Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Committee Authorized to Study the Implementation and Success of a Federal Framework on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
December 1, 2020
Question.
Are honourable senators ready for the question?
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin that the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology — shall I dispense?
Who said, “no?”
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the implementation and success of a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by the Government of Canada as it relates to the four identified priority areas with a focus on data collection, that is, improved tracking of the rate of PTSD amongst first responders and its associated economic and social costs, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than February 28, 2021.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
I hear a “no.”
Those in favour of the motion and who are present in the Senate Chamber, please say, “yea.”
Those who oppose the motion and who are present in the Senate Chamber, please say, “nay.”
In my opinion, the nays have it.
Do we have an agreement on the bell?
If you are opposed to a 30‑minute bell, please say, “nay.” We will have a 30‑minute bell, with the vote at 3:55. Call in the senators.
Honourable senators, there was a message on the screen about voting on an adjournment. I want to make it perfectly clear before the vote starts that we are voting on Motion No. 9, not on an adjournment. Is that understood?
Honourable senators, if you are participating by videoconference, you should have three voting cards, one to vote yea, one to vote nay, and one to abstain. If you do not have the voting card, you can reproduce them on paper with a pen or marker.
Please hold the appropriate card at the appropriate time to indicate how you wish to vote. Once your name has been called, please lower your card.
After reading the question, I will ask those in favour who are in the chamber to rise, after which those participating by videoconference will hold up the “yea” card. We will then proceed in the same way for the nays and the abstentions.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the implementation and success of a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by the Government of Canada as it relates to the four identified priority areas with a focus on data collection, that is, improved tracking of the rate of PTSD amongst first responders and its associated economic and social costs, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than February 28, 2021.
Your Honour, I believe if you abstain, you can explain your vote. I would like to say that the study of post-traumatic stress disorder would be an excellent study. However, we’ve passed numerous motions in this chamber telling committees what they should study. Committees are masters and mistresses of their own destiny. They can choose what they wish to study. Even if a motion like this passes in the chamber, it does not force a committee to study that. That’s why I abstained.
I think that we’re getting a little carried away with telling committees what they should study. Most committees are currently in the organizational stages, and I’m sure they will have lengthy discussions about the types of issues they feel would be most relevant to them. That’s why I abstained this time, because it is up to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to determine what studies they would like to go forward with. Thank you.
