The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBoehmBonifaceBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHayHébertHenkelHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMuggliOslerOudarPatePettenPoirierProsperPupatelloRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBoehmBonifaceBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHayHébertHenkelHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMuggliOslerOudarPatePettenPoirierProsperPupatelloRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff

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

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Boniface, who will resign from the Senate on November 15, 2025.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Klyne introduced Bill S-239, An Act to amend the Competition Act.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerba, 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. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 2 p.m.

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 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 Forest, for the second reading of Bill S-213, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (demographic information).

After debate,

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

Order No. 7 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Quinn, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler, for the second reading of Bill S-216, An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Coyle, 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. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Ordered: That consideration of Order No. 21 be postponed until the next sitting of the Senate.

o o o

Orders No. 22, 23, 24 and 25 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Ordered: That consideration of Order No. 1 be postponed until the next sitting of the Senate.

o o o

Orders No. 2, 3 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Smith moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in the information and communication technology sector, such as:

(a)the application of AI in content creation, distribution and processing in this sector;

(b)the implications of AI for Canada’s copyright and intellectual property framework, including questions of authorship, ownership, enforcement, and the balance between innovation and the protection of creators’ rights; and

(c)the rise of AI-generated disinformation, misinformation and deepfakes, and their potential impact on public trust and media integrity;

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2027, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or previous order, the Honourable Senator Dean take the place of the Honourable Senator Boniface as one of the members of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, effective October 30, 2025.

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Petten moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pupatello:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:49 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 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 Individuals adversely affected by the Middle-Class Tax, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-632.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Fiscal Implications of the Government’s Purchase of Canada Mortgage Bonds, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-633.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Kutcher was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (October 30, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator McNair (October 30, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (October 29, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Dhillon (October 30, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Mohamed replaced the Honourable Senator Oudar (October 30, 2025).