Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
2nd Session, 36th Parliament,
Volume 138, Issue 84
Friday, October 20, 2000
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker
Table of Contents
THE SENATE
Friday, October 20, 2000
The Senate met at 10:30 a.m., the Speaker in the Chair.
Prayers.
Royal Assent
Notice
The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:RIDEAU HALL
October 20, 2000
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Louise Arbour, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in her capacity as Deputy Governor General, will proceed to the Senate Chamber today, the 20th day of October, 2000, at 12:30 p.m., for the purpose of giving Royal Assent to certain bills.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Uteck
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
[English]
Business of the Senate
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, according to the order passed yesterday, I must now declare the Senate —Hon. Bill Rompkey: Honourable senators, I wonder if I might have unanimous consent to revert to Senators' Statements for a moment.
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable Senator Rompkey, there are no Senators' Statements today, but if leave is granted, anything can be done.
Is leave granted, honourable senators?
Hon. Dan Hays (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, there is a question as to why Senator Rompkey is requesting leave. Perhaps he could explain and then ask leave of the chamber.
Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: I do not want any surprises.
Senator Rompkey: Honourable senators, far be it from me to surprise anyone, in particular Senator Prud'homme, because I know how he reacts to surprises. I simply wanted to say a few words about Suzanne Beaudoin, our Director of Human Resources, who is retiring. This will be our last opportunity to pay tribute to her.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Ms Suzanne Beaudoin
Tribute on Retirement
Hon. Bill Rompkey: Honourable senators, I wish to pay tribute to a very special Senate administration employee, Suzanne Beaudoin, who is leaving us tomorrow.Suzanne was appointed in July 1994 as Director of Human Resources, just months after the Clerk himself was appointed. We will not ask how old the Clerk is, and therefore we will not discuss age at all, but she came to us just after he took up his responsibilities.
During her six years with us, she has faced many challenges, and I might just put on the record some of them: the Employee Departure Incentive Program, the review of a severance package for senators' employees, the coordination of a trip to China at the Speaker's request, and, particularly important to those of us who served on the Internal Economy Committee, the successful negotiation of the bargaining with our units here in the Senate. Those of us who were involved know the importance of this work. It goes on behind the scenes. No one sees it, but it is hard work. This work was done well and it was done successfully. She also looked after the classification revision. Most recently, she coordinated the effort that we saw outside the Centre Block in recent days with the establishment of the monument for the Famous Five. That was Suzanne's work.
Honourable senators, we went to Suzanne with issues like that, and she handled them with diplomacy and with grace. She was straightforward. She was strong. She was compassionate. She was the ideal public servant. It has been an honour for me to serve with her, and I am sure I speak for all senators.
Senator Prud'homme: Yes.
Senator Rompkey: Throughout her tenure, Suzanne has shown a remarkable degree of professionalism and dedication. Her contribution has been substantial, whether to the morale of our staff or to improving their skills. Her enthusiasm was evident last week in her efforts with regard to the Famous Five.
Our loss, however, will allow Suzanne to spend more time with her family, her husband, Mike, her daughters, Camille and Adèle, and she will be able to pursue more actively her passions of art, cooking and travel.
Suzanne, on behalf of the Internal Economy Committee and all senators, we wish you well and many years of happiness. Suzanne, à la prochaine. Merci et bonne chance.
[Translation]
(1040)
The Senate
Expression of Gratitude to Administration
Hon. Louis J. Robichaud: Honourable senators, if I may have the unanimous consent of the Senate, I should like to say one last thing that I forgot to mention yesterday.The Hon. the Speaker: Is there unanimous consent, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Robichaud: Yesterday, during my remarks upon my leaving this place, I forgot to thank the staff of the Senate, namely, the Clerk, the pages, the messengers, the security guards, the interpreters, the translators and those who draft the documents that are submitted to us every day.
I do not think there is any institution in the world where courtesy is as obvious as it is in the Senate, this from the whole staff.
Upon leaving, my last word is a very short one: thanks to the whole staff — I do not want to forget anyone — thanks to all of you.
[English]
Hon. J. Bernard Boudreau (Leader of the Government and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)): Honourable senators, with leave of my colleagues in the Senate, I should like to make a brief statement as well.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Expressions of Gratitude and Parting Comments
Hon. J. Bernard Boudreau (Leader of the Government and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)): Honourable senators, if certain events transpire over the next few days, this may be the last time I stand in my place here in this institution.Senator Nolin: You will be back!
Senator Boudreau: I was somewhat comforted by the assistance that the Honourable Leader of the Opposition gave me yesterday, and I am saving that reference in case it is needed.
First, I wish to say a thank you to all the staff, who have been so wonderful and helpful to me in this job; that is, the Speaker, the Clerk, and all of the others who so professionally performed their duties.
Honourable senators, when I came to this place, I was very much deposited in a situation with which I was not terribly familiar. It was a very humbling experience for me — in fact, intimidating — to be sitting here with the giants of the political scene from all parties, at least all the parties that have had serious responsibilities in this country over the past number of years. Therefore, I wish to express my gratitude, first, to members opposite for their consideration and for their directness in dealing with me. I appreciate the way they conducted their affairs while I filled this position.
Although the opposition leadership and I did not always agree, I found that we could deal with each other clearly, frankly and openly. I never doubted for a moment when an undertaking was given that it would be completed. I say to them as well, thank you very much for the professional and courteous way in which we were able to conduct our affairs.
I thank my colleagues very much for their support. They put up with what I would refer to as a "rookie" in this league. They have been very patient with me as I attempted to learn this job as quickly as I could. They were always supportive, considerate, and I want to thank them sincerely.
There are a few people I wish to single out. My two caucus leaders, Senator Fraser and Senator Poulin, have been of great assistance to me, as has the whip, Senator Mercier. We developed an expression that we used often as we worked our way through my term here: "So far so good." Senator Mercier has not yet translated that phrase into French for me, but it often described our dealings as we faced the day-to-day challenges.
Honourable senators, I must recognize one person above all others, and that is the Deputy Leader of the Government, Dan Hays.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Senator Boudreau: While others have been either encouraging, helpful, considerate, or patient, Senator Hays has been all of those things. He has also been indispensable. I can say, without exaggeration — which does sometimes happen in this place — that I would not have been able to perform my job in this place without the assistance of Dan Hays. For that, I thank him very much.
Honourable senators, I leave here — if events over the weekend so dictate — with a new sense of the institution of the Senate and of the people who work here. I did have some academic appreciation of the functioning of the Senate because I had read about the Senate. However, it is a different education to come here, stand on the floor of this chamber, and deal with people I regard as true Canadians — in fact, as I have already said, people who are giants on the political landscape of this country. One grows to respect the institution in a very special way; one grows to respect the people in the institution. I will carry that respect with me, from this place, and I will have it always. As a matter of fact, if events should transpire such that I return to Parliament Hill in some other capacity, I promise to be a missionary for this institution and its people. Thank you very much.
Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: Honourable senators, may I ask your indulgence?
Some Hon. Senators: Ask for leave!
Senator Nolin: May we know what you wish to talk about?
[Translation]
The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Prud'homme, I must first get the consent of this chamber.
[English]
Senator Prud'homme: Honourable senators, I wish to talk about His Honour.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Expressions of Gratitude to the Honourable Gildas L. Molgat in his Role as Speaker
Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: Honourable senators, I shall be brief, but being brief does not diminish the importance of what I have to say.Today may be the last day of our session. Who knows whether this is to be the last day, as well, for our beloved Speaker to serve in the Chair. I hope not, but we do not know. If that is to be, however, I wish to take this opportunity to say a few words.
I feel that all honourable senators hold our Speaker in great esteem, and that we appreciate his high degree of civility. The atmosphere here this morning is such that we are all kind to each other, albeit most of us have probably had very little sleep. I, for one, have been uplifted by that kindness. I am certain that I have unanimity when I say that His Honour has been what the Senate should expect from its Speaker.
Honourable senators, His Honour has an international stature that can only reflect well on all senators. Many senators have witnessed him leading delegations abroad, where he has shown that he is not only our Speaker but also a fabulous diplomat. I say that in English but, so as not to sidetrack myself, I say to Your Honour —
[Translation]
— Your Honour, we really appreciate all that you have done to make the lives of senators as pleasant as possible. We thank you for that and, once again, we want to share the feelings that we have towards you with your wife, Allison.
[English]
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, the order passed by the Senate yesterday stated that after the reading of the Royal Assent letters:
...the Senate will adjourn at pleasure to reassemble at the call of the Chair at approximately 12 noon;
That at 12 noon the bells will ring for 30 minutes; and
That after Royal Assent is given to certain bills, the Senate will resume its sitting and all matters on the Orders of the Day and on the Notice Paper shall retain their position; after which the Senate will adjourn and no further business will be done.
Accordingly, the Senate is now adjourned during pleasure, to resume at twelve o'clock.
The Senate adjourned during pleasure.
[Translation]
(1230)
Royal Assent
The Honourable Louise Arbour, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in her capacity as the Deputy of Her Excellency the Governor General, having come and being seated at the foot of the Throne and the House of Commons having been summoned and being come with their Speaker, the Honourable the Speaker of the Senate said:I have the honour to inform you that Her Excellency the Governor General has been pleased to cause Letters Patent to be issued under her Sign Manual and Signet constituting the Honourable Louise Arbour, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, her Deputy, to do in Her Excellency's name all acts on her part necessary to be done during Her Excellency's pleasure.
The Commission was read by a Clerk at the Table.
The Honourable the Deputy Governor General was pleased to give the Royal Assent to the following bills:
An Act to establish the Canadian Tourism Commission (Bill C-5, Chapter 28, 2000)
An Act to repeal An Act to incorporate the Western Canada Telephone Company (Bill S-26, Chapter 29, 2000)
An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act, a related Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Budget Implementation Act, 1997, the Budget Implementation Act, 1998, the Budget Implementation Act, 1999, the Canada Pension Plan, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Employment Insurance Act, the Excise Act, the Income Tax Act, the Tax Court of Canada Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act (Bill C-24, Chapter 30, 2000)
An Act to amend the Defence Production Act, (Bill S-25, Chapter 31, 2000)
An Act respecting the national parks of Canada (Bill C-27, Chapter 32, 2000)
An Act respecting an agreement with the Norway House Cree Nation for the settlement of matters arising from the flooding of land, and respecting the establishment of certain reserves in the province of Manitoba (Bill C-14, Chapter 33, 2000)
An Act to amend the statute law in relation to veterans' benefits (Bill C-41, Chapter 34, 2000)
An Act respecting the provision of increased funding for health care services, medical equipment, health information and communications technologies, early childhood development and other social services and to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (Bill C-45, Chapter 35, 2000)
The House of Commons withdrew.
The Honourable the Deputy Governor General was pleased to retire.
The sitting of the Senate was resumed.
[English]
(1250)
Adjournment
Hon. Dan Hays (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 58(1)(h), I move:That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday next, October 24, 2000, at 2 p.m.
Before we adjourn, I should like to add my thanks for the courtesy and hard work of colleagues during the past few months.
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, before I conclude the adjournment motion, I wish to invite all of you to join me in the Speaker's chamber to meet Madam Justice Arbour, who has been newly appointed as a commissioner here.
I also wish on this occasion to invite to my chambers the Table officers, the pages, the reporters and those who work with us here in the house. I hope that all will be able to come.
[Translation]
I would like to thank Senator Prud'homme for his comments earlier today. Only God knows what will happen, or perhaps I should say only the Prime Minister knows. Thank you. It has been a pleasure working with you.
[English]
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the adjournment motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Motion agreed to.
The Senate adjourned until Tuesday, October 24, 2000, at 2 p.m.
The Thirty-sixth Parliament was dissolved by Proclamation
of Her Excellency the Governor General
on Sunday, October 22, 2000