Journals of the Senate
45 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1996, Canada
Journals of the Senate
Issue 2
Wednesday, February 28, 1996
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams Anderson Andreychuk Atkins Austin Bacon Berntson Bonnell Bosa Bryden
Carney Carstairs Cochrane Comeau Cools Corbin Davey De Bané Di Nino Doody Doyle
Fairbairn Forrestall Gigantès Grafstein Graham Grimard Gustafson Haidasz Hays
Hébert Hervieux-Payette Kelleher Kenny Keon Kinsella Landry Lawson Lewis
Losier-Cool Lucier
Lynch-Staunton MacDonald (Halifax) MacEachen Maheu Marchand Milne Molgat
Murray Nolin Oliver Olson Ottenheimer Pearson Perrault Petten Phillips Pitfield
Poulin Prud'homme Riel Rivest Rizzuto Robichaud Rompkey Roux
St. Germain Sparrow Spivak Stanbury Stewart Stollery Tkachuk Watt Wood
PRAYERS.
Tribute was paid to the Honourable L. Norbert Thériault who retired from the Senate on February 16, 1996.
Tribute was paid to the memory of the Honourable Ernest C. Manning, P.C., former Senator, whose death occurred on February 19, 1996.
Tribute was paid to the memory of the Honourable J.G. Léopold Langlois, former Senator, whose death occurred on February 13, 1996.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Kenny presented the following:
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
The Guidelines for Senators' Research Expenditures were established as a pilot project in 1988 and, after eight years, the program has proven successful.
Your Committee believes that the program would be more effective if peer review were eliminated and the research and general office budgets combined, while retaining the flexibility of the two previous budgets.
Senators have commissions to discharge their duties and it is inappropriate to perpetuate the concept of having a Senator's research projects reviewed by his or her colleagues.
Your Committee therefore recommends that, effective April 1, 1996, Senators no longer be requested to submit applications for their research allowance. It also recommends that research and general office expenses be combined, and that the flexibility of the two previous budgets be retained.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY,
Chairman.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stewart, 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.
The Honourable Senator Kenny presented the following:
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Your Committee has agreed that the following guidelines regarding witness expenses be adopted:
1. Committees may apply for $10,000 in emergency funds when there are insufficient funds in a Committee's budget for the payment of witness expenses.
2. Committees may reimburse expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization and payment will take place upon application.
3. Any prepayment of witness expenses would be made from a Committee's budget.
4. The Chairs of Committees will have the discretion to decide if a resident of the National Capital Region will have his or her expenses reimbursed when appearing before a Committee in Ottawa.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chairman.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stollery, 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.
The Honourable Senator Kenny presented the following:
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
THIRD REPORT
Your Committee has agreed that authorization be given for the necessary costs of the former members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs to undertake their upcoming trip to Europe, if it takes place during this period of prorogation, under similar circumstances as the study on Corporate Governance.
Your Committee has also agreed that if the trip takes place after the opening of the new session and upon the re-establishment of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs; (i) the budget from the previous session be re-instated; (ii) the budget be increased from $152,840 to $170,000, and (iii) an amount of $14,000 be transferred from Professional Services to Travel Expenses.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chairman.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lewis, that the Report be adopted now.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Hébert presented the following:
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Committee of Selection has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
Pursuant to Rule 85(1)(a) of the Rules of the Senate, your Committee nominates the Honourable Senator Ottenheimer as Speaker pro tempore.
Respectfully submitted,
JACQUES HÉBERT
Chairman.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Hébert moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gigantès, that the Report be adopted now.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Hébert presented the following:
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Committee of Selection has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Pursuant to Rule 85(1)(b) of the Rules of the Senate, your Committee submits herewith the list of Senators nominated by it to serve on the following select committees:
COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES, STANDING RULES AND ORDERS
The Honourable Senators Bosa, Doyle, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Gauthier, Grafstein, Grimard, Lewis, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Maheu, Milne, Murray, Ottenheimer, Petten, Robertson, Robichaud, Rompkey and Rossiter.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION
The Honourable Senators Cochrane, Cohen, Davey, De Bané, Di Nino, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Forrestall, Gauthier, Kenny, LeBreton, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Milne, Nolin, Petten, Poulin, Stollery and Wood.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Bacon, Bolduc, Carney, Corbin, Doody, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Gauthier, Grafstein, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), MacEachen, Ottenheimer, Ste wart and Stollery.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE
The Honourable Senators Bolduc, Cools, De Bané, Eyton, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Kelly, Losier-Cool, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Maheu, Pearson, Poulin, Rizzuto, Stratton and Tkachuk.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
The Honourable Senators Adams, Atkins, Bacon, Davey, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Forrestall, Johnson, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Oliver, Perrault, Petten, Poulin, Roberge and Roux.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bryden, Carstairs, Corbin, Doyle, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Ghitter, Gigantès, Jessiman, Lewis, Losier-Cool, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Nolin and Pearson.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON BANKING, TRADE AND COMMERCE
The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Hervieux-Payette, Kelleher, Kenny, Kirby, Kolber, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Meighen, Perrault, St. Germain, Simard and Stewart.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The Honourable Senators Bonnell, Bosa, Cohen, Cools, De Ware, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Gigantès, Haidasz, Keon, Lavoie-Roux, Losier-Cool, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Phillips and Rompkey.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
The Honourable Senators Anderson, Carstairs, Charbonneau, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Gustafson,, Hays, Landry, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Olson, Riel, Rossiter, St. Germain, Sparrow and Spivak.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
The Honourable Senators Comeau, De Bané, Doody, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Jessiman, Landry, Losier-Cool, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Marchand, Perrault, Petten, Robertson, Rossiter and Stewart.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
The Honourable Senators Adams, Bacon, Buchanan, Carney, Cochrane, *Fairbairn (or Graham), Ghitter, Hays, Kenny, Kirby, *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Marchand, Rompkey and Spivak.
*Ex Officio members
COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
The Honourable Senators Anderson, Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Carstairs, *Fairbairn (or Graham), *Lynch-Staunton (or Berntson), Marchand, Milne, Pearson, Rivest, Roux, Tkachuk, Twinn and Watt.
*Ex Officio members
Respectfully submitted,
JACQUES HÉBERT
Chairman
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Hébert moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Landry, that the Report be adopted now.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills
The Honourable Senator Kinsella presented Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (sexual orientation).
The Bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 5, 1996.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cools presented Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (plea bargaining).
The Bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Phillips, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 5, 1996.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cools presented Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (abuse of process).
The Bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Adams, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Wednesday next, March 6, 1996.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,The Honourable Senator Stewart moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the consequences of the economic integration of the European Union for the national governance of the member states, and on the consequences of the emergence of the European Union for economic, political, and defence relations between Canada and Europe;
That the Committee have the power to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of its examination and consideration of the said order of reference;
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament be referred to the Committee;
That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place outside Canada;
That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 1996; and
That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the Senate is not sitting when the final report of the Committee is completed, the Committee shall deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, and said report shall thereupon be deemed to have been tabled in this Chamber.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Motions
Consideration of His Excellency the Governor General's Speech from the Throne at the Opening of the Second Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament.
The Honourable Senator Bacon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C.:
That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To His Excellency the Right Honourable Roméo A. LeBlanc, a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Berntson for the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
______________________________
With leave,
The Senate reverted to Government Notices of Motions.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Landry:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 12, 1996, at 2:00 p.m.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bacon:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.