Journals of the Senate
59 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2010, Canada
Journals of the Senate
3rd Session, 40th Parliament
Issue 4
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Baker, Banks, Boisvenu, Brazeau, Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Carstairs, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Di Nino, Dickson, Downe, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fox, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, Lang, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Pépin, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Poy, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Segal, Seidman, Smith, St. Germain, Stewart Olsen, Stollery, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Baker, Banks, Boisvenu, Brazeau, Brown, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Carstairs, *Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Di Nino, Dickson, Downe, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fox, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Keon, Kinsella, *Kochhar, Lang, Lapointe, Lavigne, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, Meighen, Mercer, Merchant, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Murray, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Pépin, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Poy, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Segal, Seidman, Smith, St. Germain, Stewart Olsen, 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
The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of all those who died in the tragic earthquake that hit Chile on February 27, 2010.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Angus tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 3/40-26S):
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to rule 104(2), that the expenses incurred for that purpose during the Second Session of the Fortieth Parliament are as follows
1. With respect to studies of legislation:
Professional Services $ 386 Transport and Communications — Other Expenditures — Witness expenses 17,776 TOTAL $ 18,162
2. With respect to its special study on issues relating to energy, the environment and natural resources:
Professional Services $ 47,174 Transport and Communications 64,941 Other Expenditures — Witness expenses 693 TOTAL $ 112,808
3. With respect to its special study on the current state and future of Canada's energy sector (including alternative energy):
Professional Services $ 570 Transport and Communications — Other Expenditures — Witness expenses 4,759 TOTAL $ 5,329
In addition to the expenses for the examination of legislation and for its special studies as set out above, your committee also incurred general postal charges in the amount of $70.
During the session under consideration, your committee considered 11 orders of reference, held 34 meetings and heard more than 64 hours of testimony from 88 witnesses. In total, your committee produced 14 reports.
In addition, your committee travelled on a fact-finding mission to Washington D.C. from September 29 to October 2, 2009.
Respectfully submitted,
W. DAVID ANGUS
Chair
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Mockler tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 3/40-27S):
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to rule 104 (2), that the expenses of your committee during the Second Session of the Fortieth Parliament were as follows:
1. With respect to its special study on the current state and future of Canada's forestry:
Transportation & Communications $ 37,944 Professional and Other Services 5,547 All other expenditures — Witness Expenses 35,526 TOTAL $ 79,017
In addition to the expenses for its special study as set out above, your committee also incurred general postal charges in the amount of $950.
During the session under consideration, your committee considered two orders of reference, including one bill, held 32 meetings and heard more than 50 hours of testimony from 74 witnesses. In total, your committee produced 8 reports.
Respectfully submitted,
PERCY MOCKLER
Chair
Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills
The Honourable Senator Munson presented a Bill S-211, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day.
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, 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 Watt presented a Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (tax relief for Nunavik).
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Watt moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lovelace Nicholas, 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
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion Honourable Senator Poirier, seconded by the Honourable Senator Runciman:
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 Tardif 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.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Second reading of Bill S-201, An Act to amend the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act (credit and debit cards).
The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Greene 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.
° ° °
Second reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act (debit card payment systems).
The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Greene 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.
° ° °
Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis called the attention of the Senate to Canada's response to the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Meighen, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C.:
That, pursuant to section 1(2) of chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, all select committees have power, for the remainder of the current session, to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of their examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to them.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene:
That, for the remainder of the current session, all select and joint committees be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of their public proceedings with the least possible disruption of their hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dickson:
That, pursuant to rule 95(3), for the remainder of this session, the Standing Senate Committees on Human Rights, Official Languages, and National Security and Defence be authorized to meet at their approved meeting times as determined by the Government and Opposition Whips on any Monday which immediately precedes a Tuesday when the Senate is scheduled to sit, even though the Senate may then be adjourned for a period exceeding a week.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 24 (4th Supp.), s. 8.—Sessional Paper No. 3/40-23.
Reports of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority for the year ended December 31, 2009, 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. 3/40-24.
Reports of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, 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. 3/40-25.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C.:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 4:02 p.m. the Senate was continued until 2 p.m. tomorrow.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Massicotte replaced the Honourable Senator Merchant (March 9, 2010).