47 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1998, Canada

Journals of the Senate

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Issue 46

Wednesday, March 18, 1998
1:30 p.m.

The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

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The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Austin, Bacon, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bryden, Buchanan, Butts, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Cogger, Cohen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fitzpatrick, Forest, Gauthier, Gigantès, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Gustafson, Hays, Hébert, Jessiman, Johnson, Johnstone, Joyal, Keon, Kinsella, Kolber, LeBreton, Lewis, Losier-Cool, Lucier, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Murray, Pearson, Pépin, Perrault, Poulin, Prud'homme, Rivest, Roberge, Robichaud, (L'Acadie-Acadia) , Robichaud, (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Rompkey, Rossiter, St. Germain, Simard, Sparrow, Spivak, Stewart, Stollery, Stratton, Watt, Whelan

PRAYERS

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-33, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1998, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Watt, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading Tuesday next, March 24, 1998.

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

A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-34, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1999, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading Tuesday next, March 24, 1998.

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

A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-6, An Act to provide for an integrated system of land and water management in the Mackenzie Valley, to establish certain boards for that purpose and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 24, 1998.

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

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Pursuant to Rule 25(2), the Honourable Senator Carstairs tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 16, dated October 1, 1997, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Department of Transport.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-482S.

Reply to Question No. 19, dated October 1, 1997, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Halifax Port Corporation.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-483S.

Reply to Question No. 24, dated October 1, 1997, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Department of Intergovernmental Affairs.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-484S.

Reply to Question No. 37, dated October 1, 1997, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-Port of Quebec Corporation.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-485S.

Reply to Question No. 45, dated October 1, 1997, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-St. Lawrence Seaway Authority.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-486S.

Reply to Question No. 51, dated October 1, 1997, appearing on the Order Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Kenny, respecting the Alternative Fuels Act-VIA Rail Canada Inc.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-487S.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon:

the expenditures set out in the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999, with the exception of Parliament Vote 10 and Privy Council Vote 25; and

the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998.

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

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

That the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Privy Council Vote 25 of the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999; 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 Cook:

That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Parliament Vote 10 of the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999; 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.

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

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

Ordered, That Inquiry No. 18 standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Stratton be brought forward.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Bolduc called the attention of the Senate to the inquiry standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Stratton respecting the Budget presented by the Minister of Finance in the House of Commons on February 24, 1998.

After debate, The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cohen, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

With leave of the Senate, The Honourable Senator Bolduc tabled the following:

Document entitled: "Tax Hikes Since 1993".-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-488S.

Reports of Committees

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

Consideration of the Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (supplementary budget-Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee), presented in the Senate on February 26, 1998.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs for the Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cook, that the Report be adopted.

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

Orders No. 5 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other

Orders No. 48, 54, 3 (motions), 15, 16 (inquiries), 45 (motion), 17 (inquiry), 1 (motion), 9 (inquiry), 47 and 49 (motions) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

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

That the Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders have power to sit at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday next, March 19, 1998, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that Rule 95(4) be suspended in relation thereto.

After debate, The Honourable Senator DeWare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stratton, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was negatived on division.

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

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

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