The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteYussuff

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

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Patterson introduced Bill S-242, An Act to amend the Radiocommunication Act.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wallin, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

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

Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, in accordance with subsection 39(1) of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (S.C. 2005, c. 46), the Senate approve the reappointment of Mr. Joe Friday as Public Sector Integrity Commissioner for a term of 18 months.

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

Inquiries

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

ADJOURNMENT

At 2:54 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on November 25, 2021, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

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

Independent Review of the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2005, c. 45, sbs. 45.1(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-550.

Report on the operations under the Canada Water Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-11, s. 38.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-551.

WRITTEN REPLIES TO ORAL QUESTIONS AND TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO THE ORDER ADOPTED NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 25, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Cordy, concerning proof of vaccination—international travel.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-552S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 1, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Omidvar, concerning the immigration processing backlog.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-553S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 2, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Mégie, concerning COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-554S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 7, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Kutcher, concerning the COVID-19 pandemic response plan.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-555S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 7, 2021, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning Canada-China relations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-556S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 8, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the workload of case managers.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-557S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 8, 2021, by the Honourable Senator White, concerning the opioid crisis.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-558S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 8, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Poirier, concerning the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-559S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 8, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the Canada Border Services Agency—pandemic related travel restrictions .—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-560S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 9, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, concerning testing for COVID-19.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-561S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 9, 2021, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning Afghan refugees.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-562S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 9, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 tragedy.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-563S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 14, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, concerning access to safe drinking water.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-564S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 15, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning relations with Bulgaria.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-565S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 15, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Cordy, concerning the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-566S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 8, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, concerning Afghan refugees.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-567S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 10, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, concerning the immigration processing backlog.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-568S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 10, 2022, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning a resolution on Myanmar.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-569S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 10, 2022, by the Honourable Senator MacDonald, concerning digital privacy.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-570S.

Reply to Question No. 44, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding fuel storage tanks—Indigenous Services Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-571S.

Reply to Question No. 44, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding fuel storage tanks—Environment and Climate Change Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-572S.

Reply to Question No. 83, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Parliamentary Precinct—Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-573S.

Reply to Question No. 83, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Parliamentary Precinct—Public Services and Procurement Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-574S.

Reply to Question No. 99, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding operational stress injury clinics.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-575S.

Reply to Question No. 116, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding coal exports from Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-576S.

Reply to Question No. 117, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Canada Pension Plan premiums.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-577S.

Reply to Question No. 121, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the cost of federal incorporation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-578S.

Reply to Question No. 123, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the acquisition of Neo Lithium Corp.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-579S.

Reply to Question No. 130, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the RCMP—drug recognition experts.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-580S.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Patterson was added to the membership (March 23, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Wallin (March 23, 2022).