The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamManningMarshallMartinMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPoirierProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSeniorSimonsSmithSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)*Deacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdam*MacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPoirierProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRoss*Saint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (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

WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT

At 1:02 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:

RIDEAU HALL

December 10, 2025

Madam Speaker,

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bill listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 10^th day of December, 2025, at 5:04 p.m.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable

The Speaker of the Senate

Ottawa

Schedule

Bill Assented To

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (Bill C-17, Chapter 6, 2025)

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Ordered: That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or previous order, for today’s sitting, Senators’ Statements be extended by a maximum of three minutes.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, informed the Senate that, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on October 7, 2025, and October 7, 2025, the committee deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 11, 2025, its first report entitled Canada-Africa: Seizing a Strategic Opportunity.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-825S.

The Honourable Senator Boehm moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Audette, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, informed the Senate that, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on October 7, 2025, and October 7, 2025, the committee deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 11, 2025, its second report entitled Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders 2024.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-826S.

The Honourable Senator Audette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Muggli, 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Black, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, tabled the first report of the committee (The subject matter of those elements contained in Division 8 of Part 5 of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-832S.

(Pursuant to the order adopted November 26, 2025, the report was deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.)

o o o

The Honourable Senator Black, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, presented the second report of the committee (Budget—examine and report on the role of the agriculture and agri-food sector with regard to food security in Canada—power to hire staff and to travel).

(The report is printed as Appendix A at pages 565-573 (available in print format PDF).)

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

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler, that the report be adopted.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Quinn, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, presented the third report of the committee, entitled Senate Budget 2026-27.

(The report is printed as Appendix B at pages 574-580 (available in print format PDF).)

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

The Honourable Senator Quinn moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Black, 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Quinn, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, tabled the fourth report of the committee, entitled Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures for 2024-25.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-833S.

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, 2 and 3 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 Moreau, P.C.:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 2 p.m.

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

Inquiries

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

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Ordered, That Order No. 25 under OTHER BUSINESS, Senate Public Bills – Second Reading, be brought forward.

Second reading of Bill S-242, An Act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence.

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

After debate,

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

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, 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.

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Ordered, That the sitting be suspended to reassemble at the call of the chair, with a 15-minute bell, either to receive a message from the House of Commons followed by adjournment, or to adjourn.

(Accordingly, at 3:03 p.m., the sitting was suspended.)

At 4:20 p.m., the sitting resumed.

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-4, An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, 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.

o o o

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, 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.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C.:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 4:23 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 2 p.m.)

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

First report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, entitled Canada-Africa: Seizing a Strategic Opportunity, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 11, 2025, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on October 7, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-825S.

Second report of the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, entitled Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders 2024, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 11, 2025, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on October 7, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-826S.

Annual report setting out the number of recognizances (terrorism peace bonds) from June 21, 2023, to June 20, 2024, pursuant to the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sbs. 810.011(15).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-827.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Canada Disability Benefit Supplemental Payment for Disability Tax Credit Certifications, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-828.

Report on recognizance with conditions from July 15, 2023, to July 14, 2024, pursuant to the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sbs. 83.31(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-829.

Report on operations under sections 38.13 and 38.15 of the Canada Evidence Act from July 15, 2023, to July 14, 2024, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-5, s. 38.17.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-830.

Reports by Federal Authorities with Obligations under Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2012, c. 19, s. 52 “71(2)”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-831.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain was added to the membership (December 11, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (December 11, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator McBean replaced the Honourable Senator Surette (December 11, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Dhillon replaced the Honourable Senator Greenwood (December 11, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Youance replaced the Honourable Senator Coyle (December 11, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Dasko (December 11, 2025).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Loffreda was added to the membership (December 11, 2025).

The Honourable Senator Moncion was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (December 11, 2025).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Surette replaced the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain (December 11, 2025).