QUESTION PERIOD — Privy Council Office
Government Priorities
September 23, 2025
First, I would like to congratulate Senator Pierre Moreau, my former colleague and a former minister in the Quebec National Assembly, on his appointment as Government Representative. I had the pleasure of sponsoring him here in the Senate.
Since the reform of the upper chamber in 2015, the number of Senate public bills has been going up. In the last session, 92 such bills were introduced and in the current session, after only 16 sittings, 33 have been introduced. Time will tell how many more will be added to the Order Paper. The Senate is increasingly seized of the study of these bills, which leaves us less time to fulfill our main mandate as a chamber of sober second thought. At least, that’s the mandate that was described to me when I applied to become a senator.
Senator Moreau, do you have any thoughts to share with us on this issue?
Thank you for your question, Senator Gignac. As Édith Butler said, Paquetville can sleep in peace. As far as I am concerned, I’ll sleep peacefully at the end of this first day as the Government Representative in the Senate.
I understand that the Senate controls its own procedure. If the senators wish to change the rules so that we can focus on specific aspects of our work, I’ll be pleased to take the necessary steps to have the senators’ wishes implemented.
Prior to the Senate reform, it took an average of 12 sittings to pass a government bill. We’re familiar with that process and I suggest we not return to it again. However, it takes from 30 to 50 sitting days to pass government legislation. In June, we spent only three days on a complex study. Could we strike a fair balance between spending three days or 50 days on government legislation?
I had discussions with Senate colleagues and certain groups. In fact, the June session made a deep impression on people.
As far as I’m concerned, the Senate needs sufficient time to study bills and perform its constitutional role as the chamber of sober second thought. It is certainly a matter I will pay close attention to in my messages from the Senate to the other place.
