The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAndersonArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldHarderHousakosJafferKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcNairMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAndersonArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldHarderHousakosJafferKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcNairMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

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.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:

Report from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada entitled COVID-19 — Report 1: ArriveCAN, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 8(1) and 8(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2561.

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, for the Honourable Senator Klyne, seconded by the Honourable Senator White:

That:

1.Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals), be discharged from the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs;

2.the studies of the subject matter of the bill be discharged from the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources; and

3.the bill be withdrawn.

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

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024:

1.the sitting be suspended at the time the Senate would normally adjourn or once the Senate has completed the consideration of items on the Order Paper and Notice Paper for the day, whichever comes earlier;

2.at 6 p.m., the sitting resume, and the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider the subject matter of Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2;

3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-62 receive the Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, and the Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, each accompanied by two officials;

4.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-62 rise no later than 130 minutes after it begins;

5.the witnesses’ introductory remarks each last a maximum total of five minutes;

6.if a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-31(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator;

7.rule 3-3(1) be suspended and no motion to adjourn the sitting be received before the Committee of the Whole has reported; and

8.once the Committee of the Whole has reported, the Senate adjourn.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Moodie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by adding the following after the words “the Senate adjourn”:

“; and

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be each authorized, in accordance with rule 10-11(1), to examine the subject matter of Bill C-62, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that, for the purposes of these studies, each of these committees:

1.submit its final report to the Senate no later than February 27, 2024;

2.have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto;

3.hold its first meeting on the subject matter of the bill at the latest on Thursday, February 15, 2024, if this motion is adopted by then; and

4.be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting”.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AudetteBlackCardozoClementCoyleDagenaisDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneGalvezGerbaKingstonKutcherMcNairMégieMoncionMoodieOmidvarOslerPattersonProsperQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRossSeniorSimonsVernerWallinWhiteYussuff—33

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAndersonArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBellemareBonifaceBoyerBureyCarignanCordyCotterCuznerDalphondDuncanForestFrancisGignacGoldHarderHousakosJafferLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMiville-DechêneMocklerOhPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierRichardsSaint-GermainSeidmanSmithSorensenTannasVaroneWellsWoo—48

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

BoehmBrazeauCormier—3

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024:

1.the sitting be suspended at the time the Senate would normally adjourn or once the Senate has completed the consideration of items on the Order Paper and Notice Paper for the day, whichever comes earlier;

2.at 6 p.m., the sitting resume, and the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider the subject matter of Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2;

3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-62 receive the Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, and the Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, each accompanied by two officials;

4.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-62 rise no later than 130 minutes after it begins;

5.the witnesses’ introductory remarks each last a maximum total of five minutes;

6.if a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-31(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator;

7.rule 3-3(1) be suspended and no motion to adjourn the sitting be received before the Committee of the Whole has reported; and

8.once the Committee of the Whole has reported, the Senate adjourn.

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 Lankin, P.C.:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 10:46 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)

Legislative Costing Note of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Denying income tax deductions for expenses incurred to earn short-term rental income where non-compliant, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2560.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Batters was added to the membership (February 9, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Boisvenu was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (February 9, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Gerba (February 12, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Clement replaced the Honourable Senator Hartling (February 12, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Cordy replaced the Honourable Senator Bernard (February 9, 2024).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Moodie replaced the Honourable Senator Coyle (February 9, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., was added to the membership (February 12, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Clement replaced the Honourable Senator Loffreda (February 12, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda replaced the Honourable Senator Clement (February 9, 2024).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Petten replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (February 12, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Bernard (February 12, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Moodie replaced the Honourable Senator MacAdam (February 9, 2024).