48 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1999, Canada

Journals of the Senate

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Issue 118

Wednesday, March 10, 1999
2:00 p.m.

The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

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The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Austin, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bryden, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Cochrane, Cohen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Fairbairn, Ferretti Barth, Fitzpatrick, Fraser, Gauthier, Ghitter, Gill, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Gustafson, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Johnson, Joyal, Kelleher, Kelly, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Kroft, Lavoie-Roux, LeBreton, Lewis, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, Meighen, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, Phillips, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, Robertson, Robichaud , (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud , (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Roche, Rompkey, Rossiter, Ruck, Simard, Spivak, Stewart, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Whelan

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

*Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, Atkins, Austin, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bryden, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, *Carney, Carstairs, Chalifoux, Cochrane, Cohen, Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, De Bané, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Fairbairn, Ferretti Barth, Fitzpatrick, *Forrestall, Fraser, Gauthier, Ghitter, Gill, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Gustafson, Hays, Hervieux-Payette, Johnson, *Johnstone, Joyal, Kelleher, Kelly, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Kroft, Lavoie-Roux, *Lawson, LeBreton, Lewis, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Maheu, Mahovlich, *Maloney, Meighen, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Murray, Nolin, Oliver, Pearson, Pépin, *Perrault, Phillips, Poulin (Charette), Prud'homme, *Roberge, Robertson, Robichaud , (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud , (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Roche, Rompkey, Rossiter, Ruck, *St. Germain, Simard, Spivak, Stewart, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Whelan, *Wilson

PRAYERS

SENATORS' STATEMENTS

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees

The Honourable Senator Maheu presented the following:

WEDNESDAY, March 10, 1999

The Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders has the honour to present its

NINTH REPORT

Your Committee recommends that independent Senators be appointed to sit as full members on Senate committees under the following conditions:

1. That independent Senators would apply to the Selection Committee;

2. That the Selection Committee would be authorized to nominate independent Senators to Committees. Where the Selection Committee nominates an independent Senator to a Committee, it will also nominate one additional non-independent Senator to that Committee, thereby increasing the normal size of that Committee by two members;

3. That no independent Senator could sit on more than two committees;

4. That only one independent Senator would be allowed per committee; and

5. That there would be no ability for independent Senators to replace themselves on a committee in case of absence.

Your Committee further recommends that the Clerk of the Senate be authorized to make the necessary consequential alterations to the Rules of the Senate to implement this proposal.

Respectfully submitted,

SHIRLEY MAHEU

Chair

The Honourable Senator Maheu moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick, 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton presented a Bill S-26, An Act respecting the declaration of royal assent by the Governor General in the Queen's name to bills passed by the Houses of Parliament.

The Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, March 16, 1999.

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

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Motions

The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool:

That the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine the expenditures set out in Privy Council Vote 25c of the Supplementary Estimates (C) 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 Joyal, P.C.:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999, with the exception of Privy Council Vote 25c.

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

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

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

Reports of Committees

Orders No. 1 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other

Orders No. 34, 49, 61, 63, 44 and 58 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting. Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Carstairs calling the attention of the Senate to the magnitude of family violence in our society and, in particular, the need for collaborative efforts to seek solutions to the various aspects of this form of violence.

Debate concluded. Orders No. 1 (motion), 59, 46, 39 (inquiries), 118, 45 (motions), 50, 51 (inquiries), 88 (motion) 23 and 47 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., called the attention of the Senate to International Women's Week, and to the participation of women in the legislative institutions of Canada, at the federal and provincial level, and particularly in the Senate of Canada.

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

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

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Ordered That Order No. 61 (inquiry) under ORDERS OF THE DAY, OTHER BUSINESS, Other be again called. Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton calling the attention of the Senate to the Budget presented by the Minister of Finance in the House of Commons on February 16, 1999.

After debate, The Honourable Senator Carstairs for the Honourable Senator Graham, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C. (L'Acadie-Acadia), that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Ordered, That Inquiry No. 62 standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Ruck be again called. The Honourable Senator Ruck called the attention of the Senate to the Black Experience with respect to enlistment into the Royal Canadian Navy.

Debate concluded.

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

Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Textile Reference-Annual Status Report", for the period October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1998, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, S.C., 1988, c. 65, sbs. 21(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-1062.

ADJOURNMENT

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

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 Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders

The name of the Honourable Senator Grimard substituted for that of the Honourable Senator DeWare (February 26).

The names of the Honourable Senators Robichaud (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Gill, Chalifoux, DeWare, Hervieux-Payette and Fraser substituted for those of the Honourable Senators Cook, Bacon, Grafstein, Grimard, Stollery and Sparrow (March 9).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The name of the Honourable Senator Robichaud (Saint-Louis-de-Kent) substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Johnstone (March 10).

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