45 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1996, Canada

Journals of the Senate

---

Issue 62

Friday, December 13, 1996
10:00 a.m.

The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

---

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Adams Anderson Andreychuk Atkins Austin Bacon Beaudoin Berntson Bonnell Bosa Bryden Carstairs Cools Corbin
De Bané DeWare Doody Fairbairn Forest Forrestall Gigantès Graham Hays Hébert Hervieux-Payette Kenny Keon Kinsella Landry LeBreton Lewis Losier-Cool Lynch-Staunton MacDonald (Halifax) Maheu Mercier Milne Molgat Murray Nolin Oliver Pearson Perrault Petten Poulin Rizzuto Robichaud Rompkey Rossiter Stanbury Stewart Stollery Taylor Watt Whelan

PRAYERS

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

First Reading of Commons Public Bills

A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-202, An Act respecting a National Organ Donor Week in Canada, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bacon, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Monday next, December 16, 1996.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A Message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill C-347, An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts,

And to acquaint the Senate that the Commons have agreed to the amendments made by the Senate to this Bill, without amendment.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

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

Third reading of Bill C-63, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act, the Parliament of Canada Act and the Referendum Act.

The Honourable Senator Bryden moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pearson, that the Bill be read the third time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forrestall, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kenny, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bonnell, for the second reading of Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Landry, that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver, that the motion be amended by adding the following thereto:

; and

That, notwithstanding Rule 98, the Committee present an interim report, before submitting its final report on the Bill, relating to its findings on the following questions:

(1) Is MMT based petroleum the cause of OBD malfunc tioning?

(2) Does MMT in gas cause a health hazard to Canadians?

(3) Does MMT in gas cause direct damage to the environment?

After debate,

A Point of Order was raised as to the acceptability of the motion in amendment.

After debate,

The Speaker reserved his decision.

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees

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

Consideration of the Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (budget - Transport and Communications Committee) presented in the Senate on December 12, 1996.

The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lewis, that the Report be adopted.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Consideration of the Eleventh Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology(budget - study on adjudication of pensions by the Department of Veterans Affairs), presented in the Senate on December 12, 1996.

The Honourable Senator DeWare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon, that the Report be adopted.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Orders No. 4 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other

Orders No. 21 and 15 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Resuming the debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Beaudoin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton:

That a special committee of the Senate be appointed to examine and report upon the issue of Canadian unity, specifically recognition of Quebec, the amending formula, and the federal spending power in areas of provincial jurisdiction;

That the committee be composed of twelve Senators, three of whom shall constitute a quorum;

That the committee have power to send for persons, papers and records, to examine witnesses, to report from time to time and to print such papers and evidence from day to day as may be ordered by the committee;

That the papers and evidence received and taken by the Special Committee of the Senate on Bill C-110, An Act respecting constitutional amendments, during the First Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament be deemed to have been referred to the committee established pursuant to this motion;

That the committee have power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate;

That the committee submit its final report no later than December 15, 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.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver, that the motion be amended by deleting the sixth paragraph thereof and substituting the following:

"That the committee submit its final report no later than June 17, 1997; and".

After debate,

The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Bacon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rizzuto, that further debate on the motion, as amended, be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Order No. 13 (inquiry) was called and postponed until the next sitting.

REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):

Report of the Northern Oil and Gas for the year ended 1995, pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985 (2nd Supp.), c. 36, s. 109.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-548.

Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Textile Reference Annual Status Report" for the period October 1, 1995 to September 30, 1996, pursuant to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 47 (4th Supp.), s. 42.-Sessional Paper No. 2/35-549.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Graham moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C.:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

---