Journals of the Senate
2 Charles III , A.D. 2024, Canada
1st Session, 44th Parliament
Issue 204 (Unrevised)
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
2 p.m.
The Honourable RAYMONDE GAGNÉ, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Al ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGoldGreenwoodHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePetitclercPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Al ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozo*CarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphond*DaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGerba*GignacGoldGreenwoodHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPate*PattersonPetitclercPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff
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
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of former senator the Honourable Joseph A. Day.
Senators’ Statements
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:
Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3001.
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012, 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 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
Government Business
Bills – Second Reading
Order No. 1 was 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
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:
That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Plett 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.
Orders No. 132 and 167 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:
That, in accordance with rule 10-11(1), the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments, introduced in the House of Commons on May 19, 2022, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate;
That, for the purposes of this study, the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 13, 2024; and
That the committee be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, provided that it then be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting following the one on which the depositing is recorded in the Journals of the Senate.
And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Plett, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier:
That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by deleting the second paragraph.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that further debate on the motion in amendment be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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 Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025;
That, for the purpose of this study, the committee have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, and that rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) be suspended in relation thereto; and
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, 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.
Inquiries
Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 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, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills – Third Reading
Orders No. 1, 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Senate Public Bills – Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the twentieth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Bill S-235, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, with amendments and observations), presented in the Senate on May 8, 2024.
The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, that the report be adopted.
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.
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McPhedran, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, for the second reading of Bill S-201, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum (voting age).
After debate,
With leave of the Senate,
Further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Martin.
Orders No. 2, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, for the second reading of Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits).
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C.
Orders No. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, for the second reading of Bill S-271, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act.
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator McPhedran.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, for the second reading of Bill S-272, An Act to amend the Director of Public Prosecutions Act.
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator McPhedran.
Orders No. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were 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. 4, 5, 6 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill C-355, An Act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter and to make related amendments to certain Acts.
The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, that the bill be read the second time.
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.
Reports of Committees – Other
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Moncion, seconded by the Honourable Senator Yussuff, for the adoption of the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, entitled Senate Budget 2023-24, presented in the Senate on February 7, 2023.
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Housakos.
Orders No. 33, 40, 62, 63, 67 and 68 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19 and 30 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Order No. 68 was called and, pursuant to rule 4-14(2), dropped from the Order Paper and Notice Paper.
Orders No. 77, 82, 96 and 107 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall:
That the Senate call on the Government of Canada to recognize the erasure of Afghan women and girls from public life as gender apartheid.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Osler moved, for the Honourable Senator Patterson, 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.
MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023, 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 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.
Other Business
Motions
Orders No. 147, 172, 181 and 187 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Klyne, calling the attention of the Senate to the ongoing business and economic contributions made by Indigenous businesses to Canada’s economy.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 14, 16, 17, 19 and 20 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Omidvar, calling the attention of the Senate to the courage, bravery and sacrifice of Alexei Navalny and other political prisoners persecuted by Putin’s Russia.
After debate,
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.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Cardozo, calling the attention of the Senate to the future of the CBC/Radio-Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Bernard moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dalphond, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Al Zaibak:
That the Senate take note:
(a)that Islamophobia includes racism, stereotypes, prejudice, systemic racism, fear or acts of hostility directed towards individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general;
(b)that hatred and discrimination have no place in Canada;
(c)that on November 30, 2023, the Senate unanimously adopted the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, including 13 recommendations, entitled Combatting Hate: Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims in Canada;
(d)that despite their rich and varied contributions to Canadian society, Muslims are often unfairly vilified and marginalized;
(e)that Islamophobia has motivated violent attacks on Muslim communities in recent years in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Mississauga, London, Quebec City and Toronto;
(f)that the National Council of Canadian Muslims reports a disturbing increase in the number of hate incidents since October 2023; and
(g)that in addition to Islamophobia, incidents of anti-Arab racism have been reported to the police and other public institutions;
That the Senate condemn Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, reaffirm the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms value of equality, and the recommendations of the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, and denounce discrimination based on religion and other Charter-protected grounds; and
That the Senate call on the Government of Canada to fulfill its commitments made in its response, tabled in the Senate on April 26, 2024, to the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights and to consider convening, when appropriate, a second national summit to combat Islamophobia, in consultation with Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.
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.
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 6:26 p.m., the Senate was continued until Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 2 p.m.)
DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)
Report on the operation of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the year ended December 31, 2023, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2010, c. 4, s. 15.1.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2995.
Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2024-25 to 2028-29 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. 1/44-2996.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2023-24 to 2027-28 and Budgets of the Standards Council of Canada, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2997.
Report of the administration of the Firearms Act for the year 2022, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1995, c. 39, sbs. 93(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2998.
Special Report of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, pursuant to the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Act, S.C. 2019, c. 13, s. 2 “40(2)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2999.
Report of the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner entitled Findings of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner in the Matter of an Investigation into a Disclosure of Wrongdoing (Parole Board of Canada), pursuant to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, S.C. 2005, c. 46, sbs. 38(3.3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3000.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Gerba replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (May 28, 2024).
The Honourable Senator McBean replaced the Honourable Senator Galvez (May 28, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Cotter replaced the Honourable Senator McCallum (May 27, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (May 27, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The Honourable Senator Duncan replaced the Honourable Senator Galvez (May 28, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs
The Honourable Senator Anderson replaced the Honourable Senator White (May 28, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Dasko replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 28, 2024).
The Honourable Senator White replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (May 27, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The Honourable Senator Aucoin replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (May 28, 2024).