The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBoisvenuCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCowanDawsonDayDowneDoyleDuffyDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukWallaceWallinWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBoisvenuCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCowan*DagenaisDawsonDayDowneDoyleDuffyDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJohnsonJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyre*Mercer*MerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRivardRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannas*TardifTkachuk*UngerWallaceWallinWhite

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

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

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

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 Thursday, May 19, 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (access to copyrighted works or other subject-matter for persons with perceptual disabilities), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

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

The Honourable Senator Johnson tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the Annual National Conference of the Council of State Governments, held in Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America, from December 10 to 13, 2015.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-325.

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 2016 Annual Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association, held in Washington, D.C.,United States of America, from February 19 to 22, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-326.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

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

Revised response to the oral question asked by the Honourable Senator Poirier on April 14, 2016, concerning linguistic duality.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-318S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

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

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 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Runciman, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson, for the second reading of Bill S-217, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (detention in custody).

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

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

o o o

Orders No. 4 to 22 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Private Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

The order was called for 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.

SPEAKER'S STATEMENT

I have reviewed yesterday’s Debates, and I note that Senator Ringuette indicated that a sufficient explanation had been provided by Senator Wells. As such, I consider the point of order resolved, and thank all honourable senators for their participation.

o o o

Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 51, 60, 92, 89, 43, 31, 7, 64, 73, 79, 9 and 69 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Frum, calling 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.

Debate concluded.

o o o

Orders No. 5, 8, 2, 1 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Seidman called the attention of the Senate to its role in the protection of regional and minority representation.

After debate,

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:38 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 Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Oh replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (May 17, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Black (May 18, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator McInnis replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (May 17, 2016).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Eaton replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (May 18, 2016).

Committee of Selection

The Honourable Senator Marshall replaced the Honourable Senator White (May 18, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (May 18, 2016).

The Honourable Senator White replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (May 17, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator Wells (May 17, 2016).