Journals of the Senate
61 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2012, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 41st Parliament
Issue 51
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Ataullahjan, Baker, Boisvenu, Braley, Brazeau, Brown, Buth, Callbeck, Carignan, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Dawson, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Doyle, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Poy, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Angus, Ataullahjan, Baker, Boisvenu, Braley, Brazeau, Brown, Buth, Callbeck, Carignan, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Dawson, *Day, De Bané, Di Nino, Downe, Doyle, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Poy, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, 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
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Ringuette tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas respecting the Bilateral Visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, held in Caracas, Venezuela, from November 13 to 18, 2011.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-710.
° ° °
The Honourable Senator Johnson tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the U.S. Congressional Meetings, held in Washington, D.C., United States of America, on March 1 and 2, 2011.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-711.
Report of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 4th Annual Conference of the Southeastern United States - Canadian Provinces Alliance, held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, from June 12 to 14, 2011.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-712.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the Western Governors' Association Annual Meeting, held in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States of America, from June 29 to July 1, 2011.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-713.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
At 3:04 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted on February 8, 2012, the Senate was adjourned during pleasure and put into a Committee of the Whole in order to receive Ms. Anne-Marie Robinson respecting her appointment as President of the Public Service Commission, the Honourable Senator Oliver in the Chair.
—In the Committee—
Pursuant to the order adopted on February 8, 2012, Ms. Anne-Marie Robinson was escorted to her seat in the Senate Chamber.
Debate.
Ordered, That the Committee rise, and that the Chair report that the Committee has heard the witness.
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The sitting of the Senate resumed.
The Chair of the Committee informed the Senate that the Committee has heard the witness.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Motions
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier:
That, in accordance with Subsection 4.(5) of the Public Service Employment Act, S.C. 2003, c. 22, ss. 12, 13, the Senate approve the appointment of Anne-Marie Robinson as President of the Public Service Commission.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS
Senate Public Bills
Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Raine, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk:
That the Senate call upon the Government of Canada to modernize and standardize the laws that regulate Canada's maple syrup industry, which is poised for market growth in North America and overseas, and which provides consumers with a natural and nutritious agricultural product that has become a symbol of Canada;
That the Government of Canada should do this by amending the Maple Products Regulations, in accordance with the September 2011 recommendations of the International Maple Syrup Institute in its document entitled ''Regulatory Proposal to Standardize the Grades and Nomenclature for Pure Maple Syrup in the North American and World Marketplace'', for the purpose of
(a) adopting a uniform definition as to what constitutes pure maple syrup;
(b) contributing toward the development of an international standard for maple syrup, as it has become very apparent that the timing for the introduction of such a standard is ideal;
(c) eliminating non-tariff measures that are not found in the international standard that may be used as a barrier to trade such as container sizes and shapes;
(d) modernizing and standardizing the grading and classification system for pure maple syrup sold in domestic, import and export markets and through interprovincial trade, thereby eliminating the current patchwork system of grades that is confusing and fails to explain to consumers in meaningful terms important differences between grades and colour classes;
(e) benefiting both marketing and sales for an industry that is mature, highly organized and well positioned for growth;
(f) enhancing Canadian production and sales, which annually constitutes in excess of 80% of the world's annual maple products output; and
(g) upholding and enhancing quality and safety standards as they pertain to maple products;
And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Nolin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lang, that the motion be amended as follows:
1) By replacing the words ''which is poised for market growth'' by the words ''which wants to pursue its dynamic development''; and
2) By replacing paragraph (d) in the motion by the following:
''Modernizing and standardizing the grading of pure Maple syrup sold in domestic, import and export markets and through interprovincial trade which would explain more clearly to the consumer the classification and the grading system;''.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley, that further debate on the motion in amendment be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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Orders No. 11, 18, 19 and 22 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
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Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Frum, calling the attention of the Senate to egregious human rights abuses in Iran, particularly the use of torture and the cruel and inhuman treatment of unlawfully incarcerated political prisoners.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tardif, for the Honourable Senator Jaffer, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 26, 31, 29, 27, 30 (inquiries), 19 (motion), 9 (inquiry), 37 (motion), 15 (inquiry), 56 (motion), 3, 20, 23, 17 and 8 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-690.
Report of the Staff of the Non-Public Funds, Canadian Forces for the year 2010, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-691.
Report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-692.
Report of the Communications Security Establishment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-693.
Report of the National Energy Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-694.
Report of the National Film Board of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-695.
Report of the National Research Council of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-696.
Report of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-697.
Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-698.
Report of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-699.
Report of the Statistical Survey Operations for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-700.
Report of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3). —Sessional Paper No. 1/41-701.
Report of the Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-702.
Report of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-703.
Report of the Canada Revenue Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-704.
Report of the Parks Canada Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-705.
Report of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-706.
Report of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-707.
Report of National Defence (Canadian Forces) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-708.
Report of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the year 2010, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-709.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 4:45 p.m. the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.)
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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (February 14, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Cordy replaced the Honourable Senator Campbell (February 13, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Nolin replaced the Honourable Senator Demers (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
The Honourable Senator Nolin replaced the Honourable Senator Duffy (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Honourable Senator Greene replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (February 9, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator Neufeld (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Losier-Cool (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The Honourable Senator Wallin replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (February 9, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
The Honourable Senator Oliver replaced the Honourable Senator Andreychuk (February 13, 2012).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Dawson replaced the Honourable Senator Campbell (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The Honourable Senator Chaput replaced the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C. (February 13, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Neufeld (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The Honourable Senator Day replaced the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C. (February 13, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Day (February 13, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (February 9, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Merchant replaced the Honourable Senator Hubley (February 9, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Dyck replaced the Honourable Senator Day (February 9, 2012).