The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyDagenaisDawsonDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNgoOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRichardsSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBoveyBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCoolsCordyDagenaisDawsonDeanDowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonForestFraserFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJoyalLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNgoOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRaineRichardsSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTardifTkachukUngerVernerWallinWattWellsWetstonWhiteWoo

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

The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the tragedy at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, which occurred 28 years ago on December 6, 1989.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Mockler, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, tabled the twenty-second report of the committee, entitled Final Report on the Supplementary Estimates (B), 2017-18.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1749S.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Dagenais, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, presented the committee’s fourteenth report (Bill C-23, An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States, without amendment).

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 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 November 1, 2017 by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, concerning the special envoy to Myanmar.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-1750S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Campbell, seconded by the Honourable Senator Omidvar, for the second reading of Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Campbell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.

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

o o o

Orders No. 2 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

o o o

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

That, in accordance with section 49 of the Official Languages Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.), the Senate approve the appointment of Raymond Théberge as Commissioner of Official Languages.

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

o o o

Order No. 147 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 to 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Eaton, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, for the third reading of Bill C-277, An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada.

After debate,

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

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

Senate Public Bills – Reports of Committees

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Second reading of Bill C-243, An Act respecting the development of a national maternity assistance program strategy.

The Honourable Senator Mégie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, that the bill be read the second time.

The Honourable Senator Mégie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, 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. 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 5 to 8, 10, 15, 29, 33, 50 to 52, 61 and 64 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the sixth report of the Committee of Selection, entitled Nomination of senators to serve on committees, presented in the Senate on December 5, 2017.

The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Downe 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.

Motions

Orders No. 31, 73, 89, 92, 139, 146, 158, 174, 189, 206, 215 and 245 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Orders No. 8, 12 to 14, 19 and 20, 23 to 26, 28 and 31 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

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

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to its study of issues relating to the federal government’s current and evolving policy framework for managing Canada’s fisheries and oceans be extended from December 31, 2017 to December 31, 2018.

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

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The Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of the 100th anniversary of the Halifax explosion.

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 3:23 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.)

DECLARATIONS OF PRIVATE INTERESTS

Pursuant to rule 15-7(1) and subsection 12(1) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, a declaration of private interest was made as follows:

The Honourable Senator Massicotte, respecting Government Motion No. 145 (Approval of appointment of Commissioner of Official Languages (Raymond Théberge)), by written declaration.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

The Honourable Senator Duffy replaced the Honourable Senator Wallin (December 6, 2017).

Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization

The Honourable Senator Poirier was added to the membership (December 6, 2017).

The Honourable Senator Oh was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (December 6, 2017).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Cormier (December 6, 2017).