The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoveyBrazeauCardozoClementCordyCormierCotterDalphondDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGignacGoldGreeneHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaManningMarshallMartinMarwahMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)PetitclercPlettQuinnRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBlack*Boehm*BoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCardozoClementCordyCormierCotter*Coyle*DagenaisDalphond*DaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)*Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisFrancisFureyGagnéGalvez*GerbaGignacGoldGreene*HarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffreda*MacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)PetitclercPlettQuinn*RavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

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

The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the tragedy at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, which occurred 33 years ago on December 6, 1989.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:

Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada on COVID-19 Vaccines, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. A-17, s. 8.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1435.

Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada on Specific COVID-19 Benefits, pursuant to the Act to provide futher support in response to COVID-19, S.C. 2021, c. 26, s. 19.1.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1436.

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The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., tabled the following:

Report on COVID-19 Rapid Test Procurement and Distribution from the Minister of Health.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1437.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Francis, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, informed the Senate that, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on November 17, 2022, and December 5, 2022, the committee deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 5, 2022, its ninth report (The subject matter of those elements contained in Subdivisions A and B of Division 3 of Part 4 of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1430S.

The Honourable Senator Francis moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Klyne, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

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

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to meet on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

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.

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Second reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation.

The Honourable Senator Audette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, 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. 7 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 1 and 72 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 3 and 4 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.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cordy, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dalphond, for the third reading of Bill S-246, An Act respecting Lebanese Heritage Month.

After debate,

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

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Ordered: That consideration of Order No. 6 be postponed until the next sitting of the Senate.

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Orders No. 7, 8, 9 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, for the second reading of Bill S-234, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (final disposal of plastic waste).

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

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

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Orders No. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm, for the second reading of Bill S-251, An Act to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to action number 6).

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.

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Orders No. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

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Second reading of Bill C-242, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (temporary resident visas for parents and grandparents).

The Honourable Senator Oh moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, 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

Orders No. 27 and 28 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 50, 52 and 77 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

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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 Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

Ordered: That consideration of Order No. 68 be postponed until the next sitting of the Senate.

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The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain:

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Thursday, April 28, 2022, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology in relation to its study on the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention be extended from December 16, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

After debate,

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 4:55 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)

Ninth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, entitled The subject matter of those elements contained in Subdivisions A and B of Division 3 of Part 4 of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 5, 2022, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on November 17, 2022.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1430S.

Summary of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2022-26 of VIA Rail Canada Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1431.

Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations (P.C. 2022-1300), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1432.

Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (P.C. 2022-1257), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1433.

Revised Service Fees Report of the Department of Industry for 2021 to 2022, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1434.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Marwah (December 1, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Gerba replaced the Honourable Senator Audette (December 6, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Arnot replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (December 6, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Arnot (December 5, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Audette replaced the Honourable Senator Gerba (December 5, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Senator Audette replaced the Honourable Senator Lovelace Nicholas (December 6, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Arnot replaced the Honourable Senator Dupuis (December 1, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (December 1, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Duncan (December 6, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Duncan replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (December 5, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Mégie replaced the Honourable Senator Kutcher (December 6, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Petitclerc replaced the Honourable Senator Hartling (December 1, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Dasko (December 5, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Sorensen (December 2, 2022).