The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBellemareBonifaceBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBellemareBonifaceBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWoo

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

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, for the second reading of Bill C-57, An Act to implement the 2023 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine.

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.

Reports of Committees – Other

Order No. 7 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Ordered: That the Senate suspend the sitting until 6 p.m. to await the Committee of the Whole.

At 3:19 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6 p.m., the sitting resumed.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 6:05 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted on February 12, 2024, the Senate was suspended during pleasure and resolved 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, the Honourable Senator Ringuette in the Chair.

—In the Committee—

Pursuant to rule 12-32(4), 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, accompanied by Jocelyne Voisin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada; Katarina Pintar, Director, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada; Robert Brookfield, Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice Canada; and Jeanette Ettel, Senior Counsel, Human Rights Law Section, Department of Justice Canada; were escorted to seats in the Senate Chamber.

Debate.

It was agreed that the chair report to the Senate that the witnesses have been heard.

The sitting of the Senate resumed.

The Chair of the Committee stated that the Committee had examined the subject matter of Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2 and had directed her to report the same.

ADJOURNMENT

At 8:18 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on February 12, 2024, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Bellemare replaced the Honourable Senator Klyne (February 14, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Yussuff replaced the Honourable Senator McNair (February 14, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Bernard replaced the Honourable Senator Cardozo (February 14, 2024).