The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithStewart OlsenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsSaint-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.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Seidman tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 2/43-504S):

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators 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:

During the First Session of the Forty-Second Parliament, your committee held 45 meetings (67 hours 8 minutes), heard 26 witnesses and submitted seven reports in relation to its work.

During the First Session of the Forty-Third Parliament the committee did not incur any expenses. It held eight meetings (21 hours 41 minutes), and submitted three reports in relation to its work. Your committee received two orders of reference.

Respectfully submitted,

o o o

The Honourable Senator Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, presented the committee’s second report (Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, without amendment).

The Honourable Senator Coyle moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, 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.

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, when the Senate sits today, it continue beyond 4 p.m., if necessary, and adjourn at the earlier of the end of Government Business or 9 p.m.

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

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Seidman moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells:

That, the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators be authorized:

(a)for the duration of the current session and notwithstanding rule 12-18(1), to sit even though the Senate may then be sitting; and

(b)to hold hybrid meetings or to hold meetings entirely by videoconference, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or usual practice and taking into account the exceptional circumstances of the current pandemic of COVID-19; and

That the provisions of subparagraphs 7 to 10 of the order adopted by the Senate on November 17, 2020, concerning hybrid meetings and meetings entirely by videoconference, apply in relation to any hybrid meetings of the committee or any meetings that are entirely by videoconference.

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Seidman moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells:

That the papers and documents received and/or produced by the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators during the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament, and by the Intersessional Authority be referred to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators.

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

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

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 Petitclerc, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, for the second reading of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying).

Debate.

---

Pursuant to rule 3-3(1) and the order adopted by the Senate on October 27, 2020, the Acting Speaker left the Chair to resume the same at 7 p.m.

The sitting resumed.

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, for the second reading of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying).

After debate,

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

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

Reports of Committees – Other

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

Motions

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

ADJOURNMENT

At 9 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate earlier today, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

WRITTEN REPLIES TO ORAL QUESTIONS AND TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO THE ORDER ADOPTED OCTOBER 27, 2020

Reply to Question No. 31, dated September 23, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Parliamentary Precinct - Indigenous Peoples — Public Services and Procurement Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-505S.

Reply to Question No. 31, dated September 23, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Parliamentary Precinct - Indigenous Peoples - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-506S.

Reply to Question No. 38, dated September 23, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-507S.

Reply to Question No. 47, dated September 23, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Royal Canadian Mounted Police drug recognition experts.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-508S.

Reply to Question No. 74, dated October 2, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the target for agricultural exports.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-509S.

Reply to Question No. 77, dated October 2, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-510S.

Reply to Question No. 79, dated October 27, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding AgriInvest accounts.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-511S.

Reply to Question No. 82, dated October 27, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the forestry sector.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-512S.

Reply to Question No. 92, dated November 3, 2020, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-513S.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Ravalia replaced the Honourable Senator Simons (December 16, 2020).

The Honourable Senator Simons replaced the Honourable Senator Ravalia (December 16, 2020).