The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGoldHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGoldHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

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:

2024-25 Annual Report of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson, entitled Clearing the Path.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-203.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-204S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-205S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Premier of Ontario.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-206S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Métis National Council.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-207S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Fort McKay First Nation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-208S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-209S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-210S.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Yussuff tabled the following:

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-211S.

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The Honourable Senator Clement tabled the following:

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-212S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Pembina Institute.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-213S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Neskantaga First Nation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-214S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Mushkegowuk Council.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-215S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Native Women’s Association of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-216S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-217S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-218S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Mikisew Cree First Nation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-219S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Onion Lake Cree Nation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-220S.

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-221S.

o o o

The Honourable Senator White tabled the following:

Document regarding Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, from the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-222S.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Klyne, Chair of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, presented the first report (interim) of the committee, entitled Nomination of External Members.

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 176-190 (available in print format PDF).)

(The HTML version of the report is available on the committee website.)

With leave,

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report.

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., that the report be adopted.

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

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

Pursuant to the order adopted on June 12, 2025, the bill was placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading later this day.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act.

The Honourable Senator Yussuff moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, that the bill be read for the second time.

Debate.

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At 4:17 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:47 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Yussuff, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, for the second reading of Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act.

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After debate,

A point of order was raised with respect to the vote on Bill C-5.

After debate,

The Speaker reserved her decision.

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Yussuff, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, for the second reading of Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act.

Debate.

SPEAKER'S RULING

Honourable senators, I would like to come back to the point of order raised by Senator McPhedran. The request is that I exercise the authority of the Speaker to split the vote on Bill C-5. In the Senate there is only one known case of the Speaker having done this, as addressed in a statement by Speaker Kinsella on November 5, 2013. At that time the Senate was dealing with a quite complicated substantive motion that dealt with a number of very distinct issues. The motion was drafted in such a way that separate votes were feasible.

The Rules of the Senate contain no provisions dealing with the separation of votes on a bill, either at second or third reading. The situation is different in the House of Commons, which has a provision in its Standing Orders expressly governing separate votes on provisions of a government bill in some situations. This is what happened last Friday.

I would remind senators that the motion for the reading of a bill is actually very simple: “That the bill be read a second (or third) time.” This simple motion, on its face, is not amenable to separate decisions.

If the Senate were to make a decision on a motion for the second or third reading of a bill in more than one vote, and rejected one of them, this would be equivalent to making an amendment. Our Rules and procedures do not allow amendments to the text of a bill at second reading. Unlike the House of Commons, however, our procedures do allow amendments to the text of a bill to be proposed at third reading, and this provides a far more direct and clear way for senators to propose amendments, and that has the benefit that it is in line with normal procedure.

To summarize: the question for the reading of the bill is not a complicated one, separate votes on the second reading motion are not feasible, and, finally, normal procedures and practices can be used to propose changes to the text of the bill during third reading debate. This gives ample opportunity for senators to refine Bill C-5 if they so wish.

As such, if a standing vote is requested, it will not be split, either at second or at third reading.

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Yussuff, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, for the second reading of Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act.

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

The bill was then read for the second time.

Pursuant to the order adopted on June 12, 2025, the bill was placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill C-6, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., that the bill be read for the second time.

Debate.

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Pursuant to rule 3-3(1), the Speaker left the Chair to resume the same at 8 p.m.

The sitting resumed.

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., for the second reading of Bill C-6, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAucoinBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyBussonCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandlerGerbaGignacGoldHarderHayHébertHenkelInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMcBeanMcNairMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff—66

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersHousakosMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcCallumMcPhedranRichardsSeidmanSmithWells (Newfoundland and Labrador)—13

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

Nil

Accordingly, Bill C-6 was read a second time.

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting.

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

o o o

Second reading of Bill C-7, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, that the bill be read for the second time.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAucoinBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyBussonCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDeacon (Nova Scotia)DhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandlerGerbaGignacGoldHarderHayHébertHenkelInceKaretak-LindellKingstonLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMégieMoncionMoreauMuggliOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneWhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff—62

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersHousakosMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcPhedranSeidmanSmithWells (Newfoundland and Labrador)—11

ABSTENTION

The Honourable Senator

Richards—1

Accordingly, Bill C-7 was read a second time.

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting.

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, for the second reading of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements).

After debate,

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

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator White moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples.

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

Motions

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

At 10:25 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on June 19, 2025, the Senate adjourned until 9 a.m., tomorrow.

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Twentieth Annual Report of the Office of the Senate Ethics Officer, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 20.7.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-194S.

Statement on the Operations of the Returned Soldiers’ Insurance Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1920, c. 54, sbs. 17(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-195.

Statement on the Operations of the Veterans Insurance Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. V-3, sbs. 18(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-196.

Report of the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, S.C. 1989, c. 3, sbs. 13(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-197.

Report on the administration of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act for the year 2023, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1992, c. 52, s. 28.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-198.

Summary of the amended Corporate Plan for 2024-25 to 2028-29 of VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-199.

Report on the operation of the Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, for the year ended December 31, 2024, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2024, c. 3, s. 15.1(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-200.

Report by Export Development Canada on Canada Account Operations for the fiscal year 2023-24, pursuant to the Export Development Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-201.

Copy of Order in Council P.C. 2025-272, pursuant to the Farm Income Protection Act, S.C. 1991, c. 22, sbs. 12(7).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-202.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Yussuff (June 25, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Senator Boyer replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (June 25, 2025).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Moodie was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Boyer was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Boehm was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Housakos was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Audette was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Forest was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Seidman was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Dalphond was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Quinn was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator MacDonald was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Osler was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator MacAdam was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Smith (June 25, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Smith replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (June 25, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Galvez (June 23, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Pate was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Galvez was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Kingston was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Moreau was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Forest was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Gignac was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Marshall was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Dalphond was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator MacAdam was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Ross was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 19, 2025).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Yussuff (June 25, 2025).

Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

The Honourable Senator Brazeau was added to the membership (June 25, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Patterson was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (June 25, 2025).