47 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1998, Canada

Journals of the Senate

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Issue 50

Thursday, March 26, 1998
2:00 p.m.

The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

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The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Adams, Angus, Atkins, Bacon, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bryden, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, Carney, Carstairs, Cochrane, Cogger, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Ferretti Barth, Fitzpatrick, Forest, Forrestall, Ghitter, Gigantès, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Hébert, Jessiman, Johnstone, Joyal, Kelly, Kinsella, Kirby, Lavoie-Roux, LeBreton, Lewis, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Meighen, Milne, Molgat, Moore, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Poulin, Prud'homme, Rossiter, St. Germain, Simard, Spivak, Stanbury, Stewart, Stollery, Tkachuk, Watt, Wood

PRAYERS

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk for the Honourable Senator Kirby, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, presented its Tenth Report (Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Small Business Loans Act) without amendment.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pépin, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a third reading at the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. The Honourable Senator Cools, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, presented its Fourth Report (Interim) (Estimates 1998-99).

Ordered, That the Report be printed as an Appendix to the Journals of the Senate of this day and form part of the permanent records of this House.

(See Appendix)

With leave of the Senate, The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Watt, that the Report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later this day.

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

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate, The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stanbury:

That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday next, March 31, 1998, at 2:00 p.m.

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 Forest, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick, for the second reading of 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.

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

The Bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Forest moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick, that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator De Bané, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Lucier, for the second reading of Bill C-9, An Act for making the system of Canadian ports competitive, efficient and commercially oriented, providing for the establishing of port authorities and the divesting of certain harbours and ports, for the commercialization of the St. Lawrence Seaway and ferry services and other matters related to maritime trade and transport and amending the Pilotage Act and amending and repealing other Acts as a consequence.

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 Johnstone, that the Bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications.

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

Third reading of 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.

The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Watt, that the Bill be read the third time.

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

The Bill was then read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate have passed this Bill. Third reading of Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act and the Teleglobe Canada Reorganization and Divestiture Act.

The Honourable Senator Poulin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth, that the Bill be read the third time.

After debate, In amendment, the Honourable Senator Oliver moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator DeWare, that the Bill be not now read the third time but that it be amended:

1. in clause 1

(a) on page 1, by deleting lines 4 to 10; and

(b) on pages 1 to 12, by renumbering clauses 2 to 24 as clauses 1 to 23, and any cross-references thereto accordingly.

2. in clause 3

(a) on page 1, by deleting lines 18 and 19;

(b) on page 2,

(i) by deleting the heading preceding line 1, and

(ii) by deleting lines 1 to 40;

(c) on page 3, by deleting lines 1 to 15; and

(d) on pages 3 to 12, by renumbering clauses 4 to 24 as clauses 3 to 23, and any cross-references thereto accordingly.

3. in clause 6 on page 4, by replacing line 36 with the following:

"person who provides basic telecommunications services to con-".

4. in clause 7

(a) on page 5, by deleting lines 10 to 18; and

(b) on pages 5 to 12, by renumbering clauses 8 to 24 as clauses 7 to 23, and any cross-references thereto accordingly.

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stanbury, that further debate on the motion in amendment be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Reports of Committees

Consideration of the Fourth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (Interim) (Estimates 1998-99) presented earlier this day.

The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Watt, that the Report be adopted.

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

Bills

Second reading of 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.

The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Adams, that the Bill be read the second time.

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

The Bill was then read the second 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 third reading at the next sitting.

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

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting. Second reading of Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (abuse of process).

The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Johnstone, that the Bill be read the second time.

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

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

Reports of Committees

Consideration of the Seventeenth Report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (Budget 1998-99-Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access) presented in the Senate on March 25, 1998.

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

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Consideration of the Sixteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (Budget 1997-98-Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access) presented in the Senate on March 25, 1998.

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

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Orders No. 3 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Ghitter calling the attention of the Senate to the concerns expressed by Albertans with regard to the Senate as an institution: (a) its effectiveness, usefulness and viability; (b) alternative means by which to select members of the Senate; (c) the nature of its regional representation, particularly a desire to see equal numbers of Senators representing each province; (d) the length of term of office; (e) the role which a revised Senate might take at a national level; and (f) the powers which would be appropriate for it to exercise in harmony with the House of Commons.

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

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Order No. 21 (inquiry) was called and postponed until the next sitting. Resuming debate on the motion, as modified, of the Honourable Senator Kelly, seconded by the Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C.:

That a special committee of the Senate be appointed to hear evidence on and consider matters relating to the threat posed to Canada by terrorism and the counter-terrorism activities of the Government of Canada;

That the Committee examine and report on the current international threat environment with particular reference to terrorism as it relates to Canada;

That the Committee examine and report on the extent to which the recommendations of the Report of the Special Committee on Terrorism and Public Safety (June 1987) and the Report of the Special Committee on Terrorism and the Public Safety (June 1989) have been addressed by the Government of Canada;

That the Committee examine and make recommendations with respect to the threat assessment capability of the Government of Canada relative to the threat of terrorism;

That the Committee examine and make recommendations with respect to the leadership role, preparedness and review of those departments and agencies of the Government of Canada with counter-terrorism responsibilities;

That the Committee examine and assess the level of international cooperation between Canada and its allies with respect to the evolving nature of the terrorist threat;

That seven Senators, to be designated at a later date, act as members of the Committee;

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

That the Committee present its final report no later than September 29, 1998.

After debate, The question being put on the motion, as modified, it was adopted. Orders No. 45 (motion), 12, 19, 24, 18, 20 (inquiries), 48, 54 (motions), 16, 17 (inquiries) 1, 47 and 49 (motions) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Pearson called the attention of the Senate to the results of the International Summit of Sexually Exploited Children and Youth, held in Victoria from March 7 to 12.

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

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

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

Summary of the Report to Treasury Board on Export Development Corporation's Canada Account operations for the fiscal year 1995-1996.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-527.

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Tech nology

The name of the Honourable Senator Johnstone substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Chalifoux (March 25).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The names of the Honourable Senators Ghitter and Eyton substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Stratton and St. Germain (March 25).

The names of the Honourable Senators Stratton and St. Germain substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Ghitter and Kinsella (March 26).

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