The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWellsWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBrazeau*BureyBussonCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisGagné*GalvezGerbaGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWellsWhiteWoo

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.

Orders of the Day

A message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood),

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

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Moodie, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, for the second reading of Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Moodie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 1, 126 and 127 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 2 p.m.

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 – Reports of Committees

Consideration of the sixteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Criminal Records Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation, with amendments), presented in the Senate on September 26, 2023.

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

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.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 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. 31, 33, 40, 48, 49, 51 and 52 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, entitled Arctic Security Under Threat: Urgent needs in a changing geopolitical and environmental landscape, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on June 28, 2023.

The Honourable Senator Dean moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boniface:

That the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, entitled Arctic Security Under Threat: Urgent needs in a changing geopolitical and environmental landscape, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on June 28, 2023, be adopted and that, pursuant to rule 12-23(1), the Senate request a complete and detailed response from the government, with the Minister of National Defence being identified as minister responsible for responding to the report, in consultation with the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

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

Order No. 54 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 68, 77, 82, 96, 113 and 131 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith:

That the Senate call on the Government of Canada to replace its outdated program delivery and information technology systems by urgently accelerating the implementation of user-friendly, digital solutions that transform the public service delivery experience of Canadians, and ultimately reduce the cost of program delivery.

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

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to examine and report on Canada’s interests and engagement in Africa, and other related matters;

That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2024;

That the committee have permission, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate; and

That the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

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 Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith:

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in relation to its study on the status of soil health in Canada be extended from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024; and

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate its report relating to this study, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith:

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in relation to its study on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to agriculture and forestry be extended from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2025; and

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

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

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 4:03 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 2 p.m.)

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Burey replaced the Honourable Senator Osler (September 28, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Batters (September 27, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Clement replaced the Honourable Senator Coyle (September 28, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Burey replaced the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C. (September 28, 2023).