The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasWallinWellsWetstonWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasWallinWellsWetstonWooYussuff

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

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That, given that:

(a)there is clear and ample evidence of systematic and massive war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed against the people of Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, directed by President Vladimir Putin and others within the Russian Parliament; and

(b)the crimes committed by the armed forces of the Russian Federation include:

(i)mass atrocities in the invaded and occupied Ukrainian territories;

(ii)systematic instances of willful killing of Ukrainian civilians and the desecration of corpses;

(iii)forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian territory;

(iv)torture and the imposition of life conditions causing grave suffering; and

(v)widespread instances of physical harm, mental harm and rape;

the Senate recognize that the Russian Federation is committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people.

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

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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

That, notwithstanding any provisions of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, the provisions of the order of November 25, 2021, concerning hybrid sittings of the Senate and committees, and other matters, extended on March 31, 2022, have effect until the end of the day on June 30, 2022, subject to the following adjustments:

1.subparagraph 7(a) to (e) of the order of November 25, 2021, be replaced by the following:

“(a)when the Senate sits on a Monday, the sitting:

(i)start at 2 p.m.; and

(ii)adjourn at the earlier of the end of Government Business or midnight;

(b)when the Senate sits on a Tuesday, the sitting:

(i)start at 2 p.m.; and

(ii)adjourn at the later of the end of Government Business or 6 p.m.;

(c)when the Senate sits on a Wednesday, the sitting:

(i)start at 2 p.m.; and

(ii)adjourn at the earlier of the end of Government Business or 4 p.m.;

(d)when the Senate sits on a Thursday, the sitting:

(i)start at 2 p.m.; and

(ii)adjourn at the earlier of the end of business for the day or midnight; and

(e)when the Senate sits on a Friday, the sitting:

(i)start at 9 a.m.; and

(ii)adjourn at the earlier of the end of Government Business or 4 p.m.;” and

2.the provisions of paragraphs 12 and 13 of the order of November 25, 2021, cease to have effect, so that the evening suspension be as provided for in rule 3-3(1), including on Mondays, and, consequently, if the Rules require that something take place at 8 p.m., it take place at the time provided for in the Rules; and

That the Senate recognize the need to work towards a return to a schedule of committee meetings reflecting Ottawa-based operations, and call upon the Committee of Selection to continue to work with the leaders and facilitators of all recognized parties and recognized parliamentary groups to advance this objective.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Plett moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C.:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended:

1. by replacing the words “June 30, 2022” by the words “May 9, 2022”; and

2.by adding the following after the word “objective” at the end of the motion:

“; and

That, before introducing any motion on the extension or resumption of hybrid sittings of the Senate, the Leader of the Government in the Senate must:

1.table in the Senate:

(a)all opinions and guidelines from public health officials from the federal government regarding in-person meetings in the federal public service;

(b)all opinions and guidelines from public health officials from the Ontario and Québec governments regarding in-person meetings;

(c)a letter from the Clerk of the Senate outlining how the Senate sitting in person only would contravene any opinion or guideline mentioned in points (a) and (b); and

(d)a plan for a transition back to in-person sittings of the Senate as soon as practicable in accordance with the commitment made by the Senate on March 31, 2022; and

2.consult in an open and constructive manner with the leaders and facilitators of all recognized parties and parliamentary groups”.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Seidman moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells:

That the motion in amendment be not now adopted, but that it be amended by:

1. adding, after point (b) in the amendment, a new point (c) as follows:

“(c)a letter from Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, outlining how the Senate sitting in person only would contravene guidelines issued by her office”; and

2.changing the designation of points (c) and (d) in the amendment to points (d) and (e).

After debate,

The question was put on the subamendment.

Pursuant to rule 9-10(2), a standing vote was deferred until the next sitting, with the bells to sound for fifteen minutes.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gagné, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, and without affecting progress in relation to Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization:

1.the following committees be separately authorized to examine the subject matter of the following elements contained in Bill S-6:

(a)the Standing Senate Committee on Banking Trade and Commerce: those elements contained in Part 1;

(b)the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources: those elements contained in Parts 2 and 3;

(c)the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry: those elements contained in Parts 4, 5 and 6;

(d)the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans: those elements contained in Part 7;

(e)the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology: those elements contained in Part 8;

(f)the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade: those elements contained in Part 9; and

(g)the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications: those elements contained in Part 10;

2.each of the committees that are authorized to examine the subject matter of particular elements of Bill S-6 submit its final report to the Senate no later than May 30, 2022, and be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting; and

3.the committee to which Bill S-6 may be referred, if it is adopted at second reading, be authorized to take into consideration these reports during its study of the bill.

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

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016.

The Honourable Senator Boniface moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., that the bill be read the second time.

Debate.

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Pursuant to rule 3-3(1) and the orders adopted by the Senate on November 25, 2021, and March 31, 2022, the Speaker pro tempore 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 Boniface, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016.

After debate,

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

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Woo, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, for the second reading of Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Woo moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.

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

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With leave of the Senate,

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 2 p.m.

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ringuette, for the third reading of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff, as amended.

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

The bill, as amended, was then read the third time.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.

o o o

Orders No. 3, 4 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Senate Public Bills – Reports of Committees

Consideration of the first report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood), with an amendment and observations), presented in the Senate on April 7, 2022.

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

After debate,

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

The Honourable Senator Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, that the bill, as amended, 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.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act.

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

Orders No. 6 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, for the second reading of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons).

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Wells moved, for the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights.

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

o o o

Orders No. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Griffin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, for the second reading of Bill S-236, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance Regulations (Prince Edward Island).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), 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

Orders No. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 8 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized, when and if it is formed, to examine and report on the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention, including, but not limited to:

(a)evaluating the effectiveness of the Framework in significantly, substantially and sustainably decreasing rates of suicide since it was enacted;

(b)examining the rates of suicide in Canada as a whole and in unique populations, such as Indigenous, racialized and youth communities;

(c)reporting on the amount of federal funding provided to all suicide prevention programs or initiatives for the period 2000-2020 and determining what evidence-based criteria for suicide prevention was used in each selection;

(d)determining for each of the programs or interventions funded in paragraph (c), whether there was a demonstrated significant, substantive and sustained decrease in suicide rates in the population(s) targeted; and

(e)providing recommendations to ensure that Canada’s Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention and federal funding for suicide prevention activities are based on best available evidence of impact on suicide rate reduction; and

That the committee submit its final report on this study to the Senate no later than December 16, 2022.

After debate,

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

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 8:32 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 2 p.m.)

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

Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations (P.C. 2022-394), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-715.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Cordy (April 28, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Cordy replaced the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C. (April 27, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Christmas replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (April 28, 2022).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Boyer replaced the Honourable Senator Duncan (April 28, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Moodie replaced the Honourable Senator Yussuff (April 28, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Duncan replaced the Honourable Senator Boyer (April 28, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Yussuff replaced the Honourable Senator Moodie (April 27, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator White replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (April 28, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (April 28, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Bernard replaced the Honourable Senator Gerba (April 28, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Dasko replaced the Honourable Senator Busson (April 28, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator Forest (April 28, 2022).