The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWellsWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWellsWooYussuff

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

INTRODUCTION OF SENATORS

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate had received a certificate from the Registrar General of Canada showing that Iris G. Petten had been summoned to the Senate.

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that there was a senator without waiting to be introduced.

The Honourable Senator Petten was introduced between the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Manning, and having presented His Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:

Christine MacIntyre

(G.S.)

Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and His other Realms and Territories KING, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

TO

Our Trusty and Well-beloved,

of the City of St. John’s, in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada.

AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS:

CHRISTINE MacINTYRE, Deputy of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

AT OTTAWA, this third day of May in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-three and in the first year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Registrar General of Canada

The Honourable Senator Petten came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took her seat as a member of the Senate.

o o o

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the honourable senator introduced today had made and subscribed the Declaration of Qualification required of her by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed to receive and witness same.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Mockler, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, presented the committee’s eleventh report (Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Income Tax Act, without amendment).

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Galvez, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, presented the fourth report (interim) of the committee, entitled Hydrogen: A Viable Option for a Net-Zero Canada in 2050?.

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 1503-1640 (available in print format PDF).)

(The HTML version of the report is available on the committee website.)

The Honourable Senator Galvez moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moodie, 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator McPhedran introduced Bill S-261, An Act respecting non-disclosure agreements.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCallum, 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Omidvar introduced Bill S-262, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Oath of Citizenship).

The bill was read the first time.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan introduced Bill S-263, An Act respecting the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall, 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

A message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill S-227, An Act to establish Food Day in Canada,

And to acquaint the Senate that the Commons has passed this bill, without amendment.

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act.

The Honourable Senator Busson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Coyle, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, 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, 4 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

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 Carignan, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, for the second reading of Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits).

Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C.

o o o

Orders No. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 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 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

Orders No. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 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

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, for the second reading of Bill C-226, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Bernard 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. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.

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

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

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

Private Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 27, 30, 31 and 33 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 77, 82, 96, 102 and 113 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Boyer, calling the attention of the Senate to the positive contributions and impacts that Métis, Inuit, and First Nations have made to Canada, and the world.

After debate,

Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Petitclerc.

o o o

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Woo, calling the attention of the Senate to the one hundredth anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, the contributions that Chinese Canadians have made to our country, and the need to combat contemporary forms of exclusion and discrimination faced by Canadians of Asian descent.

After debate,

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

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

o o o

Order No. 13 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler:

That, pursuant to rule 12-24(1), the Senate request a complete and detailed response from the Government to the fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, entitled Human Rights of Federally-Sentenced Persons, tabled in the Senate on June 16, 2021 and adopted on June 23, 2021, during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament, with the Minister of Public Safety being identified as minister responsible for responding to the report, in consultation with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, as well as the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Boehm moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie:

That the twenty-sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade entitled Cultural Diplomacy at the Front Stage of Canada’s Foreign Policy, tabled in the Senate on June 11, 2019, during the First Session of the Forty-second Parliament, be placed on the Orders of the Day under the rubric Other Business, Reports of Committees – Other, for consideration at the next sitting.

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.

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 6:28 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)

Report of the Canadian Tourism Commission, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1717.

Report of VIA Rail Canada Inc., together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1718.

Report of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1719.

Report on activities of the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents for the year 2022, pursuant to the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents Act, S.C. 2018, c. 27, s. 247 “25(2)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1720.

Report of the National Film Board, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, pursuant to the National Film Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-8, sbs. 20(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1721.

Report of the Canada Post Corporation, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1722.

Report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for the year 2022, pursuant to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-23, sbs. 20.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1723.

Legislative Costing Note of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Increasing the Air Travellers Security Charge, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1724.

Agreement for RCMP policing services made between Canada and the Town of Niverville, Manitoba, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10, sbs. 20(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1725.

Report of the Chicken Farmers of Canada, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Farm Products Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1726.

Report of the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Farm Products Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1727.

Report of the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Farm Products Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1728.

Report of the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Farm Products Agencies Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1729.

Report of Export Development Canada, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1730.

Report of the Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada for the year 2022, pursuant to the National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-5, s. 250.17.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1731.

Report of the Military Grievances External Review Committee for the year 2022, pursuant to the National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-5, sbs. 29.28(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1732.

Report of the Royal Canadian Mint, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1733.

Report of the Canada Development Investment Corporation, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1734.

Summaries of the amended Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2023-27 of the Canada Development Investment Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1735.

Report of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission Act, S.C. 1964-65, c. 19, s. 7.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1736.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Batters (May 9, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Hartling (May 8, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Senator Moodie replaced the Honourable Senator Greenwood (May 9, 2023).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Dasko replaced the Honourable Senator Dean (May 8, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Simons replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 9, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 9, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Gignac replaced the Honourable Senator Cardozo (May 9, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Gignac (May 8, 2023).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Mégie (May 9, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Mégie replaced the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C. (May 8, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Ringuette replaced the Honourable Senator Cormier (May 9, 2023).