The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCormierDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcInnisMcIntyreMégieMitchellMocklerMoncionNgoOgilvieOmidvarPattersonPlettPratteRinguetteRuncimanSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukUngerVernerWallinWellsWetstonWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanCoolsCordyCormier*DagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFurey*GagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarder*HartlingHousakosHubleyJafferJoyalLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonald*MaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcInnisMcIntyre*McPhedranMégie*MercerMitchellMocklerMoncion*MunsonNgoOgilvie*OhOmidvar*PatePattersonPlettPratteRinguetteRuncimanSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannas*TardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWellsWetstonWoo

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 the Speaker tabled the following:

The 2017 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 7(5).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1120.

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

Certificate of nomination and biographical notes of Madeleine Meilleur, the nominee for the position of Official Languages Commissioner.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1121S.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Housakos, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, presented the thirteenth report of the committee (Budget—pursuant to rule 12-7(1), consideration of financial and administrative matters—power to hire staff).

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 2095-2098 (available in print format PDF).)

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

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lang, 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.

First Reading of Commons Public Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-337, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code (sexual assault), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, 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 Housakos tabled the following:

Report of the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association respecting its bilateral visit to London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, from March 13 to 17, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1122.

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Unger:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans have the power to meet on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at 5 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.

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With leave,

The Senate reverted to 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 65th Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure, held in London, England, United Kingdom, from November 21 to 25, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1123.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

A message was brought from the House of Commons in the following words:

Monday, May 15, 2017

ORDERED,— That a Message be sent to the Senate to acquaint Their Honours that the House:

agrees with amendment 1(a) made by the Senate to Bill C-37, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related amendments to other Acts;

proposes that amendment 1(b) be amended by deleting section 56.2; by renumbering subsection 56.3(1) as section 56.2; by replacing the words “shall offer”, with the words “may offer” and by deleting subsection 56.3(2).

ATTEST

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, that the message be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

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

Bills – Third Reading

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

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. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

o o o

Third reading of Bill S-232, An Act respecting Canadian Jewish Heritage Month.

The Honourable Senator Frum moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that the bill be read for a third time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Hubley moved, for the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Day, 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 – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Second reading of Bill S-237, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate).

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacDonald, 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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Ordered : That Order No. 3, under Senate Public Bills - Third Reading, be again called.

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Frum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, for the third reading of Bill S-232, An Act respecting Canadian Jewish Heritage Month.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the third time.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill S-238, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (importation of shark fins).

The Honourable Senator MacDonald moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, that the bill be read the second time.

Debate.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on May 11, 2017, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable  François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade, 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 MacDonald, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, for the second reading of Bill S-238, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (importation of shark fins).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lang, 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

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 5 to 12, 14 and 15 and 17 to 19 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

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Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Lang, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, for the adoption of the tenth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, entitled Military underfunded: The walk must match the talk, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on April 13, 2017.

After debate,

Further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C.

o o o

Orders No. 31, 33 and 35 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 31, 73, 89, 92, 139, 146, 158, 189, 192 and 194 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

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Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Bellemare, calling the attention of the Senate to the Senate’s legislative work from the 24th to the 41st Parliament and on elements of evaluation.

With leave of the Senate,

Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Andreychuk.

o o o

Orders No. 11 to 14, 17 to 20 and 25 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Wallin called the attention of the Senate to the proposal put forward by Senator Harder, titled “Sober Second Thinking”, which reviews the Senate’s performance since the appointment of independent senators, and recommends the creation of a Senate business committee.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., 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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Ordered : That Order No. 35, under ORDERS OF THE DAY, OTHER BUSINESS, Reports of Committees - Other, be again called.

Consideration of the twelfth report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, entitled Revised Senate Administrative Rules, presented in the Senate on May 9, 2017.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

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

ROYAL ASSENT

At 5:01 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:

RIDEAU HALL

May 16^th, 2017

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bills listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 16th day of May, 2017, at 4:02 p.m.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable

The Speaker of the Senate

Ottawa

Schedule

Bills Assented To

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

An Act respecting National Seal Products Day (Bill S-208, Chapter 5, 2017)

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 (Bill C-30, Chapter 6, 2017)

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 5:03 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)

Government response, dated May 12, 2017, to the seventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, entitled UN Deployment: Prioritizing commitments at home and abroad, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on November 28, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1116S.

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

Report of the Canada Pension Plan, together with the Auditor General’s Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, pursuant to the Canada Pension Plan Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-8, sbs. 117(2). —Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1117.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2016-17 to 2020-21 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2016-17 of the Canadian Museum of Nature, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1118.

Report on the operation of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the year ended December 31, 2016, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2010, c. 4, s. 15.1.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1119.

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 Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Marwah (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Raine replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (May 12, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Greene was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 16, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Beyak replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (May 16, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Raine (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Christmas replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator McIntyre (May 12, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Duffy replaced the Honourable Senator Marwah (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Ngo replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (May 12, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Jaffer was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Ngo replaced the Honourable Senator Ogilvie (May 12, 2017).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Moncion (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Tannas replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (May 12, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Boisvenu (May 12, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Greene (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator White (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator McIntyre replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Greene replaced the Honourable Senator Dagenais (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator White replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Sinclair (May 15, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator McIntyre replaced the Honourable Senator White (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator White replaced the Honourable Senator Manning (May 12, 2017).

Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization

The Honourable Senator Greene was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 16, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Gold replaced the Honourable Senator Gagné (May 15, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Tkachuk replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (May 12, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Greene replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (May 12, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Greene was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 16, 2017).