Journals of the Senate
60 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2011, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 41st Parliament
Issue 44
Friday, December 16, 2011
9:00 a.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Ataullahjan, Baker, Banks, Braley, Brazeau, Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Di Nino, Downe, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Manning, Marshall, Martin, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Poy, Raine, Rivard, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tardif, Tkachuk, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Ataullahjan, Baker, Banks, Braley, Brazeau, Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Di Nino, Downe, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Manning, Marshall, Martin, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Poy, Raine, Rivard, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tardif, Tkachuk, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, Zimmer
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 Carignan tabled the following:
Copy of the Commission constituting the Honourable Andromahi Karakatsanis, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, Deputy of the Governor General, to do in His Excellency's name all acts on his part necessary to be done during His Excellency's pleasure, dated November 1, 2011. —Sessional Paper No. 1/41-653S.
The said Commission is as follows:
CANADA
DAVID JOHNSTON
(L.S.)
By His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, 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.
TO THE HONOURABLE ANDROMAHI KARAKATSANIS, a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada,
GREETING:
KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the third day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and ten, constituting and appointing me to be Governor General of Canada do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint you, Andromahi Karakatsanis, to be my Deputy within Canada and in that capacity to exercise, subject to any limitations or directions from time to time expressed or given by Her Majesty, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the power of dissolving the Parliament of Canada.
PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable David Johnston, in person.
AND PROVIDED ALWAYS, that you, Andromahi Karakatsanis, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me.
GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this first day of November in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eleven and in the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's Reign.
BY COMMAND,
RICHARD DICERNI
Deputy Registrar General of Canada
Copy of the Commission constituting the Honourable Michael J. Moldaver, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, Deputy of the Governor General, to do in His Excellency's name all acts on his part necessary to be done during His Excellency's pleasure, dated November 1, 2011. —Sessional Paper No. 1/41-654S.
The said Commission is as follows:
CANADA
DAVID JOHNSTON
(L.S.)
By His Excellency the Right Honourable David L. Johnston, 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.
TO THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL J. MOLDAVER, a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada.
GREETING:
KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable David L. Johnston, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the third day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and ten, constituting and appointing me to be Governor General of Canada do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint you, Michael J. Moldaver, to be my Deputy within Canada and in that capacity to exercise, subject to any limitations or directions from time to time expressed or given by Her Majesty, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the power of dissolving the Parliament of Canada.
PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable David L. Johnston, in person.
AND PROVIDED ALWAYS, that you, Michael J. Moldaver, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me.
GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this first day of November in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eleven and in the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's Reign.
BY COMMAND,
RICHARD DICERNI
Deputy Registrar General of Canada
Copy of the Commission constituting Stephen Wallace, Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor, Deputy of the Governor General, to do in His Excellency's name all acts on his part necessary to be done during His Excellency's pleasure, dated December 15, 2011.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-655S.
The said Commission is as follows:
CANADA
DAVID JOHNSTON
(L.S.)
By His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, 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.
TO STEPHEN WALLACE, of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario,
GREETING:
WHEREAS by letters patent under the Great Seal of Canada bearing date the eighth day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, it is constituted, ordered and declared that there shall be a Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada;
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, by Commission under the Great Seal of Canada bearing date the third day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and ten, was graciously pleased to appoint me, during the Royal Pleasure, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada, and has further in and by the said Commission authorized, empowered and commanded me to exercise and perform all and singular the powers and directions contained in the said letters patent constituting the office of Governor General and Commander-in- Chief, or in any other letters patent adding to, amending or substituted for the same;
WHEREAS under and pursuant to the provisions in that behalf in the Constitution Act, 1867, in and by the said letters patent His Excellency the Governor General for the time being is authorized and empowered subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by Her Majesty to appoint any person or persons, jointly and severally, to be his Deputy or Deputies within any part or parts of Canada, and in that capacity to exercise, during the Royal Pleasure, such of his powers, functions and authorities as he might deem it necessary or expedient to assign to such person or persons, provided that the appointment of such Deputy or Deputies should not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in person;
AND WHEREAS, I deem it necessary and expedient with a view to preventing delay in the performance of the public business and affairs of Canada to appoint some fit and proper person to be my Deputy within Canada for the purposes hereinafter mentioned;
KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the third day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and ten, constituting and appointing me to be the Governor General of Canada do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint you, Stephen Wallace, to be my Deputy within Canada, to be styled Deputy to the Governor General, whether I be absent from Canada or not and in that capacity to exercise, subject to any limitations or directions from time to time expressed or given by Her Majesty, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the powers of dissolving, recalling or proroguing the Parliament of Canada, of appointing members of the Ministry and of signifying Royal Assent in Parliament assembled.
PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my said Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable David Johnston, in person.
AND PROVIDED ALWAYS that you, Stephen Wallace, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or the person administering the Government of Canada.
GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this fifteenth day of December in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eleven and in the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's Reign.
BY COMMAND,
RICHARD DICERNI
Deputy Registrar General of Canada
SPEAKER'S RULING
On Thursday, December 8, at the end of debate on second reading of Bill C-29, a supply bill, Senator Comeau raised a point of order. He requested a ruling to provide clarification on the process in the Senate for studying the Estimates and the adoption of the related supply bill, and the relationship between them.
Senator Comeau's point of order followed other second reading speeches on Bill C-29. Senator Gerstein had moved adoption of the bill, and Senator Day had then explained the differences in how the Senate and the House of Commons deal with supply.
Under its Standing Orders the House of Commons adopts the Estimates before the introduction of the supply bill. This reflects the fundamental role of the House of Commons in relation to financial measures. The Senate deals with supply in a different way. Here, there are two related but separate processes at play: the review of the Estimates and the adoption of the supply bill. The steps are related since the supply bill seeks approval of expenditures outlined in the Estimates, but they are separate since the introduction and the passage of the supply bill is, in the Senate, not contingent upon any action on the Estimates.
As Senator Day explained, the typical approach in the Senate is to deal with a report of the National Finance Committee on a set of Estimates before final disposition of the related supply bill. Senator Day characterized this as a convention. He acknowledged, however, that there have been divergences from this approach in the past.
In the Senate, the Estimates are tabled by the government. The National Finance Committee is then authorized to study most expenditures contained in the Estimates, although authorization may be given to other committees to study some expenditures. However, the Estimates themselves are never referred to the committee for any formal approval. This is an important distinction. Because the Estimates themselves are not referred to the committee, it does not approve them or recommend approval, and, indeed, it does not have authority to do so. The committee only studies and reports on the expenditures as set out in the Estimates.
The committee's report contains an analysis of various issues related to expenditures in the Estimates, and is provided for the Senate's information. As such, it would be more in keeping with rule 97(3) for the report to be tabled in the Senate, although it is often presented. By tabling a report, the National Finance Committee fulfills its duty to examine and report on the Estimates. No further action is actually required, but, in accordance with established practice, a procedural motion is usually moved under rule 97(3) to consider the report at a subsequent sitting, which allows senators to debate and discuss the contents. If adopted by the Senate, this report becomes a Senate report, rather than just a committee report.
A supply bill comes to the Senate through a separate process, completely different from the National Finance Committee's report to the Senate on the Estimates. The supply bill is received from the House of Commons by message, like any other bill originating in that house. By the time the Senate receives the supply bill it has an existence quite separate from the Estimates. Depending on proceedings in the House of Commons, the amounts in the supply bill could actually be lower than those indicated in the Estimates. After coming here, the Senate deals with the bill through the usual legislative process, with the notable exception that supply bills are very rarely referred to committee, although nothing in the Rules prevents a supply bill being referred to committee after second reading.
Some may find it helpful to draw a certain parallel between the Senate's work on Estimates and supply bills and the process for pre-study of a bill. A committee may be authorized to pre-study a bill that is in the House of Commons, but its work does not, indeed cannot, delay or hold up the progress of the bill itself when the Senate receives it. Likewise, the National Finance Committee studies the Estimates, but that work, important as it is, does not affect the progress on the supply bill when it reaches the Senate.
In practice, the Senate often receives a report from the National Finance Committee on Estimates before dealing with a supply bill providing for the expenditures set out in those Estimates. The work of the National Finance Committee is important to the Senate as it informs senators about issues arising from the Estimates and so contributes to an understanding of government programs. As such, this sequence of proceedings is beneficial, and perhaps even desirable.
To repeat, the Rules of the Senate do not require that a report on the Estimates be received or adopted before the Senate approves supply bills. There have been a number of instances when a supply bill has been passed without adopting a report from the National Finance Committee on the Estimates. So, while the approach of a report followed by the Senate's decision on a supply bill, which Senator Day termed a convention, is usually followed, this is not always the case.
On this point, useful guidance can be found from a debate in the Senate on December 9, 2002. A point of order was raised in which a senator maintained that the Senate cannot proceed with the study of the supply bill until it has adopted the National Finance Committee's report on the Estimates. It was asserted that the committee's report is in effect a proposal to adopt the Estimates and that the Senate cannot proceed with the supply bill until it has adopted the committee report. The contrary view was that while it is certainly a useful practice in the Senate to debate the report of the committee on the Estimates, it is by no means a necessary step before the introduction and study of the supply bill. The premise of the counter argument was that neither the committee nor the Senate concurs in the Estimates. In his ruling, the Speaker stated that the National Finance Committee's report does not constitute concurrence in the Estimates. Instead, the report is a review of the Estimates with observations. He added that the Senate is only asked to adopt the supply bill which seeks approval of funds for the expenditures outlined in the Estimates.
To conclude, while it may be helpful to consider or adopt the report of the National Finance Committee related to the Estimates, neither our Rules nor our practice make it essential that the report be received or adopted before the Senate proceeds with a supply bill providing for the related expenditures. Indeed, the Senate can adopt the supply bill without any report. For a particular series of proceedings to be obligatory, it would, as Senator Comeau noted, be necessary to amend the Rules of the Senate to clearly reflect such a requirement.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Third reading of Bill C-20, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act.
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rivard, that the bill be read the third time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the third time and passed, on division.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, without amendment.
Third reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the law governing financial institutions and to provide for related and consequential matters.
The Honourable Senator Greene moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis, 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 the Clerk do go down to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Runciman, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen, for the second reading of Bill C-10, An Act to enact the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and to amend the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and other Acts.
Debate.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Meighen:
That the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration have power to sit today, even though the Senate may be sitting, with the application of rule 95(4) being suspended in relation thereto.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Runciman, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen, for the second reading of Bill C-10, An Act to enact the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and to amend the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and other Acts.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the second time, on division.
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eaton, 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.
SPEAKER'S RULING
On December 14, 2011, after Question Period, a point of order was raised respecting a senator's statement earlier in the day. The statement at issue had commented on a ruling by the Speaker of the other place. A similar issue arose the day before, when a point of order was raised regarding the use of the word "mendacity'' during debate.
Honourable senators, normal parliamentary practice holds that "[d]isrespectful reflections on Parliament as a whole, or on the House [of Commons] and the Senate individually are not permitted.'' This is found at page 614 of the second edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, and Erskine May also makes similar points. The need for care when referring to the House of Commons is manifested by the widespread — although neither universal nor obligatory — practice of referring to that house as "the other place.''
More precisely, Beauchesne, in the sixth edition, at citation 71(1), is quite specific in saying that "[t]he Speaker should be protected against reflections on his or her actions.'' Likewise, House of Commons Procedure and Practice, at page 615, states that "[r]eflections must not be cast in debate on the conduct of the Speaker or other Presiding Officers.''
More generally, rule 51 prohibits "personal, sharp or taxing'' language as unparliamentary. There is no definitive list of such words or expressions in the Senate. Determination of what constitutes unparliamentary language is left primarily to the judgment of the Speaker and the sense of the Senate. The circumstances and tone of the debate in question play important roles in this determination. In House of Commons Procedure and Practice, at page 619, it is, however, noted that "[e]xpressions which are considered unparliamentary when applied to an individual Member have not always been considered so when applied `in a generic sense' or to a party.''
All honourable senators are encouraged to be mindful of these restrictions, and to avoid making reflections on the houses of Parliament and their proceedings or deliberations.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan, for the second reading of Bill S-203, An Act to modernize the composition of the boards of directors of certain corporations, financial institutions and parent Crown corporations, and in particular to ensure the balanced representation of women and men on those boards.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the second time, on division.
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Braley, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, for the adoption of the second report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament (Amendment to the Rules of the Senate, relating to leaves of absence and suspensions), presented in the Senate on November 29, 2011.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT
At 12:30 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:
RIDEAU HALL
December 16, 2011
Mr. Speaker:
I have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Marie Deschamps, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in her capacity as Deputy of the Governor General, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bill listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 16th day of December, 2011, at 12:09 p.m.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Wallace
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
Schedule
Bill Assented To
Friday, December 16, 2011
An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act (Bill C-20,Chapter 26, 2011)
OTHER BUSINESS
Reports of Committees
Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the fourth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, entitled: Answering the Call: The Future role of Canada's Primary Reserve, tabled in the Senate on December 15, 2011.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerstein, 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. 4 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Orders No. 37 (motion), 15 (inquiry), 56 (motion), 3, 20, 23 and 17 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Chaput:
That the Senate of Canada recognize the 10th of December of each year as Human Rights Day as has been established by the United Nations General Assembly on the 4th of December, 1950.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 8, 16, 14, 18 and 11 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson:
That the Government of Canada officially apologize in Parliament to the South Asian community and to the individuals impacted in the 1914 Komagata Maru incident.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rivard, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Mercer called the attention of the Senate to Canada's current level of volunteerism, the impact it has on society, and the future of volunteerism in Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave,
The Senate reverted to Government Notices of Motions.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 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):
Debt Management Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 49(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-651.
Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2011-2012 to 2015-2016 of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, pursuant to the Broadcasting Act, S.C. 1991, c. 11, sbs. 55(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-652.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Carignan, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 1:12 p.m. the Senate was continued until Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 2 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Honourable Senator Ringuette replaced the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool (December 15, 2011).
The Honourable Senator Harb replaced the Honourable Senator Campbell (December 15, 2011).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Dawson (December 15, 2011).
The Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Mercer (December 15, 2011).