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker:
I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bills listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 26th day of March, 2009, at 5:05 p.m.
Yours sincerely,
Sheila-Marie Cook
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
Schedule
Bills Assented To
Thursday, March 26, 2009
An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2009 (Bill C-21, Chapter 3, 2009)
An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2010 (Bill C-22, Chapter 4, 2009)
With leave,
The Senate reverted to Government Notices of Motions.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C.:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 2 p.m.
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 Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, pursuant to the Public Service Employment Act, S.C. 2003, c. 22, ss. 12 ``127'' and 13. —Sessional Paper No. 2/40-256.
Report of the Judge Advocate General to the Minister of National Defence on the administration of military justice in the Canadian Forces for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-5, s. 9.3(3).—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-257.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 5:47 p.m. the Senate was continued until Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 2 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The Honourable Senator Banks replaced the Honourable Senator Peterson (March 25, 2009).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Honourable Senator Eyton replaced the Honourable Senator Johnson (March 26, 2009).
The Honourable Senator Duffy replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (March 26, 2009).
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The Honourable Senator Munson replaced the Honourable Senator Campbell (March 25, 2009).
Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
The Honourable Senator Lovelace Nicholas replaced the Honourable Senator Dallaire (March 25, 2009).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The Honourable Senator Mitchell replaced the Honourable Senator Day (March 26, 2009).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Stratton (March 26, 2009).