The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehm*BonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)Dean*DowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKingston*KlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettPoirierProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWellsWhiteWoo*Yussuff

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

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Mockler, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, tabled the sixteenth report of the committee, entitled Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2612S.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Forest tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, Bureau meeting and 48th Annual Session, Tbilissi, Georgia, from July 4 to 8, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2613.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, 38th Session of the APF America Regional Assembly, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of Americas, from September 5 to 7, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2614.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, Parliamentary Mission to the United Nations, New York, New York, United States of America, September 20, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2615.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, Leadership Workshop for Women Parliamentarians of the APF, Bucharest, Romania, from September 25 to 29, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2616.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, Meeting of the Working Group on Reforming the Constitution of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, Geneva, Switzerland, November 23 and 24, 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2617.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 30, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut), concerning arctic sovereignty.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2618S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 12, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — Employment and Social Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2619S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 12, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — Canada Revenue Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2620S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 4, 2022, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning Canada-China relations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2621S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 6, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the retention and recruitment of members of the Canadian Armed Forces.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2622S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 20, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning arctic sovereignty.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2623S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 25, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, concerning reserve troops.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2624S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning illegal immigration — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2625S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning illegal immigration — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2626S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 14, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Simons, concerning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2627S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 14, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning the Roxham Road border crossing.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2628S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 14, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning drug-impaired driving.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2629S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 21, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Marshall, concerning military procurement.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2630S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 28, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police — Public Services and Procurement Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2631S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 28, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2632S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 30, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning money laundering.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2633S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 18, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Coyle, concerning the report of the Mass Casualty Commission.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2634S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 19, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Bernard, concerning the report of the Mass Casualty Commission.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2635S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 19, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, concerning the Portapique shooting — support for victims’ families.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2636S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 2, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Woo, concerning anti-Asian racism.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2637S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 10, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Simons, concerning digital privacy.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2638S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 8, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, concerning equality in health research.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2639S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 8, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning the renaming of Confederation Bridge.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2640S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 13, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut), concerning aviation service standards.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2641S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 14, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Downe, concerning the Canadian Armed Forces — retention of members.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2642S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 14, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Pate, concerning the National Immigration Detention Framework.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2643S.

o o o

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

Reply to Question No. 4, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Advisory Council on Economic Growth.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2644S.

Reply to Question No. 82, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Prime Minister’s autobiography — Privy Council Office.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2645S.

Reply to Question No. 82, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Prime Minister’s autobiography — Global Affairs Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2646S.

Reply to Question No. 153, dated April 26, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding frozen bank accounts.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2647S.

Reply to Question No. 180, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Privy Council Office.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2648S.

Reply to Question No. 193, dated January 31, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding federal funding for Canadian media organizations — Canada Revenue Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2649S.

Reply to Question No. 193, dated January 31, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding federal funding for Canadian media organizations — Canadian Heritage.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2650S.

Reply to Question No. 203, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding immigration consultants — Canada Border Services Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2651S.

Reply to Question No. 203, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding immigration consultants — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2652S.

Reply to Question No. 206, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Library and Archives Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2653S.

Reply to Question No. 209, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Roxham Road — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2654S.

Reply to Question No. 209, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Roxham Road — Public Safety Canada and Canada Border Services Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2655S.

Reply to Question No. 211, dated February 16, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2656S.

Reply to Question No. 215, dated March 8, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding foreign interference or influence.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2657S.

Reply to Question No. 224, dated March 30, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Financial Crimes Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2658S.

Reply to Question No. 241, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Firearms Buyback Program — Employment and Social Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2659S.

Reply to Question No. 241, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Firearms Buyback Program — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2660S.

Reply to Question No. 241, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Firearms Buyback Program — Public Services and Procurement Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2661S.

Reply to Question No. 244, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Border Services Agency — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2662S.

Reply to Question No. 244, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Border Services Agency — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2663S.

Reply to Question No. 245, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Employment and Social Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2664S.

Reply to Question No. 256, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding private handgun ownership.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2665S.

Reply to Question No. 263, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2666S.

Reply to Question No. 264, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding remediation agreements.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2667S.

Reply to Question No. 268, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Border Services Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2668S.

Reply to Question No. 282, dated November 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canadian Dairy Commission.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2669S.

Reply to Question No. 286, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Defence Construction Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2670S.

Reply to Question No. 288, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Downsview Park.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2671S.

Reply to Question No. 289, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Export Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2672S.

Reply to Question No. 301, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the National Capital Commission.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2673S.

Reply to Question No. 302, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Old Port of Montreal Corporation Inc.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2674S.

Reply to Question No. 305, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Standards Council of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2675S.

---

A point of order was raised with respect to leave during proceedings yesterday.

SPEAKER'S RULING

I wish to thank Senator McPhedran for raising this matter. Unfortunately, the chair did not hear any denial of leave to not see the clock both times that guidance was sought from colleagues yesterday. I very much regret that.

In such cases, it would be entirely appropriate for the senator who denied leave, or a colleague who heard the denial, to raise a point of order to draw the chair’s attention to the issue. All senators have a collective responsibility to assist the Speaker in ensuring the proper functioning of the Senate. Such points of order must be raised while the issue is still relevant. In particular, a point of order relating to a procedural matter should be raised promptly and before the matter is decided, which would render any objection to it out of place. In the case at issue, that would have been when the issue of not seeing the clock was before the Senate.

I am sure that, working together, we can avoid such misunderstandings in the future.

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, and in relation to any bills for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending either March 31, 2024, or March 31, 2025:

1.if the Senate receives any message from the House of Commons with such a bill during the sitting of March 21, 2024, the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting;

2.if the Senate receives any message from the House of Commons with such a bill during the sitting of March 22, 2024, the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading later that sitting, provided that if the message is received after the point where the Senate would normally have dealt with the bill at second reading, the bill either be taken into consideration at second reading forthwith, or, if another item is under consideration at the time the message is read, the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at second reading as the next item of business; and

3.during the sitting of March 22, 2024:

(a)if such a bill is read a second time, it be taken into consideration at third reading forthwith;

(b)if the Senate is dealing with such a bill at 4 p.m., or such a bill is on the Orders of the Day at that time, the adjournment of the sitting be postponed until all proceedings on such bills have concluded for that sitting, subject to other provisions of this order;

(c)if, at any time during the sitting, the Government Representative or the Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative states that receipt of a message with such a bill is expected during the sitting, no motion to adjourn the Senate be received and the rules regarding the ordinary time of adjournment or suspension, or any prior order regarding adjournment, be suspended until either:

(i)the message has been received and all subsequent proceedings, including proceedings pursuant to this order, have concluded, provided that if the Senate completes business before the message is received, the sitting be suspended to the call of the Speaker, with the bells to ring for 15 minutes before the sitting resumes; or

(ii)the Government Representative or the Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative indicates that the receipt of such a message is no longer expected;

(d)the Government Representative or the Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative be authorized to invoke the provisions of rule 16-1(8) at any time during the sitting if there is any bill then awaiting Royal Assent; and

(e)the Senate only deal with Government Business on that day.

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 and 132 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

With leave of the Senate and pursuant to rule 5-10(1), the motion was withdrawn.

o o o

Order No. 158 was withdrawn pursuant to rule 5-10(2).

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 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, for the second reading of Bill S-255, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (murder of an intimate partner, one’s own child or an intimate partner’s child).

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. 14 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, for the second reading of Bill S-260, An Act respecting National Diffuse Midline Glioma Awareness Day.

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

o o o

Orders No. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-267, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (aggravating circumstance — evacuation order or emergency).

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the bill be read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, 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. 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

Orders No. 1, 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dasko, seconded by the Honourable Senator Coyle, for the second reading of Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children).

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. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 31, 33, 40, 56, 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, 168 and 172 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

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.

o o o

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

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 3:47 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)

Case Report of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, pursuant to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, S.C. 2005, c. 46, sbs. 38(3.1) and (3.3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2611.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne (March 20, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Prosper was added to the membership (March 20, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne (March 20, 2024).