The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCormierDagenaisDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMeredithMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPratteRaineRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCormierDagenais*DawsonDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalKennyLangLankinMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMeredithMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPratteRaineRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

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:

Supplementary Estimates (C), 2016-17.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-891.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Jaffer tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas respecting its participation at the 41st Board of Directors meeting and the 13th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas, held in Mexico City, Mexico, from December 5 to 7, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-892.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Third 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 for a third time.

Debate.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on February 9, 2017, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable  Karina Gould, P.C., M.P., Minister of Democratic Institutions, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-30, An Act to implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and its Member States and to provide for certain other measures, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

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

o o o

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-31, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

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

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Bellemare, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., for the third 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.

After debate,

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

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Mitchell, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, for the second reading of Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code.

After debate,

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

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

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:

That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:

To His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

After debate,

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

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 – Third Reading

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

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1 to 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 139 and 92 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Merchant, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That the Senate call upon the government of Canada:

(a) to recognize the genocide of the Pontic Greeks of 1916 to 1923 and to condemn any attempt to deny or distort a historical truth as being anything less than genocide, a crime against humanity; and

(b) to designate May 19th of every year hereafter throughout Canada as a day of remembrance of the over 353,000 Pontic Greeks who were killed or expelled from their homes.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Cools moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, 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. 31, 51, 73, 146 and 89 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 14, 19, 12, 11, 15, 2, 1, 16, 17, 13, 18 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Tardif called the attention of the Senate to regional universities and the important role they play in Canada.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lankin, 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 Lankin, P.C.:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:30 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)

List of Commissions issued for the year 2016, pursuant to the Public Officers Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-31, s. 4.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-886.

Comprehensive report for 2016 of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec for the period of April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2016, pursuant to the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the regions of Quebec Act, S.C. 2005, c. 26, sbs. 17(3) and (4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-887.

Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2016-17 to 2020-21 of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, pursuant to the Broadcasting Act, S.C. 1991, c. 11, sbs. 55(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-888.

Annual Statutory Report on the Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act for the year 2017, pursuant to the Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act, S.C. 2014, c. 38, s. 2.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-889.

Amendments to Agreements for RCMP policing services (First Nations Community Policing Service) for the province of Saskatchewan, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10, sbs. 20(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-890.

---

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5 and to the Order of the Senate of December 7, 2016

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Manning replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (February 13, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (February 13, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Poirier (February 13, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator McIntyre replaced the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan (February 13, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Tkachuk (February 13, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Smith (February 13, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (February 13, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Smith replaced the Honourable Senator Dagenais (February 13, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Fraser replaced the Honourable Senator Jaffer (February 14, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Doyle (February 13, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Jaffer replaced the Honourable Senator Fraser (February 13, 2017).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Batters (February 13, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Unger was added to the membership (February 10, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Frum was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (February 10, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator Unger (February 10, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Unger was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (February 9, 2017).