The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWooYussuff

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 Housakos, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, tabled the second report of the committee, entitled The subject matter of those elements contained in Part 10 of Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-806S.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Cordy introduced Bill S-246, An Act respecting Lebanese Heritage Month.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, 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

Second reading of Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

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

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

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

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné:

That, in accordance with rule 10-11(1), the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, introduced in the House of Commons on February 2, 2022, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate; and

That, for the purposes of this study, the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

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

That, in accordance with rule 10-11(1), the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, introduced in the House of Commons on March 1, 2022, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate; and

That, for the purposes of this study, the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

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

o o o

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 31, 2022, at 2 p.m.

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 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 Plett, for the second reading of Bill S-225, An Act to amend the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act (investments).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, 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

Order No. 8 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Patterson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, for the second reading of Bill S-228, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (property qualifications of Senators).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin 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 Carignan, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, for the second reading of Bill S-229, An Act to amend the Language Skills Act (Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick).

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, 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. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 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 Martin 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. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Moncion, seconded by the Honourable Senator Simons:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the Canadian assisted human reproduction legislative and regulatory framework and any other related issues deemed relevant by the committee, when and if the committee is formed; and

That the committee submit its final report on this study to the Senate no later than October 31, 2023, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

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

o o o

Orders No. 10, 11, 12, 19, 30, 50, 52 and 55 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Marwah, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That section 2 of Chapter 4:03 of the Senate Administrative Rules (SARs) be amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

“(3) During periods of prorogation and dissolution, the senators who were members of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Committee of Selection on the day on which Parliament was prorogued or dissolved may exercise collectively the powers of the Committee of Selection under subsection (2).

(4) If a senator referred to in subsection (3) retires, resigns or otherwise ceases to be a member of a particular recognized party or recognized parliamentary group for any reason during a period of prorogation or dissolution, he or she simultaneously ceases to be a member of the Committee of Selection for the purposes of subsection (3), with the resulting vacancy to be filled by the leader or facilitator of the party or group to which the senator had belonged.”

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

Inquiries

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Simons, calling the attention of the Senate to the challenges and opportunities that Canadian municipalities face, and to the importance of understanding and redefining the relationships between Canada’s municipalities and the federal government.

After debate,

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

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:34 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 2 p.m.)

WRITTEN REPLIES TO ORAL QUESTIONS AND TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO THE ORDERS ADOPTED NOVEMBER 25, 2021, AND MAY 5, 2022

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Griffin, concerning the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-801S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 24, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, concerning the charitable sector.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-802S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 5, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Moodie, concerning Statistics Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-803S.

Reply to Question No. 102, dated November 25, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, regarding tax evasion and real estate markets in British Columbia and Ontario.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-804S.

Reply to Question No. 155, dated April 26, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding government operations on renewable energy.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-805S.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Kutcher replaced the Honourable Senator Arnot (May 18, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Kutcher replaced the Honourable Senator Petitclerc (May 19, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Yussuff replaced the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C. (May 19, 2022).