Journals of the Senate
57 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2009, Canada
Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 40th Parliament
Issue 6
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Angus, Baker, Banks, Biron, Brazeau, Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Dickson, Downe, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fortin-Duplessis, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gerstein, Goldstein, Grafstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lang, Lapointe, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Manning, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Phalen, Poy, Prud'homme, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, *Andreychuk, Angus, Baker, Banks, Biron, Brazeau, Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Corbin, Cordy, Cowan, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Dickson, Downe, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Eyton, Fairbairn, Fortin-Duplessis, Fox, Fraser, Furey, Gerstein, Goldstein, Grafstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, *Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lang, Lapointe, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Manning, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Nolin, Oliver, Pépin, Peterson, Phalen, Poy, Prud'homme, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Rompkey, Sibbeston, Smith, Spivak, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, Zimmer
The first list records senators present in the Senate Chamber during the course of the sitting.
An asterisk in the second list indicates a senator who, while not present during the sitting, was in attendance to business, as defined in subsections 8(2) and (3) of the Senators Attendance Policy.
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills
The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., presented a Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (borrowing of money).
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Spivak, 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.
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., presented a Bill S-222, An Act to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act (bulk water removal).
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Spivak, 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.
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Phalen presented a Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and to enact certain other measures in order to provide assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking.
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Phalen moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, 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.
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Grafstein tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Council of State Governments — Southern Legislative Conference, held in Oklahoma City, United States, from July 11 to 15, 2008.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-97.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Council of State Governments — Eastern Regional Conference, held in Atlantic City, United States, from August 10 to 13, 2008.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-98.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its attendance at the Democratic National Convention, held in Denver, United States, from August 24 to 28, 2008.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-99.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its attendance at the Republican National Convention, held in Minneapolis, United States, from August 31 to September 4, 2008.—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-100.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
A point of order was raised with respect to comments that had been made by an honourable senator during debate on Government Inquiry No. 1 on February 3, 2009.
After debate,
The Speaker reserved his decision.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Comeau calling the attention of the Senate to the budget entitled Canada's Economic Action Plan, tabled in the House of Commons on January 27, 2009 by the Minister of Finance, the Honourable James M. Flaherty, P.C., M.P., and in the Senate on January 28, 2009.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tardif moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerstein:
That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poulin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Second reading of Bill S-203, An Act to amend the Business Development Bank of Canada Act (municipal infrastructure bonds) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.
The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., that the bill be read the second time.
Debate.
A point of order was raised concerning the acceptability of the bill.
After debate,
The Speaker reserved his decision.
° ° °
Orders No. 7 to 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Second reading of Bill S-210, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Milne, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Keon moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dickson, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 12 to 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Second reading of Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (Involvement of Parliament).
The Honourable Senator Banks moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Day, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau 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 adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 17 and 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Consideration of the first report of the Committee of Selection (Speaker pro tempore), presented in the Senate on February 3, 2009.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Other
Orders No. 1 (inquiry), 10, 2, 4 and 3 (motions) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Hubley called the attention of the Senate to the Treaty on Cluster Munitions.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis, 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):
Report of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, together with the Auditors' Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Act, S.C. 1985, c. 49, sbs. 31(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-92.
Order Amending Part II of Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act (Lighters), pursuant to the Hazardous Products Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. H-3, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-93.
Reports of the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2).—Sessional Paper No. 2/40-94.
Reports of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, 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. 2/40- 95.
Reports of the Department of Health for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, 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. 2/40-96.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C.:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 5:21 p.m. the Senate was continued until 2 p.m. tomorrow.)