The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBeyakBoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonForestFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalLankinMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBeyakBoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyCormierDagenaisDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonForestFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalLankinMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

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:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1738.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, presented the committee’s twenty-second report (Bill C-60, An Act to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies and errors and to deal with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes of Canada and to repeal certain Acts and provisions that have expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect, without amendment).

The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif, 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.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

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

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 18, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Wallin, concerning RCMP vacancies.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1739S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 25, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Brazeau, concerning the Indian Act — definition of Indian.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1740S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 26, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Batters, concerning the Litigation Management Cabinet Committee.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1741S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 26, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Seidman, concerning the reporting of adverse drug reactions.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1742S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 1, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Wallin, concerning Canadian Armed Forces missions and recruitment.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1743S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 2, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Maltais, concerning the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1744S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 2, 2017 by the Honourable Senator McIntyre, concerning legal aid funding.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1745S.

o o o

Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 53, dated June 21, 2017, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Pate, respecting Bill C-56 and limits on the use of administrative segregation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1746S.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 7 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted on November 30, 2017, the Senate was suspended during pleasure and resolved into a Committee of the Whole in order to receive Raymond Théberge respecting his nomination as Commissioner of Official Languages, the Honourable Senator Eaton in the Chair.

—In the Committee—

Pursuant to the order adopted on November 30, 2017, Raymond Théberge, was escorted to a seat in the Senate Chamber.

Debate.

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The sitting of the Senate resumed.

The Chair of the Committee informed the Senate that the Committee had heard the witness.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 3 were 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 Gagné, for the second reading of Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.

After debate,

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

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBeyakBoisvenuBoveyCarignanCordyDagenaisDoyleDyckEatonEggletonFrumGalvezHousakosJoyalMacDonaldMaltaisMarshallMartinMcIntyreMercerMocklerMoncionNgoOhPlettPoirierRaineRinguetteSeidmanSmithTannasTardifUngerWattWellsWhiteWoo—40

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

CampbellChristmasCormierDuffyForestGagnéGoldGreeneHarderHartlingLankinMarwahMitchellOmidvarPetitclercPratteSaint-GermainVerner—18

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

BellemareDupuisMégie—3

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-67, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, 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 to return Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based inequities in registration),

And to acquaint the Senate that the Commons has concurred in the amendments made by the Senate to its amendment, without amendment.

o o o

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-63, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2017 and other measures, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

Ordered, That the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading at the next sitting.

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With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Mockler moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Raine:

That during the month of December 2017, for the purposes of its consideration of government legislation, the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance:

(a) have the power to sit even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto; and

(b) be authorized, notwithstanding rule 12-18(2), to meet from Monday to Friday, even though the Senate may be then be adjourned for more than a day but less than a week.

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 9:13 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Marwah (December 1, 2017).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain replaced the Honourable Senator Cormier (December 1, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (December 1, 2017).