The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDoyleFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHervieux-PayetteHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalLangLankinMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMeredithMitchellMocklerMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSmith (Cobourg)Smith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallinWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlack*BoisvenuCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDay*DowneDoyle*Dyck*EnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHervieux-PayetteHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalLangLankin*Lovelace Nicholas*MacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyre*MercerMeredithMitchellMockler*MooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvar*PattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratte*RaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSmith (Cobourg)Smith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallin*WellsWhite

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 Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator McIntyre tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation in the 31st Regional Assembly of the America Region of the APF, held in Lafayette and Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States of America, from July 27 to 31, 2015.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-271.

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation in the Bureau Meeting of the APF, held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from January 28 to 30, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-272.

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the Meeting of the Executive Committee and at the Meeting of the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the APF, held in Tangier, Morocco, from February 24 to 26, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-273.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

A point of order was raised with respect to the Senate chamber seating plan.

After debate,

The Speaker reserved his decision.

Government Business

Motions

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, P.C. (Cobourg):

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, April 20, 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, which shall last a maximum of 30 minutes;

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

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:

That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:

To His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Cowan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

---

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Hubley moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans have the power to meet on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at 5 p.m., 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.

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential changes to other Acts.

The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pratte, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-224, An Act respecting payments made under construction contracts.

The Honourable Senator Plett moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

Order No. 22 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Maltais for the adoption of the third report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (Senate budget for 2016-2017), presented in the Senate on February 25, 2016.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCoy:

That the Senate postpone debate on the third report of the Standing Committee on Internal, Economy, Budgets and Administration (Senate budget for 2016-17) until the full itemized budget has been tabled and distributed to Senators, as well as the detailed Senate expenses for 2015-16, and, five sitting days after it has been distributed, the Senate sit as Committee of the Whole for questions and that the Committee of the Whole sit until all questions by Senators have been answered.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, that further debate on the motion in amendment be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

Consideration of the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Budget—study on opportunities for strengthening cooperation with Mexico since the tabling, in June 2015, of the committee report entitled North American Neighbours: Maximizing Opportunities and Strengthening Cooperation for a more Prosperous Future—power to travel), presented in the Senate on April 14, 2016.

The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

o o o

Consideration of the fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Budget—study on recent political and economic developments in Argentina—power to hire staff and to travel), presented in the Senate on April 14, 2016.

The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

o o o

Consideration of the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications (Budget—study on the transport of crude oil in Canada—power to hire staff and to travel), presented in the Senate on April 14, 2016.

The Honourable Senator Dawson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Munson, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:50 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 on the Employment Equity Act (Labour) for the year 2015, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44,s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-266.

Report on the administration of student financial assistance programs for the loan year 2013-2014, pursuant to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, S.C. 1994, c. 28,sbs. 20(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-267.

Report on the administration of the Canada Small Business Financing Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1998, c. 36, ss. 18 and 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-268.

Report of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Patent Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. P-4,s. 26.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-269.

Report on the review of the provisions and administration of the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act for the years 2009 to 2014, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 25 (3rd Supp.), sbs. 22.1(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-270.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Watt replaced the Honourable Senator Sibbeston (April 15, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (April 19, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (April 18, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (April 18, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Black replaced the Honourable Senator Raine (April 18, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (April 18, 2016).

Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (April 18, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Wells (April 18, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator Raine (April 18, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (April 19, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (April 18, 2016).