The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePetitclercPettenPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenVaroneVernerWallinWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehm*BonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForest*FrancisGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePetitclercPettenPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensen*TannasVaroneVernerWallin*WellsWhiteWooYussuff

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 LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Budget 2024 entitled Fairness for Every Generation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2732.

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 May 31, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning Canada-Iran relations — Canadian Heritage.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2733S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 31, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning Canada-Iran relations — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2734S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 17, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2735S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Batters, concerning recovery of fraudulent COVID-19 support payments — Canada Revenue Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2736S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Batters, concerning recovery of fraudulent COVID-19 support payments — Employment and Social Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2737S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 26, 2023, by the Honourable Senator McPhedran, concerning human rights in Myanmar.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2738S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 27, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Cormier, concerning the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan — Department of Justice Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2739S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 27, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Cormier, concerning the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan — Health Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2740S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 2, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, concerning the conflict in Sudan.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2741S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on September 21, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning the Indian Act.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2742S.

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

Reply to Question No. 69, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Global Affairs Canada — OECD Secretary-General.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2743S.

Reply to Question No. 114, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2744S.

Reply to Question No. 164, dated June 2, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Hong Kong Final Court of Appeal.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2745S.

Reply to Question No. 248, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2746S.

Reply to Question No. 265, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2747S.

Reply to Question No. 272, dated November 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Business Development Bank of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2748S.

Reply to Question No. 290, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Farm Credit Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2749S.

Reply to Question No. 304, dated February 6, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Public Sector Pension Investment Board.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2750S.

Reply to Question No. 313, dated February 29, 2024, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding high-speed internet.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2751S.

Orders of the Day

Ordered, That Order No. 27 under OTHER BUSINESS, Senate Public Bills — Second Reading and Order No. 3 under OTHER BUSINESS, Commons Public Bills — Second Reading, be brought forward.

The question being put on the motion of the Honourable Senator Quinn, seconded by the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-273, An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada, it was adopted.

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Quinn moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Black, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications.

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

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The question being put on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boehm, seconded by the Honourable Senator Galvez, for the second reading of Bill C-248, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (Ojibway National Urban Park of Canada), it was adopted.

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.

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

ADJOURNMENT

With leave of the Senate,

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:03 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)

Agreement for RCMP policing services made between Canada and the Town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10, sbs. 20(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2731.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Cotter replaced the Honourable Senator McBean (April 17, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (April 17, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator McBean replaced the Honourable Senator Boyer (April 17, 2024).