The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

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.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 36, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding diplomat pay.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1606S.

Reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Global Affairs Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1607S.

Reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1608S.

Reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Public Health Agency of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1609S.

Reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1610S.

Reply to Question No. 181, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding international aid to Russian or Belarusian organizations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1611S.

Reply to Question No. 194, dated January 31, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding international trade.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1612S.

Reply to Question No. 195, dated January 31, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding a video released by the Minister of Transport.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1613S.

Reply to Question No. 201, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Health Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1614S.

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

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 24, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1615S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 17, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning credit card merchant fees.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1616S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 18, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1617S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Export Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1618S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Department of Finance Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1619S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Farm Credit Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1620S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Business Development Bank of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1621S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Corporations Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1622S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 6, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Omidvar, concerning the Special Economic Measures Act.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1623S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 22, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Marshall, concerning the Departmental Results Report.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1624S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 13, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the Embassy in Armenia.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1625S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Wells, concerning a Canadian airline crew detained abroad.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1626S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, for the Honourable Senator Anderson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bernard, 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. 7 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Order No. 1 was 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

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

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McPhedran, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, for the second reading of Bill S-201, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum (voting age).

The Honourable Senator Tannas moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut), 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. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 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 Wallin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, for the second reading of Bill S-248, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying).

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. 20, 21, 22 and 23 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ravalia, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan, for the second reading of Bill S-253, An Act respecting a national framework for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

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 Brazeau, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, for the second reading of Bill S-254, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages).

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. 26, 27 and 28 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Second reading of Bill C-232, An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month.

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

After debate,

Further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.

ADJOURNMENT

At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on September 21, 2022, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

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

Report of the Canadian Judicial Council on the seminars on matters related to sexual assault law and social context for the year 2022, pursuant to the Judges Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-1, sbs. 62.1(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1603.

Annual Report 2021-22 of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1604.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2023-27 of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1605.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (March 22, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Busson (March 22, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (March 22, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Arnot replaced the Honourable Senator Dupuis (March 22, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator Moncion (March 21, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Bernard (March 22, 2023).