Senator Dalphond, you raise an important issue, and I want to acknowledge the humility you demonstrated in referring to the institutional memory of the Senate, and to Senator Ringuette’s visionary text of March 2014 concerning the interventions of our Senate colleagues who are more experienced than we are. I am still a new senator. This is one of the few places where I can call myself a newbie, after three and a half years, and the fact that you arrived in the Senate after me also means I can consider you as a fellow newbie.

I think that, essentially, the principle of democratically electing a Speaker pro tempore in this institution is essential. Therefore, I fully subscribe to your proposal of a secret ballot. However, things must be done right. Your motion concerns a process that would be established by the Speaker, in consultation with the leaders and facilitators, to determine how this secret ballot would be conducted. I believe that your proposal fails to consider a fundamental constitutional right that this institution must uphold, namely the right concerning Canada’s official languages.

Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended:

1.by adding the following before the last paragraph:

“2. the senator elected to serve as Speaker pro tempore shall be required to possess the full and practical knowledge of the official language which is not that of the Speaker for the time being;”; and

2.by renumbering the final paragraph as number 3.

In amendment, it was moved by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion, that the motion be amended by: (a), adding the following before the last paragraph — may I dispense?

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

All those in favour of the motion will please say “yea.”

All those opposed to the motion will please say “nay.”

In my opinion the “yeas” have it.

I see two senators rising. Do we have agreement on a bell?

Is it agreed, honourable senators, that the vote will take place at 4 p.m.?

Your Honour, before the question was called I wished to adjourn the debate. I missed that opportunity.

Senator Omidvar wishes to adjourn the debate. I did not see her when she rose.

With leave of the house, we will go back to Senator Omidvar. Is it agreed, honourable senators?

I move adjournment of the debate.

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Is Senator Omidvar adjourning the amendment?

Yes, debate on the amendment. Is it agreed, honourable senators?

All honourable senators will know the amendment will have to be debated before we return to the main question.