Journals of the Senate
61 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2012, Canada
Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 41st Parliament
Issue 121
Thursday, November 22, 2012
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Speaker pro tempore
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Baker, Bellemare, Brown, Buth, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Greene, Housakos, Johnson, Joyal, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Maltais, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McInnis, McIntyre, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Segal, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, White, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, *Ataullahjan, Baker, Bellemare, *Brazeau, Brown, Buth, Callbeck, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Finley, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Greene, *Harb, Housakos, *Hubley, *Jaffer, Johnson, Joyal, *Kinsella, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Mahovlich, Maltais, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McInnis, McIntyre, Mercer, Merchant, Meredith, Mitchell, Mockler, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Nolin, Ogilvie, Oliver, Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Segal, *Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton, *Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Verner, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, 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
WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT
At 1:34 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker Pro tempore informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:
RIDEAU HALL
November 22, 2012
Mr. Speaker:
I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bills listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 22nd day of November, 2012, at 11:01 a.m.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Wallace
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
Schedule
Bills Assented To
Thursday, November 22, 2012
An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day (Bill S-201, Chapter 23, 2012)
An Act respecting food commodities, including their inspection, their safety, their labelling and advertising, their import, export and interprovincial trade, the establishment of standards for them, the registration or licensing of persons who perform certain activities related to them, the establishment of standards governing establishments where those activities are performed and the registration of establishments where those activities are performed (Bill S-11, Chapter 24, 2012)
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Presenting or Tabling Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Mockler, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, tabled its
eighth report (Subject matter of Bill C-45 (Division 19, Part 4)).—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-1374S.
(Pursuant to the order adopted on October 30, 2012, the report was deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance)
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wallace:
That the report, in addition to being referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, also 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 Ogilvie presented the following:
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its
FIFTEENTH REPORT
Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-204, An Act to establish a national strategy for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), has, in obedience to the order of reference of Thursday, April 26, 2012, examined the said bill and now reports as follows:
Your committee shares the concerns of the sponsor and proponents of the bill with regards to the high prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada. It is estimated that between 55,000 and 75,000 Canadians are living with MS, an incredibly complex, debilitating and unpredictable condition. More must be done to understand the disease and determine why Canadians, and certain populations of Canadians, are disproportionately affected. To this end, we encourage continued efforts on the part of the Government through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Scientific Expert Working Group and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Monitoring System.
Your committee also shares the concern expressed by proponents of the bill that, in the early stages, some patients were refused medical treatment after having experienced complications resulting from venoplasty performed in other countries. However, it should be noted that provincial health authorities and the colleges of medicine took quick action to ensure that no Canadians would be denied medical treatment.
Despite these shared concerns, your committee recommends that this Bill not be proceeded with further in the Senate for the reasons that follow.
Your committee has heard that research to date is inconclusive as to whether or not chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is more common in MS patients than in the general population; that there has been a large discrepancy in the reported benefits and harms of using venoplasty in the treatment of CCSVI; and, that CCSVI may in fact be a condition that leads to symptoms independently of MS.
Your committee heard from expert witnesses that the only appropriate way to determine whether or not to approve of venoplasty in the treatment of CCSVI in MS patients in Canada is through double-blind clinical trials. On September 28, 2012 the Government of Canada announced that a research team will undertake interventional Phase I/ II clinical trials for CCSVI in persons with MS. The experts testifying before your committee indicated that the Canadian trials are amongst the best in the world. These trials render large parts of the bill unnecessary.
Your committee also heard that a national registry, such as is proposed by Bill S-204, would be costly and provide little benefit in the understanding of CCSVI and patient outcomes resulting from venoplasty. The experts again stressed the need for double-blind clinical trials as are currently being undertaken at multiple sites in Canada and elsewhere around the world.
Finally, your committee shares an overriding concern with the bill and believes that, in regards to CCSVI, MS, and health matters generally, the best path forward should be determined by science and medicine, not by Parliament.
Respectfully submitted,
KELVIN K. OGILVIE
Chair
The Honourable Senator Ogilvie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, 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, on division.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills — Third Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Commons Public Bills — Third Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Senate Public Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees—Other
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, entitled: Internet, New Media and Social Media: Respect for Language Rights!, tabled in the Senate on October 25, 2012.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson:
That the report be adopted and that, pursuant to rule 12-24(1), the Senate request a complete and detailed response from the Government, with the President of the Treasury Board being identified as minister responsible for responding to the report, in consultation with the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and the Minister of Industry.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Frum, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 5 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 109, 75 and 83 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 3, 44, 37, 18, 45, 59, 35, 9, 58, 50, 22, 40, 48, 46, 30 and 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to meet at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave,
The Senate reverted to Government Notices of Motions.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at 2 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 2:38 p.m. the Senate was continued until Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at 2 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Meredith (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Campbell replaced the Honourable Senator Munson (November 21, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen replaced the Honourable Senator Poirier (November 22, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The Honourable Senator Hubley replaced the Honourable Senator Chaput (November 21, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Harb replaced the Honourable Senator Cordy (November 21, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Demers replaced the Honourable Senator Boisvenu (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Neufeld (November 22, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The Honourable Senator Runciman replaced the Honourable Senator Gerstein (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Finley replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Gerstein replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Enverga replaced the Honourable Senator Rivard (November 21, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Boisvenu (November 21, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Rivard replaced the Honourable Senator Finley (November 21, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Lang replaced the Honourable Senator Demers (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Campbell replaced the Honourable Senator Dyck (November 21, 2012).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The Honourable Senator Unger replaced the Honourable Senator Runciman (November 22, 2012).
The Honourable Senator Runciman replaced the Honourable Senator Unger (November 21, 2012).