The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanCordyCormierCoyleDagenaisDalphondDawsonDayDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDowneDoyleDuffyDuncanDupuisDyckForestForest-NiesingFrancisFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMégieMercerMitchellMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOmidvarPatePetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSeidmanSimonsSinclairSmithTannasTkachukVernerWallinWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanCordyCormierCoyleDagenaisDalphondDawsonDayDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDowneDoyleDuffyDuncanDupuisDyckForestForest-NiesingFrancisFureyGagné*GalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMégieMercerMitchellMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOmidvarPatePetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSeidmanSimonsSinclairSmithTannasTkachukVernerWallinWetstonWhiteWoo

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

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that a communication had been received from the Secretary to the Governor General.

The communication was then read by the Honourable the Speaker as follows:

RIDEAU HALL

December 12, 2019

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, will proceed to the Senate Chamber today, the 12^th day of December, 2019, at 3:30 p.m., for the purpose of giving Royal Assent to a certain bill of law.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable

The Speaker of the Senate

Ottawa

Senators’ Statements

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Day, who will retire from the Senate on January 24, 2020.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable Senator Furey tabled the following:

Annual reports of the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1 , s. 94 and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, P-21, s. 72.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-37.

Annual reports of the Chief Electoral Officer for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 94 and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, P-21, s. 72.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-38.

Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada entitled Costs of Crown Corporation Audits, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. F-11, s. 147.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-39.

Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada on Export Development Canada’s Environmental and Social Review Directive, pursuant to the Export Development Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. E-20, s. 21(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-40.

Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada entitled Commentary on the 2018-2019 Financial Audits, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 7(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-41.

o o o

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

Public Accounts of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, entitled (1) Volume I — Summary Report and Consolidated Financial Statements, (2) Volume II — Details of Expenses and Revenues, (3) Volume III — Additional Information and Analyses, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 64(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-42.

Annual report of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat entitled Annual Report to Parliament for the 2018 to 2019 Fiscal Year: Federal Regulatory Management Initiatives.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-43.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Marwah, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, presented the first report of the committee, entitled Senate Budget for 2020-21.

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 46-52 (available in print format PDF).)

(The HTML version of the report is available on the committee website.)

The Honourable Senator Marwah moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion, 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 Boisvenu introduced Bill S-207, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (disclosure of information by jurors).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Boisvenu moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, 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.

ROYAL ASSENT

At 3:20 p.m., pursuant to rule 16-1(7), the proceedings were interrupted to resume after Royal Assent.

The sitting of the Senate was suspended to await the arrival of Her Excellency the Governor General.

After awhile, Her Excellency the Governor General arrived and was seated at the foot of the Throne.

The Honourable the Speaker commanded the Usher of the Black Rod to proceed to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that:

“It is the pleasure of Her Excellency the Governor General that they attend her immediately in the Senate Chamber.”

The House of Commons being come,

The Speaker of the House of Commons addressed Her Excellency the Governor General as follows:

“May it Please Your Excellency:

The Commons of Canada have voted supplies to enable the Government to defray certain expenses of the public service.

In the name of the Commons, I present to Your Excellency the following bill:

An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (Bill C-2, Chapter 30, 2019)

To which bill I humbly request Your Excellency’s Assent.”

After one of the Clerks at the Table read the title of this bill,

To this bill the Royal Assent was pronounced by the Clerk of the Senate in the following words:

“In Her Majesty’s name, Her Excellency the Governor General thanks her loyal subjects, accepts their benevolence and assents to this bill.”

3:56 p.m.

The Commons withdrew.

After which Her Excellency the Governor General was pleased to retire.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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

o o o

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 2 p.m.

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.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy).

The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that the bill be read the second time.

Ordered: That the second reading speech on Bill S-260, made by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., on May 7, 2019, during the First Session of the Forty-second Parliament, be printed in today’s Debates of the Senate.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Cormier moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, 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

Second reading of Bill S-203, An Act to amend the National Capital Act (buildings or works of national significance).

The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Forest-Niesing moved, for the Honourable Senator Bovey, seconded by the Honourable Senator Klyne, 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

Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 5, 7 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ngo:

That the Senate call upon the Government of Canada to impose sanctions against Chinese and/or Hong Kong officials, pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), in light of the violation of human rights, of the principles of fundamental justice and of the rule of law in relation to the ongoing protests in Hong Kong and to the systematic persecution of minority Muslims in China.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Dagenais moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Black (Ontario), that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Mitchell 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 5:51 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 2 p.m.)

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

Service Fees Report of Global Affairs Canada for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-25.

Service Fees Report of the Parole Board of Canada for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-26.

Service Fees Report of the Canada Border Services Agency for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-27.

Service Fees Report of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-28.

Service Fees Report of Public Services and Procurement Canada for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-29.

Service Fees Report of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-30.

Service Fees Report of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-31.

Service Fees Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada for 2018-19, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-32.

Report of the Canadian Securities Regulation Regime Transition Office, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Canadian Securities Regulation Regime Transition Office Act, S.C. 2009, c. 2, ss. 297 "16(1) and (2)" and 298.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-33.

Report of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act, S.C. 2001, c. 9, s. 34.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-34.

Report of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 18 (3rd Supp.), Part I, s. 40.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-35.

Report of the Public Prosecution service of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, S.C. 2006, c. 9, sbs. 16(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-36.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Batters replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (December 12, 2019).

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (December 12, 2019).

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (December 12, 2019).

The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Batters (December 12, 2019).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (December 12, 2019).