61 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2012, Canada

Journals of the Senate

1st Session, 41st Parliament

---

Issue 76

Tuesday, May 8, 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, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Di Nino, Doyle, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, McCoy, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), St. Germain, Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, White, Zimmer

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk, Angus, Ataullahjan, Baker, Boisvenu, Braley, Brazeau, Brown, Buth, Callbeck, Carignan, Chaput, Cochrane, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Di Nino, Doyle, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Fairbairn, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, *Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, Kenny, Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, McCoy, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Peterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), St. Germain, Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, White, 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 Documents

The Honourable Senator Carignan tabled the following:

Reports on Plans and Priorities, Main Estimates, 2012-2013:

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Canadian Polar Commission

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Assisted Human Reproduction Canada

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Canada Border Services Agency

Canada Industrial Relations Board

Canada Revenue Agency

Canada School of Public Service

Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Canadian Forces Grievance Board

Canadian Grain Commission

Canadian Heritage

Canadian Human Rights Commission

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat

Canadian International Development Agency

Canadian International Trade Tribunal

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Canadian Space Agency

Canadian Transportation Agency

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Copyright Board Canada

Correctional Service Canada

Courts Administration Service

Department of Finance Canada

Department of Justice Canada

Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Environment Canada

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission Canada

Health Canada

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Industry Canada

Infrastructure Canada

Library and Archives Canada

Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada

National Defence

National Energy Board

National Film Board

National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

National Research Council of Canada

Natural Resources Canada

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Northern Pipeline Agency Canada

Office of the Auditor General of Canada

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada

Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying Canada

Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Office of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner

Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada

Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Parks Canada

Parole Board of Canada

Patented Medicine Prices Review Board Canada

Privy Council Office

Public Appointments Commission Secretariat

Public Health Agency of Canada

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

Public Safety Canada

Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal Canada

Public Service Commission of Canada

Public Service Labour Relations Board

Public Service Staffing Tribunal

Public Works and Government Services Canada

RCMP External Review Committee

Registry of the Competition Tribunal

Registry of the Specific Claims Tribunal of Canada

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Security Intelligence Review Committee

Shared Services Canada

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Statistics Canada

Status of Women Canada

Supreme Court of Canada

The Correctional Investigator Canada

The National Battlefields Commission

Transport Canada

Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada

Transportation Safety Board of Canada

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Veterans Affairs Canada

Veterans Review and Appeal Board

Western Economic Diversification Canada.
—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-879.

°    °    °

The Honourable the Speaker tabled the following:

The Spring 2012 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons, together with an Addendum containing copies of Environmental Petitions received between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 23(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/ 41-880.

Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Di Nino tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, held in Stockholm, Sweden, on February 14, 2012. —Sessional Paper No. 1/41-881.

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Pursuant to rule 25(2), the Honourable Senator Carignan, tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 18, dated June 23, 2011, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, respecting trade agreements.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-882S.

Reply to Question No. 23, dated October 18, 2011, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Mitchell, respecting the Government of Canada's 2020 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-883S.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Bills

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate Public Bills

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills

Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees

Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other

Orders No. 25 and 42 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

°    °    °

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Cowan, calling the attention of the Senate to the 30th Anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which has done so much to build pride in our country and our national identity.

After debate,

Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting in the name of the Honourable Senator Andreychuk.

°    °    °

Orders No. 26 (inquiry), 75 (motion), 27, 20, 35 and 41 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

°    °    °

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Raine, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wallin:

That the Senate of Canada urge the Government of Canada to encourage local governments from coast to coast to coast to collaborate in choosing one day annually to make their health, recreational sports, and fitness facilities available to citizens at a reduced or complimentary rate, with the goals of promoting the use of those facilities and improving the overall health and well-being of Canadians for the reasons that:

(a) although Canada's mountains, oceans, lakes, forests, and parks offer abundant opportunities for physical activities outdoors, an equally effective alternative opportunity to take part in physical activities is offered by indoor health, recreational sports, and fitness facilities;

(b) despite its capacity to be a healthy and fit nation, Canada is experiencing a decline in participation rates in physical activities, with this decline having a direct consequence to health and fitness;

(c) local governments operate many public facilities that promote health and fitness, and those facilities could be better utilized by their citizenry;

(d) there is a growing concern in Canada over the rise in chronic diseases, which are attributable, in part, to inactivity and in turn can cause other impediments to achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle;

(e) health and fitness should be promoted and encouraged by all levels of government, to Canadians of all ages and abilities; and

(f) we aspire to increase participation by Canadians in activities that promote health, recreational sports, and fitness.

After debate,

Further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting in the name of the Honourable Senator Munson.

°    °    °

Orders No. 39 (inquiry), 61 (motion), 3 (inquiry), 19 (motion), 32, 38, 33, 29, 11, 19, 30, 18, 22 and 9 (inquiries) were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Cowan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on the tax consequences of various public and private advocacy activities undertaken by charitable and non-charitable entities in Canada and abroad;

That, in conducting such a study, the Committee take particular note of:

(a) Charitable entities that receive funding from foreign sources;

(b) Corporate entities that claim business deductions against Canadian taxes owing for their advocacy activities, both in Canada and abroad; and

(c) Educational entities that utilize their charitable status to advocate on behalf of the interests of private entities; and

That the Committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2013, and retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Lang moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, that further debate on the motion 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 National Film Board, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, pursuant to the National Film Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-8, sbs. 20(2). —Sessional Paper No. 1/41-868.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for the period 2012-2013 to 2016-2017 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets and Borrowing Plan for 2012-2013 of Farm Credit Canada, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-869.

Report of VIA Rail Canada Inc., together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year ended December 31, 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-870.

Report of Ridley Terminals Inc., together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-871.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2012-2016 and the Capital Budget for 2012 of the Canada Post Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-872.

Report of Operations under the International River Improvements Act for the year 2011, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. I-20, s. 51.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-873.

Agreements for RCMP policing services (First Nations Community Policing Service) for the provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10, sbs. 20(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-874.

Report of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year ended December 31, 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-875.

Report of the Royal Canadian Mint, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-876.

Report of the Canada Development Investment Corporation, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year ended December 31, 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-877.

Report of the Canadian Tourism Commission, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year ended December 31, 2011, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-878.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Di Nino:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

(Accordingly, at 3:54 p.m. the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.)

_________

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 85(4)

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Harb replaced the Honourable Senator Campbell (May 3, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Demers replaced the Honourable Senator Rivard (May 3, 2012).

Special Senate Committee on Anti-terrorism

The Honourable Senator Marshall replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (May 7, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Stratton (May 3, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Finley replaced the Honourable Senator Raine (May 3, 2012).

The Honourable Senator Raine replaced the Honourable Senator Finley (May 3, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Di Nino replaced the Honourable Senator Wallace (May 2, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) replaced the Honourable Senator Neufeld (May 8, 2012).

The Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen replaced the Honourable Senator Finley (May 7, 2012).

The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (May 7, 2012).

The Honourable Senator Finley replaced the Honourable Senator Wallin (May 3, 2012).

The Honourable Senator Wallin replaced the Honourable Senator Finley (May 2, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Peterson replaced the Honourable Senator Dallaire (May 7, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Tardif (May 3, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Wallace replaced the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C. (May 7, 2012).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (May 7, 2012).

---