The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBoehmBoudreauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonWooYouance

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBoehmBoudreauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)*Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouance*Yussuff

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

WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT

At 1:32 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:

RIDEAU HALL

November 20, 2025

Madam Speaker,

I have the honour to inform you that Mr. Ken MacKillop, Deputy of the Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bills listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 20^th day of November, 2025, at 10:29 a.m.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable

The Speaker of the Senate

Ottawa

Schedule

Bills Assented To

Thursday, November 20, 2025

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) (Bill C-3, Chapter 5, 2025)

An Act to authorize Gore Mutual Insurance Company to apply to be continued as a body corporate under the laws of the Province of Quebec (Bill S-1001)

Senators’ Statements

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the memory of the Honourable Lise Bacon, former senator, whose death occurred on October 29, 2025.

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The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of former senator the Honourable Lise Bacon.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Moodie presented the following:

Thursday, November 20, 2025

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its

THIRD REPORT

Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages), has, in obedience to the order of reference of Thursday, June 12, 2025, examined the said bill and now reports the same without amendment but with certain observations, which are appended to this report.

Respectfully submitted,

Observations to the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Bill S-202)

Your committee has learned that alcohol is a risk factor for serious medical conditions that result in both mortality and morbidity, including, but not limited to: alcoholic liver disease, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, various cancers, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, substance use disorder and addiction, and an increased risk of dementia.

While Bill S-202 currently acknowledges the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, your committee recommends that labelling should also recognize the broader spectrum of fatal and debilitating diseases associated with alcohol use, such as alcoholic liver disease, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and addiction.

Your committee has learned that many countries including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Ireland require mandatory alcohol warning labels for pregnant women, due to the risk of birth defects and brain damage to the fetus.

To ensure Canada aligns with international best practices and to protect fetal health, your committee recommends that labelling should recognize the risk of birth defects and brain damage to the fetus.

Your committee made concerted efforts to hear from a range of perspectives, including those of the alcohol industry. While briefs were received from some alcohol industry stakeholders, only one witness appeared in person to provide testimony.

The Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, for the Honourable Senator Brazeau, seconded by the Honourable Senator Sorensen, 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Tannas introduced Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Tannas moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler, 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.

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026; and

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.

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

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 2 p.m.

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

Inquiries

The Honourable Senator Pupatello called the attention of the Senate to the inquiry standing in the name of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson concerning the budget entitled Canada Strong, tabled in the House of Commons on November 4, 2025, by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P., and in the Senate on November 5, 2025.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C., that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

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

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, for the second reading of Bill S-204, An Act to establish a national framework on heart failure.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Osler moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, 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. 3, 4, 5 and 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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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 Petitclerc, 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. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Black, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, for the second reading of Bill S-230, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, for the Honourable Senator Black, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

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

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Orders No. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 4 and 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe:

That, for the remainder of the current session, all committees consider the influences and impacts of technology in any study, including the consideration of bills, the subject matter of bills, estimates and special studies, authorized by the Senate, including any such work already authorized but not yet completed.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, 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 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Fridhandler moved, for the Honourable Senator Gignac, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cardozo:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be authorized to examine and report on access to credit and capital markets for small- and medium-sized enterprises as the basis for growth and improved productivity in the Canadian economy;

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 June 30, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

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

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:36 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 2 p.m.)

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Greenwood (November 20, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Dhillon replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (November 19, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Dhillon replaced the Honourable Senator Loffreda (November 20, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda replaced the Honourable Senator Dhillon (November 19, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Greenwood replaced the Honourable Senator Arnot (November 19, 2025).