The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonLaBoucane-BensonLewisMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonLaBoucane-BensonLewisMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)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.

Absence of the Speaker

The clerk at the table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker was unavoidably absent, whereupon the Honourable Senator Cormier, Speaker pro tempore, took the chair, pursuant to rule 2-4(6).

PRAYERS

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Budget 2025, entitled Canada Strong.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-730.

List of Acts or provisions of Acts proposed to not be repealed in 2025, pursuant to the Statutes Repeal Act.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-731.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Moncion, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, tabled the first report of the committee, entitled Financial Statements of the Senate of Canada for the year ended March 31, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-732S.

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The Honourable Senator Woo presented the following:

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations has the honour to present its

FIRST REPORT

Your committee reports that in relation to its permanent reference, section 19 of the Statutory Instruments Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-22, the committee was previously empowered “to study the means by which Parliament can better oversee the government regulatory process and in particular to enquire into and report upon:

1.the appropriate principles and practices to be observed

(a)in the drafting of powers enabling delegates of Parliament to make subordinate laws;

(b)in the enactment of statutory instruments;

(c)in the use of executive regulation — including delegated powers and subordinate laws;

and the manner in which Parliamentary control should be effected in respect of the same;

2.the role, functions and powers of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations.”

Your committee recommends that the same order of reference, together with the evidence adduced thereon during previous sessions, be again referred to it.

Your committee informs both Houses of Parliament that the criteria it will use for the review and scrutiny of statutory instruments are the following:

Whether any regulation or other statutory instrument within its terms of reference, in the judgment of the committee:

1.is not authorized by the terms of the enabling legislation or has not complied with any condition set forth in the legislation;

2.is not in conformity with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the Canadian Bill of Rights;

3.purports to have retroactive effect without express authority having been provided for in the enabling legislation;

4.imposes a charge on the public revenues or requires payment to be made to the Crown or to any other authority, or prescribes the amount of any such charge or payment, without express authority having been provided for in the enabling legislation;

5.imposes a fine, imprisonment or other penalty without express authority having been provided for in the enabling legislation;

6.tends directly or indirectly to exclude the jurisdiction of the courts without express authority having been provided for in the enabling legislation;

7.has not complied with the Statutory Instruments Act;

8.appears for any reason to infringe the rule of law;

9.trespasses unduly on rights and liberties;

10.makes the rights and liberties of the person unduly dependent on administrative discretion or is not consistent with the rules of natural justice;

11.makes some unusual or unexpected use of the powers conferred by the enabling legislation;

12.amounts to the exercise of a substantive legislative power properly the subject of direct parliamentary enactment; or

13.is defective in its drafting or for any other reason requires elucidation as to its form or purport.

Your committee recommends that its quorum be fixed at four members, provided that both Houses are represented whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, and that the joint chairs be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and authorize the publishing thereof so long as three members are present, provided that both Houses are represented; and, that your committee have power to engage the services of such expert staff, and such stenographic and clerical staff as may be required.

Your committee further recommends to the Senate that it be empowered to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 1) is tabled in the House of Commons.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Woo moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dasko, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

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

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Housakos introduced Bill S-240, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (declaration of exception pursuant to subsection 33(1) of the Charter for mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, 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.

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 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Pate, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan, for the second reading of Bill S-206, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Burey, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Orders No. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, for the second reading of Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act.

The Honourable Senator Prosper moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robinson, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, for the second reading of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Director of Public Prosecutions Act.

The Honourable Senator Prosper moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Orders No. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 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

Orders No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:29 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.)

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

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2024-25 of the Department of Public Works and Government Services, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 12(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-722.

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2024-25 of the National Capital Commission, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 11(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-723.

Service Fees Report of the Canadian Transportation Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 451 “20(1)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-724.

Service Fees Report of the Canadian Transportation Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 451 “20(1)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-725.

Service Fees Report of the Canadian Transportation Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 451 “20(1)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-726.

Service Fees Report of the Canadian Transportation Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 451 “20(1)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-727.

Service Fees Report of the Canadian Transportation Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 451 “20(1)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-728.

Report on the Operation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the year 2025, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2001, c. 27, sbs. 94(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-729.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Dhillon (November 5, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Surette replaced the Honourable Senator Cormier (November 5, 2025).