The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackBoisvenuCampbellCarignanChaputCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDemersDowneDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFureyGreeneHervieux-PayetteHousakosHubleyJohnsonJoyalKennyLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMerchantMeredithMitchellMooreMunsonNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhPattersonPlettPoirierRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSmith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallinWattWellsWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Andreychuk*AtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackBoisvenuCampbellCarignanChaputCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDemersDowneDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFureyGreeneHervieux-PayetteHousakosHubleyJohnsonJoyalKennyLovelace NicholasMacDonald*MaltaisManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyre*MercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMooreMunsonNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhPattersonPlettPoirierRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSmith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallinWattWellsWhite

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

Tabling of Documents

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Fraser tabled the following:

Supplementary Estimates (C), 2015-2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-180.

Main Estimates, for the year 2016-2017, Parts I and II: The Government Expenditure Plan and Main Estimates.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-181.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk introduced Bill S-219, An Act to deter Iran-sponsored terrorism, incitement to hatred, and human rights violations.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, 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.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-208, An Act respecting National Seal Products Day.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

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

o o o

Orders No. 3 to 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 43, 7, 31, 25, 6 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:

That, in order to allow the Senate to receive a Minister of the Crown during Question Period as authorized by the Senate on December 10, 2015, and notwithstanding rule 4-7, when the Senate sits on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, Question Period shall begin at 3:30 p.m., with any proceedings then before the Senate being interrupted until the end of Question Period;

That, if a standing vote would conflict with the holding of Question Period at 3:30 p.m. on that day, the vote be postponed until immediately after the conclusion of Question Period;

That, if the bells are ringing for a vote at 3:30 p.m. on that day, they be interrupted for Question Period at that time, and resume thereafter for the balance of any time remaining; and

That, if the Senate concludes its business before 3:30 p.m. on that day, the sitting be suspended until that time for the purpose of holding Question Period.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Manning:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on the design and delivery of the federal government’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure funding program;

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

•how infrastructure projects are funded;

•the criteria that applicants (provinces, territories, municipalities, Aboriginal governments, organizations, etc.) need to meet to be eligible for funding;

•the type of infrastructure projects that receive funding;

•how to ensure project funding is timely, efficient and economical;

•the way the money is distributed among large and small communities, actually used and, if need be, monitored;

•should conditions be applied to any project approval, how these conditions are tracked and satisfied;

•lessons learned from previous Canadian infrastructure programs and in other jurisdictions; and

• other related matters.

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2016, and retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after tabling of the final report.

After debate,

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Ogilvie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the issue of dementia in our society;

That the committee review programs and services for people with dementia, the gaps that exist in meeting the needs of patients and their families, as well as the implications for future service delivery as the population ages;

That the committee review strategies on dementia implemented in other countries;

That the committee consider the appropriate role of the federal government in helping Canadians with dementia;

That the committee submit its final report no later than January 31, 2017, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

After debate,

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Ogilvie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the elements related to its mandate found in the ministerial mandate letters of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Minister of Science, and the Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities; and

That the committee submit its final report no later than November 30, 2016.

After debate,

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Manning:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016; and

That, until March 31, 2016, the committee be authorized to meet for the purposes of this study even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Manning:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, with the exception of Library of Parliament Vote 1; and

That, until June 30, 2016, the committee be authorized to meet for the purposes of this study even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto.

After debate,

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

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:02 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Report of the Canada Pension Plan, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Canada Pension Plan Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. C-8, sbs. 117(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-172.

Copy of the Regulations amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (P.C. 2016-51), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-173.

Copy of Regulations Amending the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on Iran (P.C. 2016-50), pursuant to the United Nations Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. U-2,sbs. 4(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-174.

Report on the Annual Summary of Steel Import Data for the year 2015, pursuant to the Export and Import Permits Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. E-19,sbs. 5.1(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-175.

Report on the administration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1999,c. 33,sbs. 342(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-176.

Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 for the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. F-11,sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-177.

Report on the administration and operation of the Canada Health Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-6,s. 23.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-178.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for the period 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2015-2016 of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. F-11,sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-179.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Marshall replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (February 23, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (February 23, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Black replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (February 19, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (February 23, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Rivard replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (February 23, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Lang replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (February 23, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Runciman replaced the Honourable Senator Ngo (February 23, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Manning replaced the Honourable Senator White (February 23, 2016).