The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyle*DagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffreda*MacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWells*WooYussuff

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.

INTRODUCTION OF THE SPEAKER

The Honourable the Speaker took the chair at the foot of the Throne.

The Honourable the Speaker rose and informed the Senate that a commission had been issued under the Great Seal of Canada appointing her Speaker of the Senate.

The said commission was then read by the Clerk of the Senate, as follows:

Mary May Simon

(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

The Honourable Raymonde Gagné,

A Member of the Senate,

A Member of Our Order of Canada,

A Member of the Order of Manitoba,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU that, reposing special trust and confidence in your loyalty, integrity and ability, We have constituted and appointed, and We do hereby constitute and appoint you,

SPEAKER OF THE SENATE.

TO HAVE, hold, exercise and enjoy the office of Speaker of the Senate unto you, Raymonde Gagné, with all the powers, rights, authority, privileges, profits, emoluments and advantages unto that office of right and by law appertaining during Our Pleasure, effective the twelfth day of May in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-three.

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

WITNESS:

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 OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this fifteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-three and in the first year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

The mace was then laid upon the table.

PRAYERS

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, tabled the following:

Copy of the Commission appointing Maia Welbourne Deputy of the Governor General, to do in Her Excellency’s name all acts on her part necessary to be done during Her Excellency’s pleasure, dated May 1, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1740S.

The said Commission is as follows:

MARY MAY SIMON

(L.S.)

By Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

TO MAIA WELBOURNE, of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario,

GREETING:

WHEREAS by letters patent under the Great Seal of Canada bearing date the eighth day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, it is constituted, ordered and declared that there shall be a Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada;

WHEREAS Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, by Commission under the Great Seal of Canada bearing date the twenty-first day of July in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-one, was graciously pleased to appoint me, during the Royal Pleasure, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada, and has further, in and by the said Commission, authorized, empowered and commanded me to exercise and perform all and singular the powers and directions contained in the said letters patent constituting the Office of the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, and in any other letters patent adding to, amending or substituted for the same;

WHEREAS under the provisions in that behalf in the Constitution Act, 1867, in and by the said letters patent Her Excellency the Governor General for the time being is authorized and empowered subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by His Majesty Charles the Third to appoint any person or persons, jointly and severally, to be her Deputy or Deputies within any part or parts of Canada, and in that capacity to exercise, during the Royal Pleasure, such of her powers, functions and authorities as she might deem it necessary or expedient to assign to such person or persons, provided that the appointment of such Deputy or Deputies should not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in person;

AND WHEREAS, I deem it necessary and expedient with a view to preventing delay in the performance of the public business and affairs of Canada to appoint some fit and proper person to be my Deputy within Canada for the purposes hereinafter mentioned;

KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the twenty-first day of July in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-one, constituting and appointing me to be the Governor General of Canada do nominate, constitute and appoint you, Maia Welbourne, to be my Deputy within Canada, to be styled Deputy to the Governor General, whether I be absent from Canada or not, and in that capacity and when directed by me, to exercise, subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by His Majesty Charles the Third, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the powers of dissolving, recalling or proroguing the Parliament of Canada, of appointing members of the Ministry and of signifying Royal Assent in Parliament assembled.

PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, in person.

AND PROVIDED ALWAYS that you, Maia Welbourne, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or the person administering the Government of Canada.

GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this first day of May in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-three and in the first year of His Majesty Charles the Third’s Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Deputy Registrar General of Canada

o o o

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1741.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Moncion presented the following:

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its

EIGHTH REPORT

Your committee, which is authorized by the Rules of the Senate to consider financial and administrative matters, now reports that it has reviewed the Senate Administrative Rules to streamline the Senate’s intellectual property permissions process and recommends as follows:

1.That the Senate Administration Rules be amended, in Chapter 3:03 by adding the following after subsection 11(a):

(a) by way of fair dealing or any other statutory exception to the scope of intellectual property protection;

(b) if the commercial use is insignificant in nature; or

(c) with the consent of the Steering Committee.

2.That the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make any necessary technical, editorial, grammatical, or other required, non-substantive changes to the Senate Administrative Rules as a result of this amendment, including the updating of cross-references and the renumbering of provisions.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Moncion moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate, 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, tabled the tenth report of the committee, entitled Strengthening Canada’s Autonomous Sanctions Architecture: Five-Year Legislative Review of the Sergei Magnitsky Law and the Special Economic Measures Act.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1742S.

The Honourable Senator Boehm moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion, 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 Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with 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, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

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

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-45, An Act to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts, and to make a clarification relating to another Act, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

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

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Dalphond introduced Bill S-264, An Act to establish International Tax Justice and Cooperation Day.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, 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.

Delayed Answers

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 15, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the Canada Infrastructure Bank.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1743S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 22, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning social media.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1744S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 28, 2023, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1745S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Reports of Committees

Consideration of the twelfth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, with amendments and observations), presented in the Senate on May 11, 2023.

The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

The Honourable Senator Cotter moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dasko, 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.

Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

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

Motions

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

That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:

To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Sorensen, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells, for the second reading of Bill S-237, An Act to establish the Foreign Influence Registry and to amend the Criminal Code.

After debate,

With leave of the Senate,

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

o o o

Orders No. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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 Batters, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Downe, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, for the second reading of Bill S-258, An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (reporting on unpaid income tax).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler, 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. 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 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 Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Manning, 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. 3, 4, 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, 33 and 40 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (Budget—study of issues relating to the management of Canada’s fisheries and oceans—power to travel), presented in the Senate on May 11, 2023.

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the report be adopted.

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

o o o

Consideration of the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (Budget—examine and report on Canada’s seal populations and their effect on Canada's fisheries—power to hire staff and to travel), presented in the Senate on May 11, 2023.

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells, that the report be adopted.

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

o o o

Consideration of the ninth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Budget—examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada—power to travel), presented in the Senate on May 11, 2023.

The Honourable Senator Simons moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cotter, that the report be adopted.

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

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 77, 82, 96, 102, 113 and 119 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Klyne, calling the attention of the Senate to the ongoing business and economic contributions made by Indigenous businesses to Canada’s economy.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Downe moved, for the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut), seconded by the Honourable Senator Burey, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Cordy called the attention of the Senate to the career of the Honourable Patricia Bovey.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Bernard moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., 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 LaBoucane-Benson 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 5:19 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 on the operation of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2010, c. 4, s. 15.1.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1739.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Martin was added to the membership (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Plett was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Bellemare (May 15, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Dean (May 11, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Wells was added to the membership (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Seidman was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 16, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (May 11, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (May 12, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Hartling replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 12, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Moodie (May 11, 2023).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Audette was added to the membership (May 12, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Bovey was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 12, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Dasko (May 11, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Simons replaced the Honourable Senator Dupuis (May 15, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Simons (May 15, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Moncion (May 11, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Ravalia (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Ravalia replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (May 15, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Patterson (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Dagenais (May 15, 2023).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Kutcher was added to the membership (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Kutcher (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Boisvenu (May 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Boisvenu replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (May 16, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Seidman was added to the membership (May 15, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Poirier was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 15, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Seidman (May 15, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Cordy was added to the membership (May 12, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Bovey was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 12, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Cormier replaced the Honourable Senator Ringuette (May 12, 2023).