Journals of the Senate
65 Elizabeth II , A.D. 2016, Canada
1st Session, 42nd Parliament
Issue 80 (Revised)
Thursday, December 1, 2016
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcIntyreMégieMercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMoncionMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPlettPoirierPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcIntyreMégieMercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMoncionMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPlettPoirierPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo
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
INTRODUCTION OF SENATORS
The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate had received certificates from the Registrar General of Canada showing that:
Marc Gold,
Marie-Françoise Mégie, and
Raymonde Saint-Germain,
respectively, had been summoned to the Senate.
The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that there were senators without waiting to be introduced.
The Honourable Senator Gold was introduced between the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Pratte, and having presented Her Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:
CANADA
David Johnston
(G.S.)
Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
TO
Our Trusty and Well-beloved,
MARC GOLD
of Montréal, in the Province of Quebec,
GREETING:
KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada and We do appoint you for the division of Stadacona in our Province of Quebec.
AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS:
Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved David Johnston, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this twenty-fifth day of November in the year of Our Lord two thousand and sixteen and in the sixty-fifth year of Our Reign.
BY COMMAND,
N. BAINS
Registrar General of Canada
The Honourable Senator Gold came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took his seat as a member of the Senate.
The Honourable Senator Mégie was introduced between the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Tardif, and having presented Her Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:
CANADA
David Johnston
(G.S.)
Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
TO
Our Trusty and Well-beloved,
MARIE-FRANÇOISE MÉGIE
of Montréal, in the Province of Quebec,
GREETING:
KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada and We do appoint you for the division of Rougemont in our Province of Quebec.
AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS:
Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved David Johnston, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this twenty-fifth day of November in the year of Our Lord two thousand and sixteen and in the sixty-fifth year of Our Reign.
BY COMMAND,
N. BAINS
Registrar General of Canada
The Honourable Senator Mégie came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took her seat as a member of the Senate.
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain was introduced between the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Gagné, and having presented Her Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:
CANADA
David Johnston
(G.S.)
Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
TO
Our Trusty and Well-beloved,
RAYMONDE SAINT-GERMAIN
of Québec, in the Province of Quebec,
GREETING:
KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada and We do appoint you for the division of De la Vallière in our Province of Quebec.
AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS:
Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved David Johnston, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this twenty-fifth day of November in the year of Our Lord two thousand and sixteen and in the sixty-fifth year of Our Reign.
BY COMMAND,
N. BAINS
Registrar General of Canada
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took her seat as a member of the Senate.
The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the honourable senators introduced today had made and subscribed the Declaration of Qualification required of them by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed to receive and witness same.
Senators’ Statements
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:
Report to Parliament of the Commissioner of Official Languages on the investigation into the Courts Administration Service, pursuant to the Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 31 (4th supp.), sbs. 65(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-828.
Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees
The Honourable Senator Ogilvie, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, tabled the seventh report of the committee (Subject matter of Bill C-29, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2016 and other measures).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-829S.
(Pursuant to the order adopted on November 22, 2016, the report was deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.)
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act and the Income Tax Act, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.
The bill was read the first time.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Question Period
The Senate proceeded to Question Period.
Orders of the Day
Government Business
Bills – Third Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Bills – Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Mitchell, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, for the second reading of Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler, 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 motion of the Honourable Senator Bellemare, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., for the second reading of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tannas moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Motions
The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C.:
That, in order to allow the Senate to receive a Minister of the Crown during Question Period as authorized by the Senate on December 10, 2015, and notwithstanding rule 4-7, when the Senate sits on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, Question Period shall begin at 3:30 p.m., with any proceedings then before the Senate being interrupted until the end of Question Period, which shall last a maximum of 40 minutes;
That, if a standing vote would conflict with the holding of Question Period at 3:30 p.m. on that day, the vote be postponed until immediately after the conclusion of Question Period;
That, if the bells are ringing for a vote at 3:30 p.m. on that day, they be interrupted for Question Period at that time, and resume thereafter for the balance of any time remaining; and
That, if the Senate concludes its business before 3:30 p.m. on that day, the sitting be suspended until that time for the purpose of holding Question Period.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other Business
Senate 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 Joyal, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-212, An Act for the advancement of the aboriginal languages of Canada and to recognize and respect aboriginal language rights.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 5 to 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills – Second Reading
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Campbell, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pratte, for the second reading of Bill C-224, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (assistance — drug overdose).
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pratte, 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 Nancy Ruth, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, for the second reading of Bill C-210, An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator MacDonald moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Reports of Committees – Other
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the seventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, entitled UN Deployment: Prioritizing commitments at home and abroad, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on November 28, 2016.
The Honourable Senator Lang moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Griffin:
That the report be adopted and that, pursuant to rule 12-24(1), the Senate request a complete and detailed response from the government, with the Minister of National Defence being identified as minister responsible for responding to the report.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Day moved, for the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eggleton, 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. 3 to 14 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 92, 60, 43, 31, 51, 7, 73, 72, 69, 89 and 79 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 12, 14, 11, 2, 1, 13 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Bellemare, calling the attention of the Senate to the Senate’s legislative work from the 24th to the 41st Parliament and on elements of evaluation.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, 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 Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C.:
That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages in relation to its study on the challenges associated with access to French-language schools and French immersion programs in British Columbia be extended from December 15, 2016 to March 30, 2017.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Merchant:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate, between December 5 and December 16, 2016, a report relating to its study on the steps being taken to facilitate the integration of newly-arrived Syrian refugees, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Chamber.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Mockler called the attention of the Senate to the issue of pipeline safety in Canada, and the nation-building project that is the Energy East proposal, and its resulting impact on the Canadian economy.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C.:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 5:18 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 9 a.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Manning replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (December 1, 2016).
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (December 1, 2016).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The Honourable Senator Raine replaced the Honourable Senator Neufeld (December 1, 2016).
The Honourable Senator Seidman replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (December 1, 2016).