Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 41st Parliament
Issue 36
Thursday, February 13, 2014
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis, Acting Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Black, Boisvenu, Buth, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Manning, Marshall, Martin, McIntyre, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Ogilvie, Oh, Plett, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, 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, Black, Boisvenu, Buth, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, *Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, *Massicotte, McIntyre, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Ogilvie, Oh, Plett, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, 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.
The Clerk at the Table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker and the Honourable the Speaker pro tempore were unavoidably absent.
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser:
That during the absence of the Honourable the Speaker and the Honourable the Speaker pro tempore, the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis do preside as Speaker.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Whereupon the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis took the Chair.
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Tabling of documents
The Honourable Senator Martin tabled the following:
(1) "Budget 2014—The Road to Balance: Creating Jobs and Opportunities'';
(2) "Jobs Report: The State of the Canadian Labour Market''.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-335.
Document entitled: Creating Change — Mental Health Commission of Canada — Annual Report 2012-2013. —Sessional Paper No. 2/41-336.
Supplementary Estimates (C) 2013-2014.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-337.
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Johnson tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 6th Annual Conference of the Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces Alliance, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from July 14 to 16, 2013.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-338.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the U.S. Congressional Meetings, held in Washington, D.C., United States of America, on February 26 and 27, 2013.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-339.
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Relations, held in Ankara, Turkey, from March 14 to 16, 2011.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-340.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the 59th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from October 11 to 14, 2013.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-341.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C.:
That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To 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.
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 Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills — Second Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Raine, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerstein, for the second reading of Bill S-211, An Act to establish a national day to promote health and fitness for all Canadians.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Hubley moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cowan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, for the second reading of Bill S-208, An Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Demers, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 6 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, for the second reading of Bill S-206, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children against standard child-rearing violence).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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Orders No. 9 to 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ringuette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif, for the second reading of Bill S-210, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin, for the Honourable Senator Maltais, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Order No. 13 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 to 10 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.
Motions
Orders No. 33, 8, 47 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 5, 22, 14, 4, 15, 8 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Chaput, calling the attention of the Senate to the Conservative government's unilateral decision not to review the standards and criteria of the Canada Periodical Fund and the disastrous consequences of this failure to act for francophone minority newspapers, such as La Liberté, Manitoba's only French-language weekly.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Fraser, for the Honourable Senator Charette-Poulin, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 2, 6, 10 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Wallace, for the Honourable Senator Neufeld, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacDonald:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on the current state of "One Call'' programs that identify critical underground infrastructure in Canada. In particular, the committee shall be authorized to:
Examine the ease of access to One Call programs and their damage prevention procedures, with a view to facilitating One Call services;
Examine best practice harmonization of underground protection practices and call-before-you-dig initiatives across federal, provincial, territorial and municipal government levels;
Recommend specific measures to enhance harmonization of best practices and the development of a national one call service; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2014 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Mercer called the attention of the Senate to Senate Reform and how the Senate and its Senators can achieve reforms and improve the function of the Senate by examining the role of Senators in their Regions.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., 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 Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 25, 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):
Summaries of the Corporate Plan and the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2012-2013 of the Canada Lands Company Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-333.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2013-2014 to 2017-2018 and the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2013-2014 of the Canada Lands Company Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-334.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Demers:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 4:49 p.m. the Senate was continued until Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 2 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (February 13, 2014).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Day replaced the Honourable Senator Dallaire (February 12, 2014).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The Honourable Senator Rivard replaced the Honourable Senator Nolin (February 12, 2014).