The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBellemareBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionOhOmidvarOslerPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBellemareBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvez*GerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionOhOmidvarOslerPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

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 Senator Gold, P.C., tabled the following:

Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023-24.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2565.

Orders of the Day

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate),

And to acquaint the Senate that the Commons has passed this bill with the following amendments, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The amendments were then read by the Honourable the Speaker, as follows:

1.Clause 1, pages 1 and 2:

(a)on page 1, replace line 12 with the following:

“names reflective of Canada’s diversity, consistent with the principle that the primary official language spoken by the holder shall alternate and submitted in”;

(b)on page 2, replace line 16 with the following:

“phy, filmmaking and digital creations that reflect the diversity of Canada, including with respect to the languages in use and its ethnocultural composition.”.

The Honourable Senator Cardozo moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, that the amendments 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

A message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill S-1001, An Act to amalgamate The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Ottawa and The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation for the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, in Ontario, Canada,

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 Klyne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., 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. 2 was 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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

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, 132 and 155 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Reports of Committees

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 Omidvar, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, for the adoption of the eighteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Bill S-244, An Act to amend the Department of Employment and Social Development Act and the Employment Insurance Act (Employment Insurance Council), with an amendment), presented in the Senate on December 11, 2023.

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

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Klyne, 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.

Senate 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 Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, for the second reading of Bill S-204, An Act to amend the Customs Tariff (goods from Xinjiang).

Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Clement.

o o o

Orders No. 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, 33, 34 and 35 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Mégie, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cotter, for the second reading of Bill S-280, An Act respecting a national framework on sickle cell disease.

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.

o o o

Orders No. 37, 38 and 39 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 31, 33, 40, 51, 53, 56, 60 and 62 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Tannas, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the operation, applicability, and functionality of the Emergencies Act in a modern context, as well as the robustness of parliamentary supervision it provides for and its interaction with the rules and procedures of the Senate; and

That the committee submit its final report no later than September 28, 2023.

Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Tannas.

o o o

Orders No. 96, 107, 113, 139, 147, 157 and 168 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 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 Manning, calling the attention of the Senate to the life of Gordon Pinsent.

Ordered: That further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Manning.

o o o

Orders No. 13, 14, 16, 17 and 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Moncion moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Coyle:

1.That the Senate Administrative Rules be amended in Chapter 2:06 by adding the following after section 14:

“Disclosure of video footage

14.1 Despite anything else in this Chapter, the person responsible for the Senate’s corporate security, or their designate, may, upon written request, disclose Senate-controlled video footage recorded for security purposes to the House of Commons, the Parliamentary Protective Service or to a law enforcement or intelligence agency operating under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada or a province or territory if that footage does not depict a senator or a Senate proceeding or disclose confidential or privileged information or an individual’s personal information beyond their location, appearance and activities at a particular time.”; and

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 these amendments, including the updating of cross-references and the renumbering of provisions.

After debate,

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

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Cardozo called the attention of the Senate to the Canadian flag as part of celebrating National Flag of Canada Day.

Debate.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 7, 2021, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P., Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

INQUIRIES

The Senate resumed debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Cardozo, calling the attention of the Senate to the Canadian flag as part of celebrating National Flag of Canada Day.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator White moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Ordered, That the sitting be suspended to reassemble at the call of the chair, with a 15-minute bell.

(Accordingly, at 5:23 p.m., the sitting was suspended.)

At 6:36 p.m., the sitting resumed.

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2, 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 Lankin, P.C., 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.

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Ordered : That Order No. 155, under GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, Motions, be again called.

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Monday, February 26, 2024, at 6 p.m.; and

That rule 3-3(1) be suspended on that day.

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 6:38 p.m., the Senate was continued until Monday, February 26, 2024, at 6 p.m.)

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Special Report of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada entitled Investigation of unauthorized disclosures and modifications of personal information held by Canada Revenue Agency and Employment and Social Development Canada resulting from cyber attacks, pursuant to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, ss. 39(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2563.

Special Report of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada entitled Investigation of the RCMP’s collection of open-source information under Project Wide Awake, pursuant to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, ss. 39(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2564.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Klyne replaced the Honourable Senator Bellemare (February 15, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Gerba replaced the Honourable Senator Cardozo (February 15, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Senator Hartling replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (February 15, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Petitclerc (February 15, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Aucoin replaced the Honourable Senator Quinn (February 15, 2024).