46 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1997, Canada

Journals of the Senate

---

Issue 13

Wednesday, October 29, 1997
1:30 p.m.

The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

---

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Adams, Andreychuk, Atkins, Bacon, Balfour, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bonnell, Bosa, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, Carstairs, Cogger, Cohen, Comeau, Cools, Corbin, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Doyle, Fairbairn, Ferretti Barth, Forest, Forrestall, Ghitter, Gigantès, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Gustafson, Hébert, Jessiman, Kelleher, Kelly, Kenny, Kinsella, Kirby, Lavoie-Roux, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, MacDonald, Maheu, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Moore, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Perrault, Petten, Phillips, Poulin, Prud'homme, Roberge, Robichaud, (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud, (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Rompkey, Rossiter, Simard, Sparrow, Spivak, Stewart, Stollery, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Whelan

PRAYERS

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A Message was brought from the House of Commons in the following words:-

Tuesday, October 28, 1997

ORDERED, That a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons be appointed to consider matters related to the proposed resolution respecting a proposed Amendment to Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada concerning the Newfoundland school system;

That sixteen Members of the House of Commons and seven Members of the Senate be members of the Committee;

That the Committee be directed to consult broadly and review such information as it deems appropriate with respect to this issue;

That the Committee have the power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the House;

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

That the Committee have the power to hear witnesses via video conferencing;

That the Committee have the power to retain the services of expert, professional, technical and clerical staff;

That the quorum of the Committee be twelve Members whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, so long as both Houses are represented, and that the Joint Chairpersons be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof, whenever six members are present, so long as both Houses are represented;

That the Committee have power to appoint, from among its members, such sub-committees as may be deemed advisable, and to delegate to such sub-committees, all or any of its power except the power to report to the Senate and House of Commons;

That the Committee have the power to authorize television and radio broadcasting of any or all of its proceedings;

That the Committee present its final report no later than December 5, 1997;

That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the House or the Senate are not sitting when the final report of the Committee is completed, the report may be deposited with the Clerk of the House which is not sitting, or the Clerks of both Houses if neither House is then sitting, and the report shall thereupon be deemed to have been presented in that House; or both Houses, as the case may be; and

That a Message be sent to the Senate requesting that House to unite with this House for the above purpose, and to select, if the Senate deems it advisable, Members to act on the proposed Special Joint Committee.

ATTEST:

ROBERT MARLEAU

Clerk of the House of Commons

Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees

The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool presented the following:

Wednesday, October 29, 1997

The Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages has the honour to present its

FIRST REPORT

Your Committee recommends that its quorum be fixed at seven (7) members, provided that both Houses and the Opposition are represented whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, and that the Joint Chairmen be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof so long as four (4) members are present, provided that both Houses and the Opposition are represented.

Your Committee futher recommends to the Senate that it be empowered to sit during sittings of the Senate.

Respectfully submitted,

ROSE-MARIE LOSIER-COOL

Joint Chair

The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C. (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), 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.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Lewis, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stewart, for the second reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code in respect of persons with disabilities, to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act in respect of persons with disabilities and other matters and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

After debate,

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

The Bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

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

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Forest, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mercier:

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

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

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C. (L'Acadie-Acadia):

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, with the exception of Parliament Vote 10a and Privy Council Vote 25a.

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

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C. (L'Acadie-Acadia):

That the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Privy Council Vote 25a of the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998; and

That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.

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

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C. (L'Acadie-Acadia):

That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Parliament Vote 10a of the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998; and

That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.

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

Order No. 5 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

OTHER BUSINESS

Reports of Committees

Consideration of the Third Report of the Committee of Selection (membership of Special Committee of the Senate on the Cape Breton Development Corporation), presented in the Senate on October 28, 1997.

The Honourable Senator Hébert moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bosa, that the Report be adopted.

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

Other

Orders No. 1 (motion), 5 (inquiry) and 3 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Bacon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Maheu:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and make recommendations upon the state of transportation safety and security in Canada and to complete a comparative review of technical issues and legal and regulatory structures with a view to ensuring that transportation safety and security in Canada are of such high quality as to meet the needs of Canada and Canadians in the twenty-first century;

That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject and the work accomplished during the Second Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament be referred to the Committee;

That the Committee be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and

That the Committee present its final report no later than December 31, 1998.

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

The Honourable Senator Bacon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Maheu:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report upon Canada's international competitive position in communications generally, including a review of the economic, social and cultural importance of communications for Canada;

That the papers and evidence received on the subject and the work accomplished by this Committee during the Thirty-fifth Parliament be referred to the Committee;

That the Committee be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and

That the Committee present its final report no later than December 31, 1998.

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

The Honourable Senator Kinsella for the Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator DeWare:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology 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 such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it.

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

The Honourable Senator Kinsella for the Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator DeWare:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and its Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings.

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Grafstein:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

---