Journals of the Senate
57 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2008, Canada
Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 40
Thursday, March 6, 2008
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Baker, Biron, Callbeck, Campbell, Carstairs, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Cook, Cools, Corbin, Cowan, Dallaire, Day, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Keon, Kinsella, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, Meighen, Mercer, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Pépin, Peterson, Prud'homme, Ringuette, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
*Adams, Andreychuk, Angus, *Bacon, Baker, Biron, *Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Carstairs, *Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, *Comeau, Cook, Cools, Corbin, *Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, *Dawson, Day, Di Nino, Downe, Dyck, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fortier, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Keon, Kinsella, LeBreton, *Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, Mahovlich, *McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Milne, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, *Nolin, *Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Prud'homme, Ringuette, *Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Segal, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, *Tardif, Tkachuk, Trenholme Counsell, Watt
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Day, for the Honourable Senator Kenny, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, presented its fourth report (budget—study on the national security policy of Canada).
(The report is printed as appendix "A'' at pages 652-671 (available in print format PDF).)
The Honourable Senator Day moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dallaire, 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.
The Honourable Senator Day, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, presented its eighth report (interim) (2008-2009 Estimates).
(The report is printed as appendix "B''.)
The Honourable Senator Day moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Furey, 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.
First Reading of Commons Public Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-253, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deductibility of RESP contributions), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Cowan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Milne, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
SPEAKER'S STATEMENT
Honourable Senators, it has been brought to my attention that the Order of Reference that led to the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources, tabled on March 4, 2008, had been a government motion, adopted on December 12, 2007. Consideration of the report should, therefore, have been placed under Government Business, Reports of Committees. I will therefore ask the Table to call the report as the second item under Reports of Committees in Government Business.
(Accordingly, Order No. 2 under ORDERS OF THE DAY, OTHER BUSINESS, Reports of Committees, was brought forward.)
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Third reading of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions), as amended.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Johnson, that the bill, as amended, be read the third time.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill, as amended, was then read the third time and passed.
Ordered, That the Clerk do go down to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.
Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Order No. 2 (sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources) was called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Third reading of Bill S-201, An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act and the Bank of Canada Act (quarterly financial reports), as amended.
The Honourable Senator Segal moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Meighen, that the bill, as amended, be read the third time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill, as amended, was then read the third time and passed.
Ordered, That the Clerk do go down to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.
Orders No. 2 to 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the seventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, entitled: Population Health Policy: International Perspectives, tabled in the Senate on February 26, 2008.
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, that the report be adopted.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cowan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Consideration of the eighth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, entitled: Maternal Health and Early Childhood Development in Cuba, tabled in the Senate on February 26, 2008.
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, that the report be adopted.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cowan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Milne, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Consideration of the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (Senate Estimates 2008-2009), presented in the Senate on Thursday, February 28, 2008.
The Honourable Senator Furey moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan, that the report be adopted.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Other
Orders No. 11 (motion), 13 (inquiry), 88, 68, 3, 69 (motions), 11, 4, 8 (inquiries), 79, 4, 78 (motions), 10 (inquiry), 62, 76 (motions), 9, 3 (inquiries), 5 (motion) and 7 (inquiry) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Segal, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon:
WHEREAS the Canadian public has never been consulted on the structure of its government (Crown, Senate and House of Commons);
AND WHEREAS there has never been a clear and precise expression by the Canadian public on the legitimacy of the Upper House since the constitutional agreement establishing its existence;
AND WHEREAS a clear and concise opinion might be obtained by putting the question directly to the electors by means of a referendum;
THAT the Senate urge the Governor in Council to obtain by means of a referendum, pursuant to section 3 of the Referendum Act, the opinion of the electors of Canada on whether the Senate should be abolished; and
THAT a message be sent to the House of Commons requesting that House to unite with the Senate for the above purpose.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cowan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cook, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 6 (inquiry) was called and pursuant to rule 27(3) was dropped from the Order Paper.
With leave,
The Senate reverted to Government Notices of Motions.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gustafson:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 2 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Reports of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority for the year ended December 31, 2007, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-470.
Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2008-2012 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2008 of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-471.
Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Treasury Board (T.B. 834034), dated December 6, 2007, relating to an Order for distribution of a portion of the surplus existing in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Dependants) Pension Fund, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Continuation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. R-10, sbs. 57(3).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-472.
Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2008-2012 of Export Development Canada, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 2/39-473.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eyton:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 3:17 p.m. the Senate was continued until Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 2 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The name of the Honourable Senator Kenny substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Downe (March 5).
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The name of the Honourable Senator Segal substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Meighen (March 6).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The name of the Honourable Senator De Bané substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Callbeck (March 6).
Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages
The name of the Honourable Senator Champagne substituted for that of the Honourable Senator Keon (March 6).