The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBlackBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyDayDowneDoyleDuffyEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvieOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukUngerWallaceWellsWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBlackBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCordy*DagenaisDayDowneDoyleDuffyEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFurey*GagnéGreeneHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonald*MaltaisMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyre*Mercer*MerchantMeredithMitchellMocklerMooreMunsonNancy RuthNeufeldNgoOgilvie*OhOmidvarPattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannas*TardifTkachukUngerWallaceWellsWhite

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:

2016 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, S.C. 2001,c. 27,sbs. 94(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-762.

Government response to the fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, entitled Report on Aquaculture, tabled in the Senate on June 21, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-763S.

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

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Hubley, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, presented the fifth report of the committee (Budget—release of additional funds (study on Maritime Search and Rescue activities, including current challenges and opportunities)).

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 915-916 (available in print format PDF).)

(The HTML version of the report is available on the committee website.)

The Honourable Senator Hubley moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

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

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The Honourable Senator Housakos, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, tabled the eighth report of the committee, entitled Financial Statements of the Senate of Canada for the year ended March 31, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-764S.

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The Honourable Senator Housakos, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, tabled the ninth report of the committee, entitled Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures for 2015-16.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-765S.

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., introduced Bill S-4, An Act to implement a Convention and an Arrangement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and to amend an Act in respect of a similar Agreement.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Black, 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 Hubley tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the bilateral visit to Providentiales and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos and Georgetown, Guyana, from February 7 to 14, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-766.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association respecting its participation to the Parliamentary Conference on Sustainability, Energy & Development, held in London, United Kingdom, from March 14 to 17, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-767.

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 Martin, concerning the Broadway Corridor.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-768S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 19, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Meredith, concerning the crisis on reserves.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-769S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 21, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Poirier, concerning the employment insurance benefits.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-770S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 3, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Day, concerning the funding for the investigation into the Panama Papers.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-771S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 4, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Downe, concerning financial support for combatting tax evasion.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-772S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 11, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the small business tax rate.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-773S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 3, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Munson, concerning Canada-China relations—request for apology.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-774S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 8, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Lang, concerning dual citizienship—radicalized terrorists.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-775S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 9, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Omidvar, concerning applications for refugee sponsorship.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-776S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 20, 2016 by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, concerning Syrian refugees.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-777S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act.

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

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Second reading of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based inequities in registration).

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, that the bill be read the second time.

Debate.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on October 27, 2016, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable  Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, for the second reading of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based inequities in registration).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Patterson 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.

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Orders No. 2 and 3 were 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 to 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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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-206, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children against standard child-rearing violence).

The Honourable Senator Sinclair 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.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, for the second reading of Bill C-210, An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Petitclerc moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Ordered : That Order No. 3 be again called.

Consideration of the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources (Supplementary budget—study on the effects of transitioning to a low carbon economy), presented in the Senate on October 27, 2016.

The Honourable Senator Neufeld moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lang, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

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Orders No. 8 to 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 7, 73, 9, 72, 69, 89, 51, 60, 92, 79, 43 and 31 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 13, 15, 8, 12 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Order No. 2 was called and, pursuant to rule 4-15(2), dropped from the Order Paper and Notice Paper.

MOTIONS

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the reports of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 42nd General Election of October 19, 2015 and associated matters dealing with Elections Canada’s conduct of the election; and,

That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2016, 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.

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With leave of the Senate, it was ordered : That Order No. 2, under ORDERS OF THE DAY, OTHER BUSINESS, Inquiries, be again called.

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Jaffer, calling the attention of the Senate to the human rights implications of climate change, and how it will affect the most vulnerable in Canada and the world by threatening their right to food, water, health, adequate shelter, life, and self-determination.

The Honourable Senator Sinclair moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pratte, 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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The Honourable Senator MacDonald moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mockler:

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Monday, June 20, 2016, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications in relation to its study on the development of a strategy to facilitate the transport of crude oil to eastern Canadian refineries and to ports on the East and West coasts of Canada be extended from November 17, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

After debate,

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

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:44 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 Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2005,c. 46,sbs. 38.1(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-759.

Actuarial Report supplementing the Actuarial Report of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions on the Canada Pension Plan dated December 31, 2015, pursuant to the Canada Pension Plan Act, R.S.C., 1985,c. C-8, s. 115.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-760.

Report of the Correctional Investigator, together with the government response, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, pursuant to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, S.C. 1992, c. 20,s. 192.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-761.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Cowan replaced the Honourable Senator Day (November 1, 2016).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (November 1, 2016).