2nd Session, 41st Parliament

Issue 33

Thursday, February 6, 2014
2:00 p.m.

The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Boisvenu, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, MacDonald, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McIntyre, Merchant, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oh, Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Runciman, Segal, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tannas, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Watt, Wells, White

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Boisvenu, *Buth, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, *Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, *Eaton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, MacDonald, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McIntyre, *Mercer, Merchant, Mitchell, *Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oh, Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, *Robichaud, Runciman, Segal, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tannas, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Watt, Wells, White

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.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of documents

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:

Report of the Parliamentary Delegation of the Senate, led by the Speaker of the Senate, that travelled to the United Nations, New York, from November 13 to 15, 2013.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-327S.

Presenting or Tabling of Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Housakos, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, presented its third report (budget—study on challenges faced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation—power to hire staff and power to travel).

(The report is printed as Appendix "A'' at pages 374-381 (available in print format PDF).)

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis, 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.

°    °    °

The Honourable Senator Lang, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, presented its second report (budget—study on the status of Canada's International Security and Defence relations—power to hire staff and power to travel).

(The report is printed as Appendix "B'' at pages 382-387 (available in print format PDF).)

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Lang moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Neufeld, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later this day.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

°    °    °

The Honourable Senator Manning, Chair of Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, presented its third report (budget—study on the regulation of aquaculture, current challenges and future prospects for the industry in Canada—power to hire staff and power to travel).

(The report is printed as Appendix "C'' at pages 388-395 (available in print format PDF).)

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lang, 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.

°    °    °

The Honourable Senator Tardif, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, presented its second report (budget—study on CBC/Radio-Canada's obligations under the Official Languages Act—power to hire staff).

(The report is printed as Appendix "D'' at pages 396-401 (available in print format PDF).)

The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, P.C. (Cobourg), 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Jaffer introduced a Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exception to mandatory minimum sentences for manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Campbell, 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.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills — Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 16 and 1 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

°    °    °

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall:

That, during the remainder of the current session,

(a) when the Senate sits on a Wednesday or a Thursday, it shall sit at 1:30 p.m. notwithstanding rule 3-1(1);

(b) except as provided in paragraph (c), when the Senate sits on a Wednesday, it shall adjourn at 4 p.m., unless it has been suspended for the purpose of taking a deferred vote or has earlier adjourned;

(c) when the Senate sits on a Wednesday during either:

(i) the period between June 1 and August 31, inclusive, or

(ii) the period between November 15 and December 31, inclusive,

it shall adjourn at the later of 4 p.m. or the end of Government Business, but no later than the time otherwise provided in the Rules, unless it has been suspended for the purpose of taking a deferred vote or has earlier adjourned;

(d) when the Senate sits past 4 p.m. on a Wednesday pursuant to paragraph (c), committees scheduled to meet shall be authorized to do so, even if the Senate is then sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto; and

(e) when a vote is deferred until 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings, if required, immediately prior to any adjournment but no later than the time provided in either paragraph (b) or (c), as the case may be, to suspend the sitting until 5:30 p.m. for the taking of the deferred vote, and that committees be authorized to meet during the period that the sitting is suspended.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills — Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills — Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

°    °    °

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier, for the second reading of Bill C-266, An Act to establish Pope John Paul II Day.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall, 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 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees — Other

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

°    °    °

Consideration of the second report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence (budget—study on the status of Canada's International Security and Defence relations —power to hire staff and power to travel), presented in the Senate earlier this day.

The Honourable Senator Lang moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Unger, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Motions

Orders No. 9 and 33 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 4 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

°    °    °

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Nolin, calling the attention of the Senate to its roots, the history of its origins and its evolution.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Hubley moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

°    °    °

Orders No. 5, 8, 11, 7, 2, 6, 10 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C.:

That, the Senate of Canada calls on the Government of Pakistan to immediately release Ms. Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who is being arbitrarily detained due to her religious beliefs;

That, the Senate of Canada declare its intention to request that Ms. Asia Bibi be granted Honourary Canadian Citizenship, and declare its intention to request that Canada grant her and her family asylum, if she so requests; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons requesting that House to unite with the Senate for the above purpose.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

°    °    °

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif:

That the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce be authorized to examine and report on trade between the United States and Canada and the adherence to the laws and principles of all trade agreements, with particular focus on spent fowl and chicken imports, including:

(a) the application of tariffs and quotas on classifications that include blends, food preparation, kits, and sets, as well as the potential for these products to circumvent the law and principle of trade agreements, in particular import quotas;

(b) the regulations regarding import tariffs and quotas as established by the Department of Finance;

(c) the interpretation and application of those rules and regulations by the Canadian Border Services Agency;

(d) the monitoring of products defined as blends, food preparation, kits, and sets; and

(e) The reciprocity of US regulations regarding similar Canadian imports;

That the committee provide recommendations for regulatory and legislative actions to ensure fairness for Canadians in the system; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 27, 2014, and retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Maltais moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dagenais, that further debate on the motion 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 Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman:

That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 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 14-1(7):

Report of the National Arts Centre, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013, pursuant to the National Arts Centre Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-3, sbs. 17(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-326.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

(Accordingly, at 4:17 p.m. the Senate was continued until Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at 2 p.m.)

---

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Dyck replaced the Honourable Senator Watt (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Watt replaced the Honourable Senator Dyck (February 5, 2014).

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Buth replaced the Honourable Senator Bellemare (February 5, 2014).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Black (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (February 5, 2014).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator Black (February 5, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Sibbeston replaced the Honourable Senator Day (February 5, 2014).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) replaced the Honourable Senator Housakos (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator McInnis (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator McInnis replaced the Honourable Senator Housakos (February 5, 2014).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Buth replaced the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Neufeld (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Buth (February 5, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Neufeld replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (February 5, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Maltais replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (February 5, 2014).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Moore replaced the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C. (February 6, 2014).

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (February 5, 2014).