The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)BonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCormierCoyleDagenaisDayDeacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDupuisEatonEggletonFrumFureyGalvezGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalLankinMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMitchellMocklerMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTkachukUngerVernerWallinWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)*Black (Ontario)BonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauCampbellCarignan*ChristmasCoolsCormierCoyleDagenais*DawsonDayDeacon (Ontario)DeanDowne*DoyleDuffyDupuis*DyckEatonEggletonFrumFurey*GagnéGalvezGoldGreene*GriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalLankinMacDonald*MaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMitchellMocklerMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvar*PatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart Olsen*TannasTkachukUngerVernerWallinWetstonWhiteWoo

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:

Martha (Marty) Deacon, and

Yvonne Boyer,

respectively, had been summoned to the Senate.

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that there were senators without waiting to be introduced.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Deacon was introduced between the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, and having presented Her Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:

Julie Payette

(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,

of Waterloo, in the Province of Ontario,

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 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 Julie Payette, 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 fifteenth day of February in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eighteen and in the sixty-seventh year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Registrar General of Canada

The Honourable Senator Deacon 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Boyer was introduced between the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Sinclair, and having presented Her Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:

Julie Payette

(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,

of Merrickville-Wolford, in the Province of Ontario,

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, effective the fifteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eighteen.

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 Julie Payette, 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 fourteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eighteen and in the sixty-seventh year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Registrar General of Canada

The Honourable Senator Boyer 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.

o o o

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 of the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, entitled Findings of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner in the Matter of an Investigation into a Disclosure of Wrongdoing (Correctional Service of Canada), pursuant to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, S.C. 2005, c. 46, sbs. 38(3.3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1890.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Income Sprinkling Using Private Corporations, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1891.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Budget 2018: Key Issues for Parliamentarians, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1892.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Federal Financial Support to Provinces and Territories: A Long-term Scenario Analysis, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1893.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Federal Personnel Spending: Past and future trends, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1894.

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

Government response to the sixteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, entitled The Deepening Crisis in Venezuela: Canadian and Regional Stakes, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on July 20, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1895S.

(Pursuant to rule 12-24(4), the report and the response were deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.)

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Day tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-China Legislative Association respecting the Co-Chairs’ annual visit to Hohhot, Shenyang, Harbin and Beijing, People’s Republic of China, from May 19 to 26, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1896.

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-China Legislative Association respecting its participation at the 21st bilateral meeting in Beijing, the regions of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Qinghai, and Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China, from August 16 to 26, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1897.

Delayed Answers

Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 64, dated November 1, 2017, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Griffin, regarding National Shipbuilding spending.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1898S.

o o o

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

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 9, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Smith, concerning pensions for injured veterans.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1899S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on January 30, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Raine, concerning the Olympic team.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1900S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on January 30, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Oh, concerning the detention of refugee children.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1901S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on January 31, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Smith, concerning employment insurance.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1902S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on January 31, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Netflix broadcasting agreement.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1903S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 1, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Smith, concerning infrastructure initiatives.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1904S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 1, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Port of Montreal.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1905S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 8, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Doyle, concerning the Canada Summer Jobs Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1906S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 14, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning high-speed rail.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1907S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 14, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Frum, concerning Bombardier Inc. — sale of aircraft to Iran.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1908S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Wetston, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, for the third reading of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act, the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and the Competition Act, as amended.

After debate,

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

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dean, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, for the second reading of Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts.

Debate.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on February 28, 2018, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable  Scott Brison, P.C., M.P., President of the Treasury Board, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dean, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, for the second reading of Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, 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. 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ringuette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cools, for the second reading of Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, for the Honourable Senator McCoy, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pratte, 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

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cormier, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, for the second reading of Bill C-66, An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain historically unjust convictions and to make related amendments to other Acts.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Motions

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

Inquiries

Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Reports of Committees

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

o o o

Consideration of the twentieth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce (Bill S-237, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate), with amendments), presented in the Senate on February 13, 2018.

The Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eaton, that the report be adopted.

The Honourable Senator Gold moved, for the Honourable Senator Moncion, 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.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

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

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator White, seconded by the Honourable Senator Enverga, for the second reading of Bill C-211, An Act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Hartling moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, 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 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 5 to 8, 10, 15, 29, 33, 50 to 52, 64 and 66 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 31, 73, 89, 92, 139, 146, 158, 189, 215, 245, 286, 292 and 302 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dagenais, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oh:

That, given serious potential implications for Canada’s relations with India as well as for Canada’s national security arising out of the recent visit by the Prime Minister to that country, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to:

(a)Invite Mr. Daniel Jean, the Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor, to appear before the Committee to answer questions related to the issues arising from the recent visit by the Prime Minister to India;

(b)Invite additional witnesses from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Global Affairs Canada and any other relevant agencies to explain how an individual convicted of serious criminal offences was permitted to attend official events involving the Prime Minister, Ministers and senior Canadian officials; and

(c)Provide any recommendations that the Committee believes may be warranted as a result of this incident;

That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 1, 2018, and retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

The Honourable Senator Gold moved, for the Honourable Senator Omidvar, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mitchell, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Inquiries

Orders No. 8, 12 and 13, 19 and 20, 24 to 26 and 28 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Order No. 31 was called and, pursuant to rule 4-15(2), dropped from the Order Paper and Notice Paper.

o o o

Orders No. 32 and 33 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Day, calling the attention of the Senate to the career of the Honourable Senator Tardif.

Debate concluded.

o o o

Order No. 36 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

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

That the Senate, whose members represent the various regions, provinces and territories of Canada, note with concern that people and businesses in British Columbia and Alberta are already beginning to suffer from the fall-out of an escalating inter-provincial trade dispute;

That the Senate urge the Prime Minister to bring the full weight and power of his office and that of the Government of Canada to ensure that the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion is completed on schedule; and

That the Senate also urge that the commitment of the Prime Minister and the Government to the goal of ensuring that the expansion is completed on time be officially conveyed to the governments of British Columbia and Alberta in a manner that leaves no doubt as to the federal government’s determination to see the project become fully operational within the present timeline.

After debate,

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 7:39 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

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

Government response, dated March 14, 2018, to the twelfth report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, entitled Smarter Planning, Smarter Spending: Achieving infrastructure success, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on February 28, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1885S.

(Pursuant to rule 12-24(4), the report and the response were deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.)

Tenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, entitled A Growing Concern: How to Keep Farmland in the Hands of Canadian Farmers, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on March 9, 2018, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on October 5, 2016 and March 1, 2018.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1886S.

Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2017-21 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2017 of VIA Rail Canada Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1887.

Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2018-22 of Destination Canada, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1888.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2018-22 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2018 of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1889.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Black (Centre Wellington) was added to the membership (March 12, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Pratte was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 12, 2018).

Special Committee on the Arctic

The Honourable Senator Day was added to the membership (March 19, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (March 20, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (March 12, 2018).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (March 16, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Pratte replaced the Honourable Senator Forest (March 12, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Jaffer was added to the membership (March 12, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Marwah (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Moncion (March 16, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Forest (March 7, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Brazeau (March 19, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Maltais replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (March 16, 2018).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Marwah was added to the membership (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Dagenais (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (March 19, 2018).

Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization

The Honourable Senator Pratte replaced the Honourable Senator Massicotte (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (March 16, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Duffy replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (March 19, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Raine (March 16, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Gagné (March 20, 2018).

The Honourable Senator McIntyre replaced the Honourable Senator Boisvenu (March 19, 2018).