The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDowneDoyleDuffyDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalKennyLangLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSinclairSmith (Cobourg)Smith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallinWattWellsWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDowneDoyleDuffyDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalKennyLangLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSinclairSmith (Cobourg)Smith (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

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., tabled the following:

Government response to the twelfth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, entitled On-Reserve Housing and Infrastructure: Recommendations for Change, tabled in the Senate on June 23, 2015, during the Second Session of the Forty-first Parliament.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-300S.

(Pursuant to rule 12-24(4), the report and the response were deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.)

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Moore tabled the following:

Animal Welfare Institute statement in support of Bill S-203 (Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-301S.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., tabled the following:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 21, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Lang concerning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Auxiliary Constable Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-302S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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

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 Tuesday, May 10, 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 40 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.

After debate,

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

o o o

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Chaput, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore, for the second reading of Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act (communications with and services to the public).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator MacDonald moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, 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

Orders No. 14 to 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cordy, seconded by the Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-211, An Act respecting National Sickle Cell Awareness Day.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene, 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

Orders No. 20 to 22 were 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.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Ringuette, 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.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator McCoy moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ringuette, 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

Orders No. 2 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 31, 7, 64, 73, 79, 9, 69, 51 and 60 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Fraser, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C.:

That, notwithstanding rule 12-27(1) and subsections 35(1), (4), (5) and (8) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Cordy, Frum, Joyal, P.C. and Tannas, be appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, until such time as a motion pursuant to rule 12-27(1) is adopted by the Senate; and

That, when a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee before the establishment of the committee pursuant to rule 12-27(1), the replacement member shall be appointed by order of the Senate.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator McCoy, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wallace:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by replacing all words following the words “Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators,” by the following:

“the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators be composed of two Conservative senators, two Liberal senators, and one independent senator;

That the Conservative senators select the Conservative members to sit on the committee by means of a secret ballot;

That the Liberal senators select the Liberal members to sit on the committee by means of a secret ballot;

That the independent senators who are authorized to attend the Senate select the independent member to sit on the committee by means of a secret ballot;

That each of the groups of Conservative, Liberal and independent senators select a representative to move a motion in the Senate without notice that the selected senator or senators be a member or members of the committee, which motion shall be deemed seconded and adopted when moved;

That, when a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee before the establishment of the committee pursuant to rule 12-27(1), the replacement member be appointed by the same process used to name the previous member of the committee; and

That the membership of Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators as established pursuant to this motion remain in effect until such time as a motion pursuant to rule 12-27(1) is adopted by the Senate.”.

After debate,

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

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

Inquiries

Orders No. 6, 2, 1 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator McCoy called the attention of the Senate to partisanship, politics, policy and party and how they play out in a Parliament.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator McCoy moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ringuette, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Bellemare called the attention of the Senate to the Senate’s legislative work from the 24th to the 41st Parliament and on elements of evaluation.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Doyle, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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With leave,

The Senate reverted to Government Notices of Motions.

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

That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

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 Bellemare:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:39 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at 2 p.m.)

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

Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2016-2020 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2016 of VIA Rail Canada Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-298.

Report of VIA Rail Canada Inc., together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the year ended December 31, 2015, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-299.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (May 5, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Oh replaced the Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) (May 4, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Mitchell was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 4, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (May 4, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Enverga replaced the Honourable Senator Lang (May 4, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (May 5, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Marshall replaced the Honourable Senator Poirier (May 5, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (May 5, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Unger (May 5, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Unger replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (May 5, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator McInnis (May 5, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Eaton (May 5, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Mitchell was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 4, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Mitchell was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 4, 2016).

Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (May 4, 2016).