The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdam*MacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRobinsonRossSaint-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

INTRODUCTION OF SENATORS

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate had received a certificate from the Registrar General of Canada showing that Manuelle Oudar had been summoned to the Senate.

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that there was a senator without waiting to be introduced.

The Honourable Senator Oudar was introduced between the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Gignac, and having presented His Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:

Mary May Simon

(G.S.)

Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.

TO

Our Trusty and Well-beloved,

of the City of Québec, in the Province of Quebec,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada and We do appoint you for the division of LaSalle in Our Province of Quebec.

AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS:

Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this thirteenth day of February in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and in the second year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Registrar General of Canada

The Honourable Senator Oudar came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took her seat as a member of the Senate.

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The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the honourable senator introduced today had made and subscribed the Declaration of Qualification required of her by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed to receive and witness same.

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 eleventh report of the committee, entitled Financial Statements of the Senate of Canada for the year ended March 31, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2574S.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Kutcher tabled the following:

Report of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, 21st Bilateral Meeting of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group and the Japan-Canada Diet Friendship League, Ottawa, Ontario, August 27 to 30, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2575.

Report of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Jakarta, Indonesia, from August 6 to 10, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2576.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 270, dated November 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Atlantic Pilotage Authority.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2577S.

Reply to Question No. 292, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2578S.

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The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 4, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, concerning visa applications.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2579S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 20, 2023, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning workplace harassment and violence.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2580S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 15, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Osler, concerning the Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn Project.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2581S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Third reading of Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2.

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, that the bill be read for a third time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

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, 157 and 158 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

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

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

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

Third reading of Bill S-244, An Act to amend the Department of Employment and Social Development Act and the Employment Insurance Act (Employment Insurance Council), as amended.

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dalphond, that the bill, as amended, be read for a third time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, 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.

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.

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 and 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dalphond, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bernard, for the second reading of Bill S-264, An Act to establish International Tax Justice and Cooperation Day.

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

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Order No. 21 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, for the second reading of Bill S-266, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Sex Offender Information Registration Act.

Ordered: That further debate on the motion be postponed until the next sitting.

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Orders No. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, for the second reading of Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair).

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

Orders No. 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 and 51 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dean, 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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

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Orders No. 56, 60 and 62 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Omidvar, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dasko:

That the Senate call upon the Government of Canada to implement the eighth recommendation of the first report of the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector, entitled Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector, adopted by the Senate on November 3, 2020, during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament, which proposed that the Canada Revenue Agency include questions on both the T3010 (for registered charities) and the T1044 (for federally incorporated not-for-profit corporations) on diversity representation on boards of directors based on existing employment equity guidelines.

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

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Orders No. 4, 5, 6 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That the Senate of Canada call on the federal government to adopt anti-racism as the sixth pillar of the Canada Health Act, prohibiting discrimination based on race and affording everyone the equal right to the protection and benefit of the law.

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

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Orders No. 12, 19, 30, 68, 77, 82, 96, 107, 113, 139, 147, 157 and 168 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Coyle, calling the attention of the Senate to the importance of finding solutions to transition Canada’s society, economy and resource use in pursuit of a fair, prosperous, sustainable and peaceful net-zero emissions future for our country and the planet.

After debate,

With leave of the Senate,

Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Clement.

o o o

Orders No. 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19 and 20 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Simons moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greenwood:

That the Senate of Canada:

1.call on the Chief Actuary within the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to publish an actuarial study that reports on:

(a)a possible exit of Alberta from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), including an analysis of the viability of the CPP after such an exit by Alberta;

(b)a reasonable estimate of an exit cost of Alberta’s share of the Canada Pension Plan fund; and

(c)any other information that the Chief Actuary deems to be relevant in the study of this issue; and

2.call on the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer to study a possible exit of Alberta from the CPP, including any fiscal and/or economic impacts of such an exit from the CPP on Canadians.

The Honourable Senator Simons moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., 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 6:02 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)

Copies of the Special Economic Measures (Guatemala) Regulations (P.C. 2024-130), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2571.

Special Economic Measures (Guatemala) Permit Authorization Order (P.C. 2024-131), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2572.

Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2023-24 to 2027-28 of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2573.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Ringuette replaced the Honourable Senator Petitclerc (February 27, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Patterson replaced the Honourable Senator Aucoin (February 27, 2024).