The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHousakosJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithStewart OlsenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHousakosJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithStewart OlsenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

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.

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A point of order was raised concerning the content of Senators’ Statements.

SPEAKER'S RULING

I believe that Senator Housakos is referring to rule 4-2(5)(a), which clearly states:

During Senators’ Statements, Senators may, without notice, raise matters that they believe should be brought to the immediate attention of the Senate.

Rule 4-2(5)(b) states:

Statements should not relate to an order of the day but should relate to matters of public interest that could not otherwise be brought to the immediate attention of the Senate under its Rules and practices.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Massicotte tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 2/43-491S):

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources 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 examination and consideration of legislation:

 3.With respect to its special study on the effects of transitioning to a low carbon economy, authorized by the Senate on Thursday, March 10, 2016:

During the session, your committee held 146 meetings (272 hours 16 minutes), heard 584 witnesses and submitted 21 reports in relation to its work. Your committee examined seven bills, the subject-matter of three budget bills and received a total of 12 orders of reference.

During the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament the committee was not created and therefore did not incur any expenses.

Respectfully submitted,

o o o

The Honourable Senator Mercer presented the following:

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

The Committee of Selection has the honour to present its

THIRD REPORT

On November 19, 2020, the Senate referred motion 19, under Other Business, to the committee for examination and report. The motion concerns the election of the Speaker pro tempore by secret ballot. The committee has begun its consideration of the motion, and now presents an interim report.

Your committee recommends the following as an interim measure:

That, until the Senate decides otherwise, the Honourable Senator Ringuette be Speaker pro tempore on an interim basis; and

That, for greater certainty, the senator who occupies the position of Speaker pro tempore on an interim basis be considered, for all purposes, to be occupying the position of Speaker pro tempore as provided for in the Rules of the Senate.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Mercer moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dalphond, 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.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Reports of Committees – Other

Consideration of the second report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, entitled The expenditures set out in the Main Estimates and the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, tabled in the Senate on December 8, 2020.

The Honourable Senator Mockler moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-16, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.

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

o o o

Second reading of Bill C-17, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

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

That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following therefor:

“Bill C-17, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, be not now read a second time because the Senate is of the view that it does not include sufficient expenditure to reduce the effects of poverty in Canada, which is currently experienced by more than three and a half million people whose lives have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including high infection rates and ensuing serious illness and death.”.

SPEAKER'S STATEMENT

Honourable senators will know that this is a rarely used procedure, which is referred to at page 133 of Senate Procedure in Practice and is known as a reasoned amendment. The motion allows a senator to outline the reasons for opposing second or third reading of a bill. It puts on the record a statement or explanation as to why a bill should not be proceeded with. The motion can be debated, amended and adjourned.

Honourable senators will also know that if a reasoned amendment is adopted, the bill is defeated.

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gagné, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, for the second reading of Bill C-17, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Pate, seconded by the Honourable Senator McPhedran:

That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following therefor:

“Bill C-17, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, be not now read a second time because the Senate is of the view that it does not include sufficient expenditure to reduce the effects of poverty in Canada, which is currently experienced by more than three and a half million people whose lives have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including high infection rates and ensuing serious illness and death.”.

Debate.

ADJOURNMENT

At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on October 27, 2020, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

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

Report of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled “Trans Mountain Pipeline – Financial and Economic Considerations – Update”, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-488.

Interim Order No. 15 Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, pursuant to the Aeronautics Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-2, sbs. 6.41(5) and (6).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-489.

Copy of the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Albania, dated April 30, 2019, pursuant to the Old Age Security Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. O-9, sbs. 42(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-490.