Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerArnoldAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBureyCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DhillonDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellLaBoucane-BensonMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartelMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenPitfieldProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteTannasTuckerVaroneVernerWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerArnoldAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBureyCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)Dhillon*DowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-Lindell*Kingston*KlyneLaBoucane-BensonMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartelMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenPitfieldProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteTannasTuckerVaroneVernerWells (Alberta)*Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilson*YouanceYussuff

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

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Senior presented the following:

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights has the honour to present its

SIXTH REPORT

Your committee, to which was referred Bill C-234, An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Living Donor Recognition Medal, has, in obedience to the order of reference of June 2, 2026, 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 Sixth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (Bill C-234)

The committee heard that the structure of the Living Donor Recognition Medal does not align with the dynamics of Canada’s national honours system. In particular it heard the office of the Deputy Herald Chancellor and Deputy Secretary to the Governor General, responsible for the administration of the Canadian honours system, suggest that key partners in organ and tissue donations collaborate to deliver the Living Donor Recognition Medal, with Health Canada covering the costs. Noting this, and the lack of structural capability and capacity in the office of the Governor General, the committee believes Health Canada should take a leadership role in adjudicating, administering, funding and delivering this new honour, which recognizes the profound generosity of organ and tissue donations.

The committee heard that Canada does not publicly report a national demographic breakdown of organ donors, based on sex, gender, age or ethno-racial background. Canada’s national organ donation databases, managed by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, have traditionally focused public reporting on donor volumes, transplant numbers, wait-lists, donor type (living vs. deceased), and outcomes. However, an intersectional approach to this data would be beneficial to help identify disparities in donation rates across different population groups, enabling more targeted policies, outreach, and health equity initiatives to increase organ donation and improve access to transplantation.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacDonald, 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 Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-38, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (extension of the federal fuel excise tax relief), 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.

---

With leave,

The Senate reverted to Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations.

The Honourable Senator Gerba tabled the following:

Report of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, Bilateral Mission to Ethiopia and South Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa, from February 12 to 20, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1372.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dhillon, seconded by the Honourable Senator Varone, for the second reading of Bill C-22, An Act respecting lawful access.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, 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 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 3:25 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)

Reports of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1358.

Report of the Parole Board of Canada on the Record Suspension Program for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Criminal Records Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-47, sbs. 11(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1359.

Report of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10, s. 45.52.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1360.

Report on the activities of the Courts Administration Service for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Courts Administration Service Act, S.C. 2002, c. 8, sbs. 12(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1361.

Service Fees Report of the Department of Transport for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 451 “20(1)”. —Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1362.

Reports of the Administrator of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1363.

Reports of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1364.

Reports of the Administrator of the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1365.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, pursuant to the Broadcasting Act, S.C. 1991, c. 11, sbs. 55(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1366.

Report of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Broadcasting Act, S.C. 1991, c. 11, sbs. 71(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1367.

Reports of the Department of Canadian Heritage for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1368.

Annual report of the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Indigenous Languages Act, S.C. 2019, c. 23, sbs. 44(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1369.

Reports of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1370.

Reports of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, sbs. 94(2) and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1371.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Ince replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) (October 21, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Youance replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (October 21, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Galvez (October 21, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Kingston replaced the Honourable Senator Oudar (October 21, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Petitclerc (October 21, 2026).