The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneWallinWellsWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHartlingHousakosJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneWallinWellsWooYussuff

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:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3004.

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3005.

Government response, dated May 28, 2024, to the third report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, entitled MAID and Mental Disorders: the Road Ahead, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on January 29, 2024.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3006.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Pursuant to the order adopted December 7, 2021, the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson informed the Senate that Question Period with the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, P.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

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

Orders No. 1, 132, 167 and 172 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Ordered, That Orders No. 2 and 3 under OTHER BUSINESS, Commons Public Bills — Second Reading, be brought forward.

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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

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

o o o

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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Ravalia moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

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 Gold, P.C.:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:02 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)

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Supplementary Estimates (A) 2024-25, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3002.

Report on Northern Oil and Gas for the year ended December 31, 2023, pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.), s. 109.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3003.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator McBean replaced the Honourable Senator Cotter (May 29, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Gerba (May 29, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator McBean (May 29, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Cotter (May 29, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Oudar (May 29, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Audette replaced the Honourable Senator Klyne (May 29, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Richards replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (May 29, 2024).

The Honourable Senator Varone replaced the Honourable Senator Yussuff (May 29, 2024).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Manning (May 29, 2024).