The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithStewart OlsenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-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

SPEAKER'S STATEMENT

Honourable senators, on February 8, 2021, the Senate adopted the fourth report of the Committee of Selection. That report recommended “that for the remainder of this parliamentary session, the position of Speaker pro tempore be filled by means of a secret ballot, using a process to be established by the Speaker after consulting with the Leader of the Government, the Leader of the Opposition, and the leader or facilitator of any other recognized party or recognized parliamentary group.”

These consultations have now taken place, and I am pleased to advise the Senate that the election of the Speaker pro tempore will be by ranked ballot.

To be a candidate, a senator will have to communicate his or her interest by email to the Clerk of the Senate by noon on Monday, May 10, 2021.

At the start of the sitting after Monday, May 10, I will announce the names of the senators who are candidates. Instead of proceeding to Senators’ Statements, we will then hear from the candidates for a maximum of three minutes each, irrespective of the total time required. If there are less than six candidates, any balance of time can be used for regular statements.

One hour after we have heard from the candidates, the voting will start. Details about the confidential system will follow shortly before voting is to start. Only the Clerk will have access to information about the vote. He will not reveal any of this information to anyone.

Senators will have until 6 p.m. on the day after voting starts. That deadline could be extended if required for technical reasons. When they vote, senators will rank as many candidates as they wish, with one being their first choice, two their second, and so on.

After the voting, the Clerk will count the votes in private. After the initial count, the candidate, or candidates, with the fewest votes will be dropped and those votes redistributed to the next active preference on the ballot, if one is indicated. The process will continue with successive rounds until a candidate has a majority of votes that are still active. If, after all possible distributions, two or more candidates have the same number of votes, a run-off election will be held.

The name of the chosen candidate will be announced at the start of the sitting following completion of counting. A motion to name that senator as Speaker pro tempore will then be deemed moved, seconded, and adopted, without debate, amendment, or further vote. No further details will be provided, and the Clerk will keep all information related to the vote confidential.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dalphond, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, for the third reading of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code.

After debate,

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

Third reading of Bill C-14, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020 and other measures.

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, that the bill be read for a third time.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, without amendment.

Bills – Second Reading

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

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.

Inquiries

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) called the attention of the Senate to the inquiry standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Gagné concerning the life of His late Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

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 3:55 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

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

Legislative Costing Note of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Tobacco Taxation Increase, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-799.

Report of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Budget 2021: Issues for Parliamentarians, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-800.

Report on Canada’s activities as a Member Nation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, pursuant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-26, s. 4.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-801.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (May 5, 2021).