The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBellemareBlack (Ontario)BonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCordyCormierCotterDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDowneFureyGagnéGalvezGoldHarderKeatingKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMartinMarwahMassicotteMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMunsonNgoOhPatePattersonPetitclercPlettRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBellemareBlack (Ontario)BonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCordyCormierCotterDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDowneFureyGagnéGalvezGoldHarderKeatingKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMartinMarwahMassicotteMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMunsonNgoOhPatePattersonPetitclercPlettRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteWoo

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 Senator Gold, P.C., tabled the following:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-36.

Responses to 25 oral questions asked in the Senate during the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-37S.

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

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

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate of September 30, 2020, concerning the date for consideration at second reading of Bill C-4, the bill be instead taken into consideration at second reading later this day.

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

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Wells moved, seconded by the Honourable Senators Saint-Germain, Tannas and Cordy:

That the Rules of the Senate be amended:

1.by:

(a)deleting the word “and” at the end of rule 12-3(2)(e) in the English version; and

(b)replacing the period at the end of rule 12-3(2)(f) by the following:

“; and

(g) the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, three Senators and two external members.”;

2.by adding the words “, the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight,” after the words “Conflict of Interest for Senators” to rule 12-3(3);

3.by adding the following new rule 12-3(4):

Restriction on membership

12-3. (4) No Senator shall be a member of both the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight.”;

4.by replacing the portion of rule 12-5 before paragraph (a) by the following:

“12-5. Changes in the membership of a committee, except for the ex officio members and members of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators and the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, may be made by notice filed with the Clerk, who shall have the notice recorded in the Journals of the Senate. The notice shall be signed by:”;

5.by replacing rule 12-6 with the following:

“Quorum of standing committees

12-6. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and elsewhere in these Rules, the quorum of a standing committee shall be four of its members.

EXCEPTION

Rule 12-27(2): Quorum of committee

Audit and Oversight

12-6. (2) The quorum of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall be two Senators and one external member, except in the case of the organization meeting, for which the quorum shall be three Senators.”;

6.by:

(a)deleting the word “and” at the end of rule 12-7(15) in the English version; and

(b)replacing the period at the end of rule 12-7(16) by the following:

“; and

Audit and Oversight

12-7. (17) the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, which, for the purposes of integrity, independence, transparency and accountability, shall be authorized, on its own initiative, to:

(a) retain the services of and oversee the external auditors and internal auditors;

(b) supervise the Senate’s internal and external audits;

(c) report to the Senate regarding the internal and external audits, including audit reports and other matters;

(d) review the Senate Administration’s action plans to ensure:

(i) that they adequately address the recommendations and findings arising from internal and external audits, and

(ii) that they are effectively implemented;

(e) review the Senate’s Quarterly Financial Reports and the audited Financial Statements, and report them to the Senate; and

(f) report at least annually with observations and recommendations to the Senate.”;

7.by adding the following new rule 12-9(3):

“Audit and Oversight — access to information

12-9. (3) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may review the in camera proceedings of other Senate committees, including any transcripts of meetings, as they relate to the mandate of the Audit and Oversight Committee.”;

8.by replacing rule 12-13 with the following:

“Organization meeting

12-13. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), once the Senate has agreed to the membership of a committee, the Clerk of the Senate shall, as soon as practicable, call an organization meeting of the committee at which it shall elect a chair.

Audit and Oversight — organization meeting

12-13. (2) In the case of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, the Clerk of the Senate shall, as soon as practicable after the Senate has agreed to the Senators to serve on the committee, call an organization meeting of the committee at which it shall elect a chair, without the external members having been nominated.

Chair of Audit and Oversight

12-13. (3) The chair of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall be a Senator who is not a member of the recognized party or recognized parliamentary group to which the chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration belongs.

Audit and Oversight — nomination of external members

12-13. (4) After electing its chair and deputy chair, the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall adopt a report to the Senate nominating two external members for the committee. A former Senator or former member of the House of Commons is not eligible for nomination as an external member. This report must be agreed to by all three Senators who are members of the committee. The report shall include recommendations on remuneration and permissible expenses for the external members, which shall be paid from Senate funds once the report is adopted by the Senate. A similar process shall be followed if a vacancy arises in the position of external member over the course of the session.”;

9.by replacing rule 12-14 with the following:

“Participation of non-members

12-14. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and elsewhere in these Rules, a Senator who is not a member of a committee may attend and participate in its deliberations, but shall not vote.

EXCEPTIONS

Rule 12-28(2): Participation of non-members

Rule 15-7(2): Restrictions if declaration of interest

Rule 16-3(6): Speaking at conferences

Audit and Oversight

12-14. (2) Senators who are not members of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall not attend or participate in its meetings, unless they are appearing as witnesses.”;

10.by replacing the portion of rule 12-16(1) before paragraph (a) by the following:

“12-16. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) and elsewhere in these Rules, a committee may meet in camera only for the purpose of discussing:”;

11.by renumbering current rule 12-16(2) as 12-16(3), and by adding the following new rule 12-16(2):

“Audit and Oversight — in camera

12-16. (2) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall meet in camera whenever it deals with the in camera proceedings of another committee.”;

12.by replacing the portion of rule 12-18(2) before paragraph (a) by the following:

“12-18. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) and elsewhere in these Rules, a Senate committee may meet when the Senate is adjourned:”;

13.by adding the following new rule 12-18(3):

“Audit and Oversight

12-18. (3) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may meet during any adjournment of the Senate.”;

14.by renumbering current rule 12-20(2) to (4) as 12-20(3) to (5), and by adding the following new rule 12-20(2):

“Vote in Audit and Oversight Committee

12-20. (2) The external members of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may participate in all proceedings of the committee, but shall not vote on any motion put to the committee.”;

15.by replacing rule 12-22(1) by the following:

“Majority conclusions

12-22. (1) Except as provided in subsection (7), a report of a Senate committee shall contain the conclusions agreed to by majority.”;

16.by replacing rule 12-22(2) by the following:

“Presentation or tabling

12-22. (2) Except as provided in subsection (8) and elsewhere in these Rules, a committee report shall be presented or tabled in the Senate by the chair or by a Senator designated by the chair.

EXCEPTION

Rule 12-31: Report deposited with the Clerk”;

17.by adding the following new rules 12-22(7) and (8):

“Reports of Audit and Oversight Committee — content

12-22. (7) Any member of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, including an external member, shall have the right to include individual observations and dissenting opinions in any report of the committee if the member so wishes.

Audit and Oversight — report deposited with the Clerk

12-22. (8) A report of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may be deposited with the Clerk at any time the Senate stands adjourned, and the report shall be deemed to have been presented or tabled in the Senate.”;

18.by replacing the opening paragraph of the definition of “Committee” in Appendix I, starting with the words “A body of Senators, Members of the House of Commons or both,”, by the following:

“A body of Senators, Members of the House of Commons, members of both houses, or others, appointed by one or both of the two houses to consider such matters as may be referred to it or that it may be empowered to examine, including bills. A Senate committee is, except in the case of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, one composed solely of Senators (as opposed to a joint committee — see below). (Comité)”; and

19.by updating all cross references in the Rules, including the lists of exceptions, accordingly.

After debate,

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

Tabling of Petitions

The Honourable Senator Mégie tabled the following petition:

Of Moms Stop the Harm calling on the government to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-38S.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Other Business

Reports of Committees – Other

Consideration of the second report of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, entitled Consideration of an inquiry report of the Senate Ethics Officer, presented in the Senate on June 18, 2020, during the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament.

The Honourable Senator Tannas moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

Pursuant to rule 12-30(2), further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting.

Government Business

Motions

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

That, notwithstanding any provisions of the Rules or usual practice:

1.the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at the start of Orders of the Day on Thursday, October 1, 2020, or immediately after the adoption of this motion, whichever comes later, to consider the subject matter of Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19;

2.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-4, receive the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, each accompanied by one official;

3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-4 rise no later than 125 minutes after it begins;

4.the witnesses’ introductory remarks last a maximum total of five minutes; and

5.if a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-32(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator.

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

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 3:20 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted earlier today, the Senate was suspended during pleasure and resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the subject matter of Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19, the Honourable Senator Ringuette in the Chair.

—In the Committee—

Pursuant to rule 12-32(4), the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, accompanied by Nick Leswick, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Finance Canada and the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, accompanied by Heather Sheehy, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment & Social Development Canada, were escorted to seats in the Senate Chamber.

Debate.

It was agreed that the chair report to the Senate that the witnesses have been heard.

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The sitting of the Senate resumed.

The Chair of the Committee stated that the Committee had heard the witnesses on the subject matter of Bill C-4 and had directed her to report the same to the Senate.

---

A point of order was raised with respect to the Committee of the Whole held earlier today.

After debate,

The Speaker reserved his decision.

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19.

The Honourable Senator Dean moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Dean moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at 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 7:57 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 9 a.m.)

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

Amendment to the Agreement for RCMP policing services (First Nations Community Policing Service) for the province of Prince Edward Island, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10, sbs. 20(5).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-28.

Copy of an amendment to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, S.C. 2001, c. 27, sbs. 5(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-29.

Order respecting time limits and periods relating to an act or regulation for which the Minister of Health is responsible (81200-2-532), dated September 16, 2020, pursuant to the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), S.C. 2020, c. 11, s. 11, ss. 11(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-30.

Report of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, pursuant to the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, S.C. 2006, c. 9, sbs. 16(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-31.

Report of the Information Commissioner for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 38.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-32.

Copy of the Regulations amending the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations (P.C. 2020-687), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-33.

Report on the Employment Equity Act for the year 2019, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-34.

Order respecting other time limits and periods relating to an act or regulation for which the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness is responsible, pursuant to the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) (81000-2-4236), S.C. 2020, c. 11, s. 11, ss. 11(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-35.