Journals of the Senate
1st Session, 41st Parliament
Issue 150
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable Gerald J. Comeau, Acting Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Black (Alberta), Boisvenu, Braley, Buth, Callbeck, Carignan, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, Day, De Bané, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Joyal, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, McInnis, McIntyre, Mercer, Meredith, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Ngo, Ogilvie, Oh, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Seth, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, Wells, White, Zimmer
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Andreychuk, *Ataullahjan, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Black (Alberta), Boisvenu, Braley, Buth, Callbeck, Carignan, Champagne, Chaput, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dallaire, *Dawson, Day, De Bané, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Duffy, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Frum, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Joyal, *Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, *Massicotte, McInnis, McIntyre, Mercer, Meredith, *Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, *Neufeld, Ngo, Ogilvie, Oh, *Oliver, *Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Rivest, Robichaud, Runciman, Seidman, Seth, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Wallace, Wallin, Watt, Wells, 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.
The Clerk at the Table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker and the Honourable the Speaker pro tempore were unavoidably absent.
The Honourable Senator LeBreton, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan:
That during the absence of the Honourable the Speaker and the Honourable the Speaker pro tempore, the Honourable Senator Comeau do preside as Speaker.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Whereupon the Honourable Senator Comeau took the Chair.
PRAYERS
The Honourable the Acting Speaker informed the Senate that a communication had been received from the Secretary to the Governor General.
The communication was then read by the Honourable the Acting Speaker as follows:
RIDEAU HALL
March 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker:
I have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Marshall Rothstein, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy of the Governor General, will proceed to the Senate Chamber today, the 27th day of March, 2013, at 4:00 p.m., for the purpose of giving Royal Assent to certain bills of law.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Wallace
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator Carignan, tabled the following:
Reply to Question No. 52, dated June 27, 2012, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Dallaire, respecting Canada's 150th Anniversary Celebrations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-1539S.
Reply to Question No. 54, dated October 2, 2012, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Callbeck, respecting the lack of passport services on Prince Edward Island.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-1540S.
Reply to Question No. 56, dated October 16, 2012, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, respecting overseas tax evasion for the period February 6, 2006 to September 30, 2012.—Sessional Paper No. 1/41-1541S.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator MacDonald, seconded by the Honourable Senator Beyak, for the second reading of Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Carignan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 4 to 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees — Other
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the seventeenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (2012-2013 Main Estimates), tabled in the Senate on March 20, 2013.
The Honourable Senator Day moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, that the report be adopted.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., 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.
Inquiries
Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Commons Public Bills — Third Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Senate Public Bills — Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Senate Public Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills — Second Reading
Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees — Other
Orders No. 1 to 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Senate of Canada express its support for Malala Yusufzai in light of her remarkable courage, tenacity and determined support for the right of girls everywhere to an education; offer its best wishes for her full recovery; express its gratitude for the courage of her family and the work of the staff at the Birmingham hospital in the United Kingdom; and offer its solidarity with girls and young women everywhere whose absolute right to equality of opportunity and quality education in every country of the world is and must always be universal and real.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin, for the Honourable Senator Cools, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Raine, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 144, 143, 147 and 75 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 60 and 50 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,
The Honourable Senator Jaffer, for the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, 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.
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 Tkachuk:
That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 2 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
OTHER BUSINESS
Inquiries
Orders No. 57, 3, 66, 62, 56, 19, 22, 44, 35, 59 and 45 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Mercer, calling the attention of the Senate to Canada's current level of volunteerism, the impact it has on society, and the future of volunteerism in Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., calling the attention of the Senate to the issue of poverty in Canada—an issue that is always current and continues to have devastating effects.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cowan 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.
At 3:37 p.m., pursuant to rule 16-1(5), the Acting Speaker suspended the sitting until 3:55 p.m.
Pursuant to rule 16-1(7), the proceedings were interrupted to resume after Royal Assent.
ROYAL ASSENT
The Senate adjourned during pleasure to await the arrival of the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General.
After awhile, the Honourable Marshall Rothstein, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General, having come and being seated at the foot of the Throne,
The Honourable the Acting Speaker commanded the Acting Usher of the Black Rod to proceed to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that:
"It is the desire of the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General that they attend him immediately in the Senate Chamber.''
The House of Commons being come,
One of the Clerks at the Table then read the titles of the bills to be assented to as follows:
An Act to amend the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act (Bill C-28, Chapter 1, 2013)
An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada) (Bill C-370, Chapter 2, 2013)
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (vexatious complainants) (Bill C-293, Chapter 3, 2013)
An Act to assent to alterations in the law touching the Succession to the Throne (Bill C-53, Chapter 6, 2013)
An Act to enhance the financial accountability and transparency of First Nations (Bill C-27, Chapter 7, 2013)
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Bill C-55, Chapter 8, 2013)
To these bills the Royal Assent was pronounced by the Clerk of the Senate in the following words:
"In Her Majesty's name, the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General doth assent to these bills.''
4:22 p.m.
The Speaker of the House of Commons addressed the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General as follows:
"May it Please Your Honour:
The Commons of Canada have voted supplies to enable the Government to defray certain expenses of the public service.
In the name of the Commons, I present to Your Honour the following bills:
An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2013 (Bill C-58, Chapter 4, 2013)
An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2014 (Bill C-59, Chapter 5, 2013)
To which bills I humbly request Your Honour's Assent.''
After one of the Clerks at the Table read the titles of the bills.
To these bills the Royal Assent was pronounced by the Clerk of the Senate in the following words:
"In Her Majesty's name, the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General thanks her loyal subjects, accepts their benevolence and assents to these bills.''
4:25 p.m.
The Commons withdrew.
After which the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to retire.
At 4:27 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on October 18, 2011, the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 2 p.m.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The Honourable Senator Sibbeston replaced the Honourable Senator Merchant (March 26, 2013).
The Honourable Senator Meredith replaced the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan (March 26, 2013)
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The name of the Honourable Senator Unger was added to the membership (March 26, 2013)
Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The Honourable Senator Campbell replaced the Honourable Senator Munson (March 26, 2013).