Journals of the Senate
2 Charles III , A.D. 2023, Canada
1st Session, 44th Parliament
Issue 145 (Unrevised)
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
2 p.m.
The Honourable RAYMONDE GAGNÉ, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
ArnotBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanDupuisForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Arnot*AtaullahjanBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanDupuisForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncion*MoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff
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
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That, if Her Excellency the Governor General comes to the Senate later today, photographers be allowed in the Senate Chamber to photograph proceedings while Her Excellency is in the Senate, with the least possible disruption to proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that a communication had been received from the Secretary to the Governor General.
The communication was then read by the Honourable the Speaker as follows:
RIDEAU HALL
October 3, 2023
Madam Speaker:
I have the honour to inform you that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, will proceed to the Senate Chamber today, the 3rd day of October, 2023, at 2:10 p.m., for the purpose of receiving the newly elected Speaker of the House of Commons.
Yours sincerely,
Maia Welbourne
Acting Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
The sitting of the Senate was suspended to await the arrival of Her Excellency the Governor General.
After awhile, Her Excellency the Governor General, arrived and was seated at the foot of the Throne.
The Honourable the Speaker commanded the Usher of the Black Rod to proceed to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that:
“It is the pleasure of Her Excellency the Governor General that they attend her immediately in the Senate Chamber.”
The House of Commons being come,
Their Speaker, the Honourable Greg Fergus, said:
“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
The House of Commons has elected me their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfill the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault may be imputed to me, and not to the Commons, whose servant I am.”
The Honourable the Speaker of the Senate answered:
“Mr. Speaker, I am commanded by Her Excellency the Governor General to assure you that your words and actions will constantly receive from her the most favourable construction.’’
The Commons withdrew.
Her Excellency the Governor General was pleased to retire.
The sitting resumed.
Senators’ Statements
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees
The Honourable Senator Moncion, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, tabled the ninth report of the committee, entitled Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures for 2022-23.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1953S.
Question Period
The Senate proceeded to Question Period.
Orders of the Day
Government Business
Bills – Reports of Committees
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 and 126 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, for the remainder of the current session:
1.during Question Period with any minister of the Crown as provided for in the order of December 7, 2021, in addition to the times provided for in that order, senators have up to 45 seconds to ask a supplementary question and ministers have up to 45 seconds to respond to this supplementary question; and
2.during any other Question Period, main questions and responses be limited to one minute each, followed by a maximum of one supplementary question per main question, with these supplementary questions and responses being limited to a maximum of 30 seconds each.
In amendment, the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:
That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by replacing the words “December 7, 2021,” by the following:
“December 7, 2021:
(a)the duration of Question Period be extended from 60 to 64 minutes; and
(b)”.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The Senate resumed debate on the motion, as amended, of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, for the remainder of the current session:
1.during Question Period with any minister of the Crown as provided for in the order of December 7, 2021:
(a)the duration of Question Period be extended from 60 to 64 minutes; and
(b)in addition to the times provided for in that order, senators have up to 45 seconds to ask a supplementary question and ministers have up to 45 seconds to respond to this supplementary question; and
2.during any other Question Period, main questions and responses be limited to one minute each, followed by a maximum of one supplementary question per main question, with these supplementary questions and responses being limited to a maximum of 30 seconds each.
The question being put on the motion, as amended, 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
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boniface, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hartling, for the second reading of Bill S-232, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for the decriminalization of illegal substances, to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill S-272, An Act to amend the Director of Public Prosecutions Act.
The Honourable Senator McCallum moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Prosper, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Second reading of Bill S-273, An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada.
The Honourable Senator Quinn moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator MacDonald 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.
Orders No. 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
Order No. 31 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the fifth report (interim) of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, entitled Equity between recognized parties and recognized parliamentary groups, tabled in the Senate on March 9, 2023.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that further debate on the consideration of the report be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 40, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53 and 54 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 68, 77, 82 and 96 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), 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.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the negative impact of health disinformation and misinformation on Canadian society and what effective measures can be implemented to counter this impact; and
That the committee submit its final report on this study to the Senate no later than May 31, 2024, 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 Seidman, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 131 and 134 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
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 Petitclerc moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ringuette, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
With leave of the Senate,
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 5:32 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 Energy Regulator for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, S.C. 2019, c. 28, sbs. 18(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1948.
Report of the Commission of the Canadian Energy Regulator for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, S.C. 2019, c. 28, sbs. 36(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1949.
Report of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, S.C. 2006, c. 9, sbs. 16(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1950.
Report on the applications for ministerial review (miscarriages of justice) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, s. 696.5.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1951.
Reports of the Information Commissioner of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1952.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy
The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne (October 3, 2023).
The Honourable Senator Smith replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) (October 3, 2023).
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Gerba replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (October 3, 2023).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain replaced the Honourable Senator Ringuette (September 29, 2023).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Moodie (October 3, 2023).
The Honourable Senator Mégie was added to the membership (September 29, 2023).
The Honourable Senator Kutcher was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (September 29, 2023).