The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBlack (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBoveyCampbellCarignanCordyCormierCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Ontario)DowneDuffyDuncanDupuisDyckForestForest-NiesingFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMitchellMocklerMoncionMoodieNgoOmidvarPatePattersonPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSinclairSmithVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBlack (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBoveyCampbellCarignanCordyCormierCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Ontario)DowneDuffyDuncanDupuisDyckForestForest-NiesingFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMitchellMocklerMoncionMoodieNgoOmidvarPatePattersonPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSinclairSmithVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhite

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

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Fiscal Sustainability Report 2020, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-353.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Marwah, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, tabled the fourth report of the committee, entitled Financial Statements of the Senate of Canada for the year ended March 31, 2019.—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-354S.

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The Honourable Senator Mockler tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 1/43-355S):

Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to table its

SECOND REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such matters as were referred to it, tables, pursuant to rule 12-26(2), the following report on expenses incurred for that purpose during the First Session of the Forty-second Parliament:

2.With respect to its study to examine such issues as may arise from time to time relating to federal estimates generally, including the public accounts, reports of the Auditor General and government finance authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, January 27, 2016:

3.With respect to its special study on the design and delivery of the federal government’s infrastructure funding program authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, February 23, 2016:

4.With respect to its special study on the Minister of Finance’s proposed changes to the Income Tax Act respecting the taxation of private corporations and the tax planning strategies involved, authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 (final report tabled on Wednesday, December 13, 2017):

During the session, your committee held 236 meetings (401 hours 57 minutes), heard 1,107 witnesses and submitted 43 reports in relation to its work. Your committee studied the subject matter of 7 bills (pre-studies), examined 12 bills and 16 government estimates and received a total of 45 orders of reference.

Respectfully submitted,

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The Honourable Senator Housakos tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 1/43-356S):

Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade has the honour to table its

FIRST REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such matters as were referred to it, tables, pursuant to rule 12-26(2), the following report on expenses incurred for that purpose during the First Session of the Forty-second Parliament:

2.With respect to its special study on opportunities for strengthening cooperation with Mexico since the tabling, in June 2015, of the committee report entitled: North American Neighbours: Maximizing Opportunities and Strengthening Cooperation for a more Prosperous Future, authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 (final report tabled Wednesday, June 14, 2017):

3.With respect to its special study on recent political and economic developments in Argentina in the context of their potential impact on regional and global dynamics, including on Canadian policy and interests, and other related matters, authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 (final report tabled Thursday, June 1, 2017):

During the session, your committee held 144 meetings (180 hours 24 minutes), heard 417 witnesses and submitted 27 reports in relation to its work. Your committee examined 11 bills, 4 subject matter studies and received a total of 22 orders of reference.

Respectfully submitted,

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Other Business

Reports of Committees – Other

The Senate proceeded to the motion of the Honourable Senator Sinclair, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, for the adoption of the first report (interim) of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, entitled Developments and actions in relation to the committee’s fifth report regarding Senator Beyak, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on January 31, 2020.

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

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With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Marwah moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wetston:

That the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration have the power to meet later this day, 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.

Government Business

Motions

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

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gagné, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:

That, notwithstanding usual practice, the Senate invite any Minister of the Crown who is not a member of the Senate to enter the chamber during any future Question Period and take part in proceedings by responding to questions relating to his or her ministerial responsibilities, subject to the Rules and practices of the Senate.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended:

1.by replacing the words “the Senate invite any Minister of the Crown who is not a member of the Senate to enter the chamber during any future Question Period and” by the following:

“for the remainder of the current session, the Senate authorize the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate to make a short statement during any Question Period in order to designate Ministers of the Crown who are not members of the Senate to participate in Question Period;

That these ministers then be deemed invited to enter the chamber during Question Period at a future sitting to”;

2.by replacing the words “his or her” by the word “their”; and

3.by adding the following before the period:

“; and

That the Leader or Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate advise the Senate of the date that any minister designated by the Leader of the Opposition will be in attendance by making a brief statement during Question Period no later than the fourth day the Senate sits before that date”.

And on the subamendment of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné:

That the motion in amendment be not now adopted, but that it be amended:

1. by replacing the words “Opposition in the Senate to make a short statement during any Question Period” by the words “Government in the Senate, after consultation with the leaders and facilitators of all the recognized parties and recognized parliamentary groups, to make a short statement at the start of the Orders of the Day during any sitting”; and

2. by replacing the words “by the Leader of the Opposition will be in attendance by making a brief statement during Question Period” by the words “pursuant to this order will be in attendance by making a brief statement at the start of the Orders of the Day”.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Cormier moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, that further debate on the subamendment be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 2 p.m.

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, for the second reading of Bill S-209, An Act to Amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Mégie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, 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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Order No. 10 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Klyne, for the second reading of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Modern Slavery Act and to amend the Customs Tariff.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, for the Honourable Senator Duncan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, 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. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Private Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Consideration of the first report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, entitled Senate Budget for 2020-21, presented in the Senate on December 12, 2019.

The Honourable Senator Marwah moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wetston, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Plett moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, 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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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, for the adoption of the third report (interim) of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, entitled Policy on Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Senate Workplace, presented in the Senate on February 6, 2020.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hartling:

That the report be not now adopted, but that it be amended:

1.by replacing paragraph 1 with the following:

“1. (a) That the revised Policy on the Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Senate Workplace, appended to this report, be adopted;

(b) That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be authorized to study and recommend amendments to the Policy adopted pursuant to paragraph 1(a), when and if the committee is formed;

(c) That the papers and evidence received and taken, and work accomplished, by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights in relation to Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence), the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, during the first session of the Forty-second Parliament, be referred to the committee for the purposes of its study of the Policy pursuant to paragraph 1(b);

(d) That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights submit its final report on its study pursuant to paragraph 1(b) to the Senate no later than 30 days after the adoption of this report or the formation of the committee, whichever comes later; and

(e) That the content of any report from the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights presented to the Senate in relation to its study pursuant to paragraph 1(b), if the report is adopted by the Senate, be deemed referred to the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, and the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators for the purpose of their respective studies pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3;”;

2.in paragraph 2, by:

(a)adding the words “,when and if the committee is formed,” after the word “Parliament”; and

(b)by replacing the date “April 30, 2020” by the words “60 days after the adoption of this report or 60 days after the formation of the committee, whichever comes later”;

3.in paragraph 3, by replacing the date “April 30, 2020” by the words “60 days after the adoption of this report or 60 days after the formation of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, whichever comes later”; and

4.by adding the following new paragraph 6:

“6. That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, and the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate, any reports authorized by this report, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been presented in the Chamber.”.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, for the Honourable Senator Duncan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, that further debate on the motion in amendment be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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

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Consideration of the nineteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, entitled Made in Canada: Growing Canada’s Value-Added Food Sector, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on July 15, 2019, during the First Session of the Forty-second Parliament.

The Honourable Senator Griffin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Black:

That the nineteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry entitled Made in Canada: Growing Canada’s Value-Added Food Sector, originally deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on July 15, 2019, during the First Session of the Forty-second Parliament, and placed on the Orders of the Day in the current session pursuant to the order of February 20, 2020, 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 Agriculture and Agri-Food being identified as minister responsible for the report.

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

Motions

Orders No. 5, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to examine and report on the prospect of allowing Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. to be part of Canada’s 5G network, when and if the committee is formed; and

That the committee submit its final report no later than April 30, 2020.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, for the Honourable Senator Duncan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, 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. 10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 22 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Coyle, calling the attention of the Senate to the importance of finding the right pathways and actions for Canada and Canadians to meet our net-zero carbon emissions targets in order to slow, arrest and reverse human-caused climate change to ensure a healthy planet, society, economy and democracy.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Pate moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Orders No. 10 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Bovey, calling the attention of the Senate to the need to renew and further its interest in Arctic issues.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, for the Honourable Senator Duncan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Order No. 14 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

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

That the workplace assessment report commissioned by the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration during the Second Session of the Forty-first Parliament, entitled Report of Evidence Relating to the Workplace in the Office of Senator Don Meredith, dated July 13, 2015, be referred to the committee during the current session for the purposes of its work on related issues, subject to normal practices relating to confidential documents.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, for the Honourable Senator Duncan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, 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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The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler:

That, for the remainder of the current session, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate be authorized to designate, by making a short statement during any Question Period, a Minister of the Crown to be invited to appear as a witness before the next Committee of the Whole held pursuant to this order;

That, at the start of Orders of the Day on every third Tuesday that the Senate sits after the adoption of this order, the Senate resolve itself into a committee of the whole in order to receive the designated minister in relation to his or her ministerial responsibilities;

That the committee report to the Senate no later than two hours after it starts sitting; and

That if the designated minister is unable to attend on a particular Tuesday:

1.the Leader or Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate advise the Senate of this fact as soon as possible by making a brief statement to that effect during any Question Period; and

2.the designated minister’s appearance be then postponed to the next Tuesday that the Senate sits, subject to the same conditions.

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A point of order was raised with respect to the motion.

After debate,

The Speaker reserved his decision.

MOTIONS

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

That the name of the Honourable Senator Tannas be added to the list of members of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators.

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

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

That the Senate urge the Government of Canada to actively support the genuine autonomy of Tibet and, consequently, to also call for the People’s Republic of China to:

(a)renew the Sino-Tibetan dialogue in good faith and based on the Middle Way Approach;

(b)respect the religious rights of the Tibetan people and stop interference in the process of recognizing a successor or reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama;

(c)respect the linguistic rights, freedom of movement, thought and conscience of the people in Tibet;

(d)free all Tibetan political prisoners, including the youngest political prisoner Gendhun Choekyi Nyima (Panchen Lama), and cease all arbitrary detention of dissidents;

(e)grant Canada reciprocal diplomatic access to Tibet without limitations; and

(f)protect the Tibetan Plateau that serves as Asia’s water tower, feeding over a billion lives in Asia; and

That the Senate urge the Government of Canada to raise Tibetan issues at every opportunity with China with a view to taking the additional steps necessary to deescalate tensions and restore peace and stability in Tibet.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Housakos 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.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:09 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 2 p.m.)

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Klyne replaced the Honourable Senator Dean (February 27, 2020).

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (February 27, 2020).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Campbell (February 27, 2020).