The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackCarignanCoolsCordyCowanDawsonDayDowneDoyleDuffyDyckEatonEggletonFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalKennyLangLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmith (Cobourg)Smith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTardifUngerWallaceWallinWellsWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlack*BoisvenuCarignanCoolsCordyCowan*DagenaisDawsonDayDowneDoyleDuffyDyckEatonEggleton*EnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalKennyLang*LankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirier*PratteRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmith (Cobourg)Smith (Saurel)Stewart Olsen*TannasTardif*TkachukUngerWallaceWallinWellsWhite

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

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Smith, P.C. (Cobourg), who will retire from the Senate on May 16, 2016.

Delayed Answers

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

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 14, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., concerning the Champlain Bridge.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-315S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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 16 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cools, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCoy, for the second reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans).

Debate.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on May 5, 2016, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, P.C., M.P., Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cools, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCoy, for the second reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Day moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Merchant, 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. 18 to 23 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, entitled 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.

A point of order was raised with respect to access to subcommittee reports presented in camera.

After debate,

Pursuant to rule 2-5(1), the Speaker will hear further arguments.

o o o

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

Motions

Orders No. 43, 31, 7, 64, 73, 79, 9, 69, 51 and 60 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 5 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Ngo, calling the attention of the Senate to the hostile behavior of the People’s Republic of China in the escalating territorial claim dispute in the South China Sea.

Debate concluded.

o o o

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

MOTIONS

With leave of the Senate,

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

That, notwithstanding rule 12-15(2), the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be empowered to hold occasional meetings in camera for the purpose of hearing witnesses and gathering specialized or sensitive information in relation to its study on steps being taken to facilitate the integration of newly-arrived Syrian refugees and to address the challenges they are facing as authorized by the Senate on April 14th, 2016.

After debate,

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

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Frum called the attention of the Senate to egregious human rights abuses in Iran, particularly the use of torture and the cruel and inhuman treatment of unlawfully incarcerated political prisoners.

After debate,

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

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 5:22 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 Northern Oil and Gas for the year ended December 31, 2015, pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.), s. 109.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-303.

Report of the Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada for the year 2015, pursuant to the National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. N-5,s. 250.17.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-304.

Report of the Military Grievances External Review Committee for the year 2015, pursuant to the National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-5,sbs. 29.28(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-305.

Report of the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, pursuant to the Public Service Employment Act, S.C. 2003, c. 22,ss. 127.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-306.

Report of the National Energy Board for the year ended December 31, 2015, pursuant to the National Energy Board Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-7,s. 133.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-307.

Report on the administration of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act for the year 2015, pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.),s. 109.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-308.

Report of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year 2015, pursuant to the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act, S.C. 2002, c. 23,s. 19.1.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-309.

Report of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 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. 1/42-310.

Report of Export Development Canada, 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. 1/42-311.

Report of the Royal Canadian Mint, 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. 1/42-312.

Report of Ridley Terminals 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. 1/42-313.

Report on the administration and enforcement of the fisheries protection and pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. F-14,sbs. 42.1(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-314.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Enverga replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (May 10, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Oh replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (May 9, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (May 10, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Doyle replaced the Honourable Senator McInnis (May 9, 2016).

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

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., was added to the membership (May 6, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Maltais replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (May 9, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator Maltais (May 9, 2016).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Ngo replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (May 9, 2016).

Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator McIntyre (May 10, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (May 9, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (May 9, 2016).