The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHousakosHubleyJoyalLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMitchellMoncionMunsonNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBernardBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDawsonDayDeanDowneDoyleDupuisDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaForestFraserFrumFureyGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHousakosHubleyJoyalLangLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMitchellMoncionMunsonNeufeldNgoOgilvieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPratteRaineRinguetteRuncimanSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

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:

Lyme Disease in Canada: a Federal Framework, pursuant to the Federal Framework on Lyme Disease Act, S.C. 2014, c. 37, s. 6.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1131.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Fraser presented the following:

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament has the honour to present its

EIGHTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on April 4, 2017, to propose amendments to the Rules of the Senate relating to the process for determining the membership of the Committee of Selection and the standing committees, now recommends that rule 12-1 be amended to read as follows:

“Appointment of Committee of Selection

12-1. At the beginning of each session, the Senate shall appoint a Committee of Selection composed of nine Senators. The initial membership of the committee, as well as any subsequent change to the membership of the committee, shall, as nearly as practicable, be proportionate to the membership of the recognized parties and recognized parliamentary groups. Senators who are not members of such a party or group shall, for this purpose only, be treated as if they were members of a separate group. For greater certainty, the ex officio members of the committee shall not be taken into account when considering proportionality.”.

Respectfully submitted,

Ordered, That the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later this day.

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The Honourable Senator Maltais tabled the fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, entitled Horizon 2018: Toward Stronger Support of French-language Learning in British Columbia.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1132S.

The Honourable Senator Maltais moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, 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 Neufeld, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, presented the committee’s eighth report (Bill C-18, An Act to amend the Rouge National Urban Park Act, the Parks Canada Agency Act and the Canada National Parks Act, without amendment).

The Honourable Senator Neufeld moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading 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-277, An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Eaton moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, 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 bilateral visit to Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, India, from September 10 to 18, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1133.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, held in London, United Kingdom, from December 11 to 17, 2016.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1134.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Working Group Meeting, held in Steyning, West Sussex, United Kingdom, from February 24 to 27, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1135.

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the International Parliamentary Conference on National Security and Cybersecurity Day, held in London, United Kingdom, from March 27 to 31, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1136.

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The Honourable Senator Downe tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, held in Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America, on February 23 and 24, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1137.

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The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union respecting its participation at the Annual Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations, held in New York, New York, United States of America, on February 13 and 14, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1138.

Report of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union respecting its participation at the 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, held in New York, New York, United States of America, on March 17, 2017.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1139.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

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

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ringuette, that the bill, as amended, be read for a third time.

Debate.

ADJOURNMENT

At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on February 4, 2016, the Senate adjourned until 1:30 p.m., tomorrow.

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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 Brazeau replaced the Honourable Senator Sinclair (May 31, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Gagné replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (May 31, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Wallin (May 31, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Forest replaced the Honourable Senator Pratte (May 31, 2017).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Frum replaced the Honourable Senator Housakos (May 31, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Boisvenu replaced the Honourable Senator Dagenais (May 31, 2017).