Previous Sittings

Order Paper and Notice Paper

Previous Sittings

Journals of the Senate

Previous Sittings

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

Journals of the Senate

Download as PDF

4 Charles III , A.D. 2026, Canada

1st Session, 45th Parliament

Issue 83 (Unrevised)

Monday, June 15, 2026
6 p.m.

The Honourable RAYMONDE GAGNÉ, Speaker

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamManningMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenPoirierProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

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:

Copy of the Commission appointing Kenneth MacKillop Deputy of the Governor General, to do in Her Excellency’s name all acts on her part necessary to be done during Her Excellency’s pleasure, dated June 10, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1173S.

The said Commission is as follows:

CANADA

LOUISE ARBOUR

(L.S.)

By Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

TO KENNETH MacKILLOP, of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario,

GREETING:

WHEREAS by letters patent under the Great Seal of Canada bearing date the eighth day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, it is constituted, ordered and declared that there shall be a Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada;

WHEREAS His Majesty King Charles the Third, by Commission under the Great Seal of Canada bearing date the second day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six, was graciously pleased to appoint me, during the Royal Pleasure, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada, and has further, in and by that Commission, authorized, empowered and commanded me to exercise and perform all and singular the powers and directions contained in the said letters patent constituting the Office of the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, and in any other letters patent adding to, amending or substituted for the same;

WHEREAS under and pursuant to the provisions in that behalf in the Constitution Act, 1867, in and by the said letters patent Her Excellency the Governor General for the time being is authorized and empowered subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by His Majesty King Charles the Third to appoint any person or persons, jointly and severally, to be her Deputy or Deputies within any part or parts of Canada, and in that capacity to exercise, during the Royal Pleasure, such of her powers, functions and authorities as she might deem it necessary or expedient to assign to such person or persons, provided that the appointment of such Deputy or Deputies should not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in person;

AND WHEREAS, I deem it necessary and expedient with a view to preventing delay in the performance of the public business and affairs of Canada to appoint some fit and proper person to be my Deputy within Canada for the purposes hereinafter mentioned;

KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of His Majesty King Charles the Third, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the second day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six, constituting and appointing me to be the Governor General of Canada do nominate, constitute and appoint you, Kenneth MacKillop, to be my Deputy within Canada, to be styled Deputy to the Governor General, whether I be absent from Canada or not, and in that capacity and when directed by me, to exercise, subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by His Majesty King Charles the Third, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the powers of dissolving, recalling or proroguing the Parliament of Canada, of appointing members of the Ministry and of signifying Royal Assent in Parliament assembled.

PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, in person.

AND PROVIDED ALWAYS that you, Kenneth MacKillop, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or the person administering the Government of Canada.

GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this tenth day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six and in the fourth year of His Majesty King Charles the Third’s Reign.

BY COMMAND,

PHILIP JENNINGS

Deputy Registrar General of Canada

o o o

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, tabled the following:

Copy of the Commission appointing Ryan McAdam Deputy of the Governor General, to do in Her Excellency’s name all acts on her part necessary to be done during Her Excellency’s pleasure, dated June 10, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1174S.

The said Commission is as follows:

CANADA

LOUISE ARBOUR

(L.S.)

TO RYAN McADAM, of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of His Majesty King Charles the Third, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the second day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six, constituting and appointing me to be the Governor General of Canada do nominate, constitute and appoint you, Ryan McAdam, to be my Deputy within Canada, to be styled Deputy to the Governor General, whether I be absent from Canada or not, and in that capacity and when directed by me, to exercise, subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by His Majesty King Charles the Third, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the powers of dissolving, recalling or proroguing the Parliament of Canada, of appointing members of the Ministry and of signifying Royal Assent in Parliament assembled.

PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, in person.

AND PROVIDED ALWAYS that you, Ryan McAdam, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or the person administering the Government of Canada.

GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this tenth day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six and in the fourth year of His Majesty King Charles the Third’s Reign.

BY COMMAND,

PHILIP JENNINGS

Deputy Registrar General of Canada

o o o

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, tabled the following:

Copy of the Commission appointing Christine MacIntyre Deputy of the Governor General, to do in Her Excellency’s name all acts on her part necessary to be done during Her Excellency’s pleasure, dated June 10, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1175S.

The said Commission is as follows:

CANADA

LOUISE ARBOUR

(L.S.)

TO CHRISTINE MacINTYRE, of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU that being well assured of your loyalty, fidelity and capacity, I, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada, under and by virtue of and in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Commission of His Majesty King Charles the Third, under the Great Seal of Canada, dated the second day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six, constituting and appointing me to be the Governor General of Canada do nominate, constitute and appoint you, Christine MacIntyre, to be my Deputy within Canada, to be styled Deputy to the Governor General, whether I be absent from Canada or not, and in that capacity and when directed by me, to exercise, subject to any limitations and directions from time to time expressed or given by His Majesty King Charles the Third, all the powers, authorities and functions vested in and of right exercisable by me as Governor General, saving and excepting the powers of dissolving, recalling or proroguing the Parliament of Canada, of appointing members of the Ministry and of signifying Royal Assent in Parliament assembled.

PROVIDED ALWAYS that the appointment of my Deputy shall not affect the exercise of any such power, authority or function by me, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, in person.

AND PROVIDED ALWAYS that you, Christine MacIntyre, shall during your continuance as my Deputy obey all such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or the person administering the Government of Canada.

GIVEN under my hand and seal at Ottawa, this tenth day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-six and in the fourth year of His Majesty King Charles the Third’s Reign.

BY COMMAND,

PHILIP JENNINGS

Deputy Registrar General of Canada

o o o

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to criminal and correctional matters (child protection, gender-based violence, delays and other measures), pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1176.

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-20, An Act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1177.

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026, 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.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

Pursuant to rule 4-9(7), the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Response to Question No. 42, dated April 16, 2026, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Pate, regarding Finance Canada’s Tax Expenditures and Evaluations report.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1178S.

Orders of the Day

A point of order was raised with respect to the Senate’s rules relating to the pre-study of Commons bills.

After debate,

The Speaker reserved her decision.

o o o

A message was brought from the House of Commons in the following words:

Friday, June 12, 2026

EXTRACT, —

That a message be sent to the Senate to acquaint Their Honours that, in relation to Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing), the House:

agrees with amendments 1(a), 2(a) and 3 made by the Senate”;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 1(b) because subsection 515(13.1) of the Criminal Code already requires courts to state on the record that they considered section 493.2 in making a bail decision, rendering the additional provision unnecessary;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 2(b) because engagement with relevant partners and stakeholders is already permitted, and the additional statutory consultation requirement could limit flexibility in the preparation and tabling of the report.

ATTEST

Eric Janse

Clerk of the House of Commons

The Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan, that the message be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later this day.

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

Government Business

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

Consideration of the message from the House of Commons concerning Bill C-14:

Friday, June 12, 2026

EXTRACT, —

agrees with amendments 1(a), 2(a) and 3 made by the Senate”;

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

That, in relation to Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing), the Senate do not insist on its amendments with which the House of Commons has disagreed; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

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

Motions

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:

1.in relation to Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to criminal and correctional matters (child protection, gender-based violence, delays and other measures):

(a)if the Senate receives the bill and adopts it at second reading, it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs;

(b)the committee be authorized to meet for the purposes of its consideration of Bill C-16, even though the Senate may then be sitting, with rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto;

(c)the committee submit its report on Bill C-16 to the Senate no later than June 17, 2026;

(d)the committee be authorized to present its report on the bill at any time the Senate is sitting, except during Question Period;

(e)if the committee reports the bill with amendment or with a recommendation that the Senate not proceed further with the bill:

(i)the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later that sitting, provided that if the report is presented after the point where the Senate would normally have dealt with the report, it either be taken into consideration forthwith, or, if another item is under consideration at that time, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration as the next item of business; and

(ii)once the Senate decides on the report, the bill, if still before the Senate, be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting;

(f)if the committee has not reported the bill by 4 p.m. on June 17, 2026, it be deemed to have reported the bill without amendment, with the bill then being placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting of the Senate; and

(g)if the Senate has not concluded proceedings on the bill by 7 p.m. on June 18, 2026, the Speaker interrupt any proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at third reading without further debate, provided that if the bill has not yet been moved for third reading at that time, the sponsor, or a designate, be recognized solely to move third reading, if the bill is still then before the Senate;

2.in relation to Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026:

(a)if the Senate receives the bill, once read a first time, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting;

(b)if the Senate receives the bill and has not disposed of it at second reading by 8 p.m. on June 16, 2026, the Speaker interrupt any proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at second reading without further debate, provided that:

(i)if a vote on the bill had previously been deferred so that it would normally take place after the time provided for in this paragraph for the interruption of proceedings, that vote be brought forward to 8 p.m. on June 16, 2026, after a 15-minute bell; and

(ii)if the bill has not yet been moved for second reading, the sponsor, or a designate, be recognized solely for the purpose of moving second reading;

(c)if the Senate adopts the bill at second reading, it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs;

(d)the committee be authorized to meet for the purposes of its consideration of Bill C-25, even though the Senate may then be sitting, with rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto;

(e)the committee submit its report to the Senate no later than June 18, 2026;

(f)the provisions in points 1(d) and (e) also apply to proceedings on Bill C-25;

(g)if the committee has not reported the bill by 7 p.m. on June 18, 2026, it be deemed to have reported the bill without amendment, with the bill then being placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting of the Senate; and

(h)if the Senate has not concluded proceedings on the bill by 12 p.m. on June 19, 2026, the Speaker interrupt any proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at third reading without further debate, provided that if the bill has not yet been moved for third reading at that time, the sponsor, or a designate, be recognized solely for the purpose of moving third reading, if the bill is still then before the Senate;

3.in relation to Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026:

(a)if the Senate receives the bill, once read a first time, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading later that day, provided that if the Senate has already passed the point on the Orders of the Day where it would deal with the bill at second reading, it be taken into consideration at second reading forthwith, or, if another item is under consideration at that time, the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at second reading as the next item of business;

(b)if, before this order is adopted, the bill has been placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at a sitting subsequent to the one at which this order is adopted, second reading be brought forward, upon the adoption of this order, so that the bill be taken into consideration at second reading as the next item of business;

(c)if at 9 p.m. on June 18, 2026, the Senate has not disposed of the bill at second reading, the Speaker interrupt any proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at second reading without further debate, with provisions in points 2(a)(i) and 2(a)(ii) also applying to proceedings on Bill C-30;

(d)if the Senate adopts the bill at second reading, it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance;

(e)the committee be authorized to meet for the purposes of its consideration of Bill C-30, even though the Senate may then be sitting, with rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto;

(f)the committee submit its report on Bill C-30 to the Senate no later than June 19, 2026 at 10 a.m.;

(g)if the committee reports the bill without amendment, the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading later that sitting;

(h)if the committee has not reported the bill by 10 a.m., it be deemed to have reported the bill without amendment at that time, and the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading later that sitting;

(i)if the committee reports the bill with amendment or with a recommendation that the Senate not proceed further with the bill:

(i)the report be taken into consideration forthwith or, if another item is under consideration at that time, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration as the next item of business; and

(ii)once the Senate decides on the report, the bill, if still before the Senate, be taken into consideration at third reading forthwith; and

(j)if on June 19, 2026, the Senate has not concluded proceedings on the bill by 2 p.m., the Speaker interrupt any proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at third reading without further debate, provided that if the bill has not yet been moved for third reading at that time, the sponsor, or a designate, be recognized solely to move third reading either at that time, or once the Senate has made a decision on the committee’s report, if the bill is still then before the Senate;

4.proceedings at any stage on Bills C-16, C-25 and C-30, under the terms of this order, not be adjourned and no vote requested in relation thereto be deferred;

5.if, under the terms of this order, the Speaker is at any time required to interrupt proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of a bill at a particular stage without further debate, no further debate or amendment be permitted, and, if a standing vote is requested, the bells ring once, and for only 15 minutes, without being rung again for subsequent votes necessary to dispose of the bill at the stage in question; and

6.for greater certainty, if, at the time this order provides that something is to happen in relation to Bills C-16, C-25 and C-30, the bells are either ringing for another vote, another vote is underway, or Question Period is underway, the time provided for in this order be understood as if it were at the end of either that other vote or Question Period.

Debate.

At 7:31 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 7:41 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Motions

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C.: