Journals of the Senate
2 Charles III , A.D. 2024, Canada
1st Session, 44th Parliament
Issue 185 (Unrevised)
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
2 p.m.
The Honourable RAYMONDE GAGNÉ, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehm*BonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)Dean*DowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff
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, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or previous order, for today’s sitting, the duration for Senators’ Statements be 60 minutes, to be used for the purpose of paying tribute to the late Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, P.C., who passed away on February 29, 2024; and
That, notwithstanding rule 5-6(2), the following inquiry be placed on the Order Paper, under the rubric Inquiries under Government Business, for later this day:
“By the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson: That she will call the attention of the Senate to the life of the late Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, P.C.”.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Senators’ Statements
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, P.C., who passed away on February 29, 2024.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:
The 2024 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 7(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2610.
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., introduced Bill S-17, An Act to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies, out-dated terminology and errors and to deal with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes and Regulations of Canada and to repeal certain provisions that have expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect.
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, 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.
Question Period
The Senate proceeded to Question Period.
Orders of the Day
A message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada,
And to acquaint the Senate that the Commons has agreed to the amendment made by the Senate to this bill, without amendment.
Pursuant to the order adopted December 7, 2021, the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson informed the Senate that Question Period with the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, P.C., M.P., Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, will take place on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
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.
The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, with the exception of Library of Parliament Vote 1;
That, for the purpose of this study, the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance 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;
That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in Library of Parliament Vote 1 of the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025; and
That, in relation to the expenditures set out in Library of Parliament Vote 1, a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Inquiries
Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 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
Orders No. 1, 2 and 3 were 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, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill S-283, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (demographic information).
The Honourable Senator Dasko moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, that the bill be read the second time.
Debate.
DEFERRED VOTES
At 5:30 p.m., pursuant to rule 9-10(2), the Senate proceeded to the taking of the deferred standing vote on the motion of the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, for the third reading of Bill C-57, An Act to implement the 2023 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Al ZaibakArnotAucoinAudetteBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanForestFrancisGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMoncionMoodieOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWhiteWooYussuff—73
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
AtaullahjanBattersCarignanHousakosMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMocklerOhPlettPoirierSeidmanWells—14
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senators
Nil
Accordingly, Bill C-57 was read a third time and passed.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill without amendment.
Other Business
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dasko, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, for the second reading of Bill S-283, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (demographic information).
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.
Commons Public Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, for the second reading of Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act.
The Honourable Senator Tannas moved, for the Honourable Senator Patterson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wallin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 8 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ravalia, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, for the second reading of Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care.
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. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees – Other
Orders No. 31 and 33 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the fourth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, entitled Hydrogen: A Viable Option for a Net-Zero Canada in 2050?, presented in the Senate on May 9, 2023.
The Honourable Senator Massicotte moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, that the report be adopted.
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 Ravalia, seconded by the Honourable Senator Busson, for the adoption of the first report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament, entitled Quorum and Mandate of the Committee, presented in the Senate on June 20, 2023.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 56 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boehm, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest:
That the twelfth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, entitled More than a Vocation: Canada’s Need for a 21st Century Foreign Service, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 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 Foreign Affairs being identified as the minister responsible for responding to the report.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT
At 6:34 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:
RIDEAU HALL
March 19, 2024
Madam Speaker,
I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bills listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 19th day of March, 2024, at 6:04 p.m.
Yours sincerely,
Ken MacKillop
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
Schedule
Bills Assented To
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada (Bill C-35, Chapter 2, 2024)
An Act to implement the 2023 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine (Bill C-57, Chapter 3, 2024)
Other Business
Reports of Committees – Other
Orders No. 62 and 63 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 4, 5, 6, 7,11, 12, 19, 30, 68, 77, 82, 96, 107, 113, 139, 147, 157 and 168 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Simons, 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.
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.
Inquiries
Orders No. 1, 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.
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19 and 20 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Busson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement:
That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to its study on Canada’s seal populations be extended from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024; and
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate its report relating to this study, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.
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 6:57 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 Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Economic and Fiscal Outlook – March 2024, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2602.
Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled The Government’s Expenditure Plan and Main Estimates for 2024-25, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2603.
Report on Commercial Vehicle Safety in Canada, pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 29 (3rd Supp.), sbs. 25(1) and s. 26.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2604.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2024-28 of the Canadian Tourism Commission, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2605.
Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2023-24 to 2027-28 of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2606.
Legislative Costing Note of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Doubling the rural top-up rate for fuel charge rebates – Update, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2607.
Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (P.C. 2024-159, P.C. 2024-168 and P.C. 2024-169), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2608.
Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (P.C. 2024-200), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2609.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy
The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (March 18, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Batters (March 11, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (March 18, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
The Honourable Senator Hartling replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (March 19, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Hartling (March 15, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs
The Honourable Senator McNair replaced the Honourable Senator Yussuff (March 19, 2024).