Journals of the Senate
2nd Session, 41st Parliament
Issue 140
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Leo Housakos, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Ataullahjan, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Black, Boisvenu, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Joyal, Kenny, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, McInnis, McIntyre, Meredith, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Ogilvie, Oh, Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Runciman, Seidman, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tannas, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Wallace, Wells, White
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
Ataullahjan, Baker, Batters, Bellemare, Beyak, Black, Boisvenu, Campbell, Carignan, Chaput, Cools, Cordy, Cowan, Dagenais, Dawson, Day, Demers, Downe, Doyle, Dyck, Eaton, Eggleton, Enverga, Fortin-Duplessis, Fraser, Furey, Gerstein, Greene, Hervieux-Payette, Housakos, Hubley, Jaffer, Joyal, Kenny, Lang, LeBreton, Lovelace Nicholas, MacDonald, Maltais, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Massicotte, McCoy, McInnis, McIntyre, Meredith, Mitchell, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ngo, Ogilvie, Oh, Patterson, Plett, Poirier, Raine, Ringuette, Rivard, Runciman, Seidman, Sibbeston, Smith (Cobourg), Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Tannas, Tardif, Tkachuk, Unger, Wallace, Wells, White
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.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
First Reading of Commons Public Bills
A message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-627, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act (safety of persons and property), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.
The bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall, 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.
Tabling of Reports from Inter-Parliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Wells tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Council of State Governments' Southern Legislative Conference, held in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America, from July 26 to 30, 2014.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-1195.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the Canada—United States—Mexico Trilateral Inter-Parliamentary Group Meeting, held in Washington, D.C., United States of America, on December 1 and 2, 2014.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-1196.
Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association, held in Washington, D.C., United States of America, from February 20 to 23, 2014.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-1197.
Report of the Canadian 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, from March 23 to 25, 2015.—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-1198.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Bills — Second Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Plett, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fortin- Duplessis, for the second reading of Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Sex Offender Information Registration Act, to enact the High Risk Child Sex Offender Database Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Plett moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Demers, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 3 and 4 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.
Inquiries
Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other
Order No. 2 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.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, for the third reading of Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons).
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the third time and passed, on division.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, without amendment.
Senate Public Bills — Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills — Reports of Committees
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Runciman, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, for the adoption of the twenty-fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Bill C-279, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity), with amendments), presented in the Senate on February 26, 2015;
And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Mitchell, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dyck, that the twenty-fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be not now adopted, but that it be amended by deleting amendment No. 3.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Batters moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells, that further debate on the motion in amendment be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Senate Public Bills — Second Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Second reading of Bill S-227, An Act respecting National Sickle Cell Awareness Day.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, P.C. (Cobourg), that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Meredith moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Rivard, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 3 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Second reading of Bill S-226, An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (reporting on unpaid income tax).
The Honourable Senator Downe moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Massicotte, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Commons Public Bills — Second Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Unger, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel), for the second reading of Bill C-608, An Act respecting a National Day of the Midwife.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Unger moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel), that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees — Other
Resuming debate on the consideration of the eighth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples entitled: Housing on First Nation Reserves: Challenges and Successes, tabled in the Senate on February 17, 2015.
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Runciman, that the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 60, 113, 47 and 79 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ringuette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:
That a Special Committee on Senate Transformation be appointed to consider;
1. methods to reduce the role of political parties in the Senate by establishing regional caucuses and systems to provide accountability to citizens;
2. methods to broaden participation of all senators in managing the business of the Senate by establishing a committee to assume those responsibilities, and to provide for equal regional representation on said committee;
3. methods to allow senators to participate in the selection of the Speaker of the Senate by providing a recommendation to the Prime Minister;
4. methods to adapt Question Period to better serve its role as an accountability exercise; and
5. such other matters as may be referred to it by the Senate;
That the committee be composed of nine members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection and that four members constitute a quorum;
That, the committee have power to send for persons, papers and records; to examine witnesses; and to publish such papers and evidence from day to day as may be ordered by the committee;
That, notwithstanding rule 12-18(2)(b)(i), the committee have power to sit from Monday to Friday, even though the Senate may then be adjourned for a period exceeding one week; and
That the committee be empowered to report from time to time and to submit its final report no later than June 30, 2015.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
° ° °
Orders No. 73, 8, 55, 9, 56 and 66 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 42, 43, 45, 34, 17, 47, 13, 19, 21, 41 and 44 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
° ° °
Order No. 14 was called and, pursuant to rule 4-15(2), dropped from the Order Paper.
REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7):
Report of Ridley Terminals Inc., together with the Auditor General's Report, for the year ended December 31, 2014, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 2/41-1194.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 5:07 p.m. the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Unger (May 11, 2015).
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Honourable Senator Wallace replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (May 12, 2015).
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis replaced the Honourable Senator Wells (May 11, 2015).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Tannas was added to the membership (May 7, 2015).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Manning replaced the Honourable Senator White (May 12, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Boisvenu (May 12, 2015).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The Honourable Senator Oh replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (May 12, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (May 12, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Maltais replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (May 11, 2015).
Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Black (May 12, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth (May 12, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (May 11, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Black replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (May 11, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Wells was added to the membership (May 7, 2015).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Wallace (May 12, 2015).
The Honourable Senator Unger replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (May 12, 2015).