Journals of the Senate
65 Elizabeth II , A.D. 2016, Canada
1st Session, 42nd Parliament
Issue 73 (Revised)
Thursday, November 17, 2016
1:30 p.m.
The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCoolsCormierDagenaisDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMcCoyMcIntyreMercerMeredithMitchellMooreNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTardifTkachukWallaceWallinWellsWetstonWoo
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCools*CordyCormierDagenais*DayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFrumFureyGagnéGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwah*MassicotteMcCoyMcIntyreMercerMeredithMitchell*MocklerMooreNancy Ruth*NeufeldNgoOgilvieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTardifTkachukWallaceWallinWellsWetston*WhiteWoo
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
At 1:42 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 1:47 p.m., the sitting resumed.
Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Enverga tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas respecting its participation at the Annual Gathering on Climate Change, “Parliamentary Action to Stop Climate Change”, held in Panama City, Panama, from August 3 to 5, 2016—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-798.
Question Period
The Senate proceeded to Question Period.
Orders of the Day
Government Business
Bills – Second Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming 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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyCampbellCarignanCoolsCormierDagenaisDeanDowneDoyleDuffyEnvergaFraserFrumGagnéGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalKennyLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMcCoyMcIntyreMeredithMitchellMooreNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTardifTkachukWallaceWallinWellsWetstonWoo—65
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Nil
ABSTENTION
The Honourable Senator
Eaton—1
Accordingly, Bill S-3 was read a second time.
The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCoy, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Order No. 47 was withdrawn pursuant to rule 5-10(2).
The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C.:
That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 2 p.m.
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 – Second Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
The order was called for 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).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mitchell, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
The order was called for resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, for the second reading of Bill S-226, An Act to provide for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and to make related amendments to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 6 to 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Order No. 11 (Bill S-227) was called and, pursuant to rule 4-15(2), dropped from the Order Paper and Notice Paper.
Order No. 12 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-212, An Act for the advancement of the aboriginal languages of Canada and to recognize and respect aboriginal language rights.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Runciman, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Ordered, That motion No. 129 standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Andreychuk on the Notice Paper be brought forward.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Runciman:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade have the power to meet on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 4 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.
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
Order No. 14 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills – Second Reading
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill C-224, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (assistance — drug overdose).
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pratte, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Plett 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.
Reports of Committees – Other
Resuming debate on the consideration of the first report (interim) of the Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization, entitled Senate Modernization: Moving Forward, presented in the Senate on October 4, 2016.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, for the Honourable Senator McInnis, seconded by the Honourable Senator Raine, that further debate on the consideration of the report be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 2 to 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 51, 7, 73, 9, 72, 69, 89 and 60 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ngo, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan:
That the Senate note with concern the escalating and hostile behaviour exhibited by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea and consequently urge the Government of Canada to encourage all parties involved, and in particular the People’s Republic of China, to:
(a) recognize and uphold the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight as enshrined in customary international law and in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
(b) cease all activities that would complicate or escalate the disputes, such as the construction of artificial islands, land reclamation, and further militarization of the region;
(c) abide by all previous multilateral efforts to resolve the disputes and commit to the successful implementation of a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea;
(d) commit to finding a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the disputes in line with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and respect the settlements reached through international arbitration; and
(e) strengthen efforts to significantly reduce the environmental impacts of the disputes upon the fragile ecosystem of the South China Sea;
That the Senate also urge the Government of Canada to support its regional partners and allies and to take additional steps necessary to de-escalate tensions and restore the peace and stability of the region; and
That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint it with the foregoing.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Oh moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 79 and 43 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Bellemare, seconded by the Honourable Senator Enverga:
That the Senate — in order to ensure transparency in the awarding of public funds and foster efficiency in infrastructure projects in the larger context of economic diversification and movement toward a greener economy, all while avoiding undue intervention in the federal-provincial division of powers — encourage the government to make provision in the budget for the creation of the Canadian Infrastructure Oversight and Best Practices Council, made up of experts in infrastructure projects from the provinces and territories, whose principal roles would be to:
1.collect information on federally funded infrastructure projects;
2. study the costs and benefits of federally funded infrastructure projects;
3. identify procurement best practices and of risk sharing;
4. promote these best practices among governments; and
5. promote project managers skills development; and
That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House with the above.
The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan 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.
Inquiries
Orders No. 2, 1, 13, 15, 8 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Tardif, calling the attention of the Senate to the Trans Canada Trail — its history, benefits and the challenges it is faced with as it approaches its 25th anniversary.
The Honourable Senator Mitchell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
MOTIONS
The Honourable Senator Smith moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance in relation to its study on the design and delivery of the federal government’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure program be extended from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2018.
After debate,
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 4:44 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 2 p.m.)
DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)
Report of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, pursuant to the Budget Implementation Act, 1997, S.C. 1997,c. 26,sbs. 29(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-795.
Report of the National Research Council of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, pursuant to the National Research Council Act, R.S.C. 1985,c. N-15, s. 17.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-796.
Proposed Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, S.C. 2001,c. 27,sbs. 5(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-797.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Lang (November 17, 2016).
The Honourable Senator Lang replaced the Honourable Senator Manning (November 17, 2016).
Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (November 17, 2016).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (November 17, 2016).
The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (November 17, 2016).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator White replaced the Honourable Senator Doyle (November 17, 2016).
The Honourable Senator Doyle replaced the Honourable Senator White (November 17, 2016).
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator Enverga (November 17, 2016).
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
The Honourable Senator Unger replaced the Honourable Senator Raine (November 16, 2016).
The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Beyak (November 16, 2016).