Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAndersonArnoldArnotAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHayHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartelMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOuellettePatePetitclercPettenPitfieldPupatelloQuinnRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenTuckerVaroneWallinWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAndersonArnoldArnot*Ataullahjan*AucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHayHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartelMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOsler*OudarOuellettePatePetitclercPettenPitfieldPupatelloQuinn*RavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenTuckerVaroneWallinWells (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

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 1:45 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted on September 29, 2026, the Senate was suspended during pleasure and resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the subject matter of Bill C-38, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (extension of the federal fuel excise tax relief), the Honourable Senator Cormier in the Chair.

—In the Committee—

Pursuant to the order adopted on September 29, 2026, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P., Minister of Finance and National Revenue, was escorted to a seat in the Senate Chamber.

Debate.

It was agreed that the chair report to the Senate that the witness had been heard.

---

The sitting of the Senate resumed.

The Chair of the Committee stated that the Committee had examined the subject matter of Bill C-38, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (extension of the federal fuel excise tax relief), and had directed him to report the same to the Senate.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-10, An Act respecting the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1292.

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-22, An Act respecting lawful access, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1293.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Klyne presented the following:

Thursday, October 1, 2026

The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight has the honour to present its

ELEVENTH REPORT

Your committee, which for the purposes of integrity, independence, transparency and accountability, is authorized under rule 12-7(4) to act on its own initiative on certain matters, including retaining the services of internal and external auditors and overseeing such audits, and to report at least annually with observations and recommendations to the Senate, now reports as follows:

Across the government and public institutions, an investment in internal audit demonstrates a commitment to support sound stewardship of resources and accountability to Canadians. Internal audit provides independent oversight, assurance, and advice on governance, risk management, and internal controls. In doing so, internal audit results inform decision-making, strengthen governance and controls, identify efficiencies and cost-avoidance opportunities, and support continuous improvement. In an environment of fiscal restraint and increased expectations for accountability, the value of an effective oversight and assurance function is measurable through savings, transparency and proper risk management.

The initial allocation of funds to support Senate audit and oversight activity was not based on a comprehensive analysis of the risks, responsibilities, or required activities to deliver an internal audit function. As well, the funding for these activities has remained relatively unchanged and below the investment in internal audit activity of comparably sized government organizations. With these initial funds, your committee has established an internal audit function that annually conducts a comprehensive risk-based audit planning process, the results of which inform the Risk Based Internal Audit Plan that identifies where to focus internal audit efforts to help ensure effective oversight, assurance, and alignment with evolving Senate risks and priorities.

To execute its Risk-Based Internal Audit Plan 2026-29, approved by your committee and tabled in the Senate on April 23, 2026, your committee is seeking $40,000 in additional permanent funding for the Senate’s internal audit function. To minimize this request, your committee is also seeking to permanently reallocate $124,000 from the budget of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight (AOVS) to the budget of the Office of the Chief Audit Executive (OCAE) to acquire resources to complete the series of internal audits identified in the Risk-Based Internal Audit Plan. Consistent with the Senate’s expenditure management objectives, no permanent full-time positions are being requested. These additional resources would bring total funding for the internal audit function at the Senate to $367,000.

In line with the Senate’s efforts to optimize resource use, this request seeks to balance institutional priorities, fiscal realities, and follow best practices. As communicated in the committee’s seventh report, Risk-Based Internal Audit Plan Summary 2026–2029, this level of investment continues to represent a lean resourcing model relative to the internal audit functions in comparably sized government organizations. Absent this funding, planned internal audit work will need to be deferred or reduced, limiting the Senate’s access to independent assurance and insight into key risk areas and leaving potential reputational risks unmitigated. Nonetheless, this investment will allow the Senate internal audit function to provide internal audit coverage of high-priority and risk areas in governance, risk management, and internal controls.

The requested additional investment is intended to create a value-added and sustainable internal audit function, thus generating the maximum returns on the investment in the Senate internal audit function. More specifically, the return to the Senate on this investment in internal audit will include:

•Assurance and oversight coverage of areas of highest priority and risk through a stronger framework mitigating strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks;

•Strengthened governance, risk management, and internal controls;

•Identified opportunities for efficiencies, cost avoidance and reductions, and improved use of resources;

•Fraud prevention and detection;

•Informed organizational change and modernization initiatives;

•Enhanced transparency and evidence -based decision making; and

•Demonstrated commitment to follow best practices to support sound stewardship and accountability to Canadians.

Therefore, to facilitate an effective audit and oversight function that can carry out the Risk-Based Internal Audit Plan 2026-29, as approved by your committee, your committee makes the following recommendations:

1.That additional permanent funding of $40,000 for the OCAE’s budget be requested as part of the 2027–28 Main Estimates process; and

2.That the permanent reallocation of $124,000 from the AOVS budget to the OCAE’s budget be included as part of the 2027–28 Main Estimates process.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Audette, 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 Coyle introduced Bill S-251, An Act to establish a national strategy to end energy poverty.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Coyle moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boudreau, 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

Pursuant to the order adopted June 4, 2025, the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson informed the Senate that Question Period with the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, P.C., M.P., Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.

Government Business

Inquiries

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson called the attention of the Senate to residential school denialism in Canada and its impacts on survivors and reconciliation.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Kingston moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Motions

The Honourable Senator Petten moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C.:

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

1.at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to examine the subject matter of Bill C-39, An Act respecting certain measures to strengthen the economy;

2.the Committee of the Whole receive:

(a) the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy;

(b)the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P., Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons; and

(c)the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario;

3.the witnesses be accompanied by at most one official each;

4.the committee rise no later than two hours after it begins;

5.the ministers’ introductory remarks be limited to a maximum of five minutes each;

6.if, during the Committee of the Whole, a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-31(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator; and

7.for greater certainty, all witnesses appear in person.

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

o o o

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

That, if and when Bill C-27, An Act to give effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tlegohli Got’ine and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, is adopted at second reading, it be deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples; 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 with rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

o o o

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday,October 6, 2026, at 2 p.m.

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Brazeau, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacAdam, for the third reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages).

After debate,

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

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

ADJOURNMENT

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Petten 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 4:22 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 2 p.m.)

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Fridhandler replaced the Honourable Senator Cardozo (October 1, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Aucoin replaced the Honourable Senator Osler (October 1, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Osler replaced the Honourable Senator Aucoin (September 30, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Fridhandler (September 29, 2026).