The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBonifaceBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMeredithMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSibbestonSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBonifaceBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMeredithMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSibbestonSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

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

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Patterson, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, informed the Senate that, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on February 18, 2016 and February 16, 2017, the committee deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on March 1, 2017, its fifth report entitled We can do better: Housing in Inuit Nunangat.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-908S.

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dagenais, 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.

Delayed Answers

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., tabled the following:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 12, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Meredith, concerning Ethiopia.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-909S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 2, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Fraser, concerning judicial vacancies.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-910S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 8, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Enverga, concerning employment insurance.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-911S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 19, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning Parks Canada—job opportunities for youth.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-912S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 26, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, concerning judicial vacancies.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-913S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 26, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Oh, concerning children in immigration detention.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-914S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 15, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the aerospace industry.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-915S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 16, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement—Dairy Assistance Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-916S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 17, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the fight against opioid use.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-917S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 17, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Ngo, concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency—Status of Hamas.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-918S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 17, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Enverga, concerning financial literacy.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-919S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 24, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Wells, concerning the Thalidomide Survivors Compensation Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-920S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 24, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Eaton, concerning palliative care.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-921S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 24, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Marshall, concerning medical isotopes.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-922S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 28, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Cordy, concerning medical treatment.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-923S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 28, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Maltais, concerning bovine tuberculosis.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-924S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 28, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Marshall, concerning health.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-925S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 28, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, concerning the Canada Border Services Agency—detention of refugee children.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-926S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 30, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Ngo, concerning development assistance—food security.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-927S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 1, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Ngo, concerning the Memorial to Victims of Communism.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-928S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 7, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning grain regulations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-929S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 7, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Downe, concerning overseas tax evasion.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-930S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 14, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Griffin, concerning Parks Canada—Prince Edward Island—Province House.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-931S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 15, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the asbestos ban—compensation for affected communities.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-932S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

After debate,

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

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

o o o

Orders No. 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

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 Unger moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on February 28, 2017, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable  Jane Philpott, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Order No. 5 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, with the exception of Library of Parliament Vote 1; and

That, for the purpose of this study, the committee have the power to sit, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C.:

That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in Library of Parliament Vote 1 of the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.

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

o o o

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 – Third Reading

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1 to 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on February 4, 2016, the Senate adjourned until 1:30 p.m., tomorrow.

DECLARATIONS OF PRIVATE INTERESTS

Pursuant to rule 15-7(1) and subsection 12(1) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, a declaration of private interest was made as follows:

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., by oral declaration made to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, February 28, 2017, regarding its study on the Supplementary Estimates, (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017.

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples entitled We can do better: Housing in Inuit Nunangat, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on March 1, 2017, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on February 18, 2016 and February 16, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-908S.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5 and to the Order of the Senate of December 7, 2016

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (March 1, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Raine replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (March 1, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (March 1, 2017).