The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoisvenuBoveyBoyerCampbellCarignanCoolsCormierCoyleDagenaisDawsonDayDeacon (Ontario)DowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferJoyalLankinMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcCoyMcInnisMcPhedranMercerMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukVernerWallinWellsWetstonWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)Boisvenu*BonifaceBoveyBoyerCampbellCarignanCools*CordyCormierCoyleDagenaisDawsonDayDeacon (Ontario)DowneDoyleDuffyDupuisDyckEatonEggletonFureyGagnéGalvezGold*GreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferJoyalLankinMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcCoyMcInnis*McIntyreMcPhedranMercerMitchellMocklerMoncionMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTannasTkachukVernerWallinWellsWetston*WhiteWoo

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 2018 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. 1/42-2064.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Cormier, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, presented the ninth report of the committee (Budget—study on Canadians’ views about modernizing the Official Languages Act—power to hire staff and to travel).

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 3462-3470 (available in print format PDF).)

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

The Honourable Senator Cormier moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marwah, 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Pate introduced Bill S-251, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (independence of the judiciary) and to make related amendments.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Pate moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, 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

The Honourable Senator Wallin introduced Bill S-252, Voluntary Blood Donations Act (An Act to amend the Blood Regulations).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Wallin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, 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.

Delayed Answers

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

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Oh, concerning the statement of defence related to a class action lawsuit.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2065S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 15, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Korean war preparations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2066S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 15, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning support for veterans.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2067S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 15, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Downe, concerning the residency of senior managers.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2068S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 15, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Pratte, concerning the regulatory framework of the cannabis sector.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2069S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 15, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, concerning support for veterans.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2070S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 27, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Black, concerning the Trans Mountain pipeline.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2071S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 27, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Joyal, concerning the cannabis bill (Health Canada).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2072S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 27, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Joyal, concerning the cannabis bill (Department of Justice).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2073S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 28, 2018 by the Honourable Senator McIntyre, concerning the judicial selection process.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2074S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 1, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Cordy, concerning job losses in Atlantic Canada—Federal Public Service.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2075S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 21, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Smith, concerning Budget 2018.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2076S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 22, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Bovey, concerning accommodation for Canadians who are visually impaired.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2077S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 22, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Wallin, concerning the summer jobs attestation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2078S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 22, 2018 by the Honourable Senator McIntyre, concerning Military Grievances Review Committee—Vacancies.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2079S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 28, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, concerning the Trans Mountain pipeline.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2080S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 28, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Wallin, concerning Service Canada auditors—temporary foreign workers.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2081S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 29, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Ngo, concerning Taiwan—participation at World Health Assembly meetings.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2082S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 19, 2018 by the Honourable Senator McIntyre, concerning criminal court delays—judicial appointments.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2083S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 25, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Joyal, concerning artwork in the national collection—export permits.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2084S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 25, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Wallin, concerning the summer jobs attestation.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2085S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 25, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the Champlain Bridge.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2086S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on April 26, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Smith, concerning the legalization of illicit drugs.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2087S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 3, 2018 by the Honourable Senator Oh, concerning the refugee youth application process.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2088S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

Motions

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc:

That, until the end of June 2018, when the Senate sits on a Wednesday:

1. the provisions of the order of February 4, 2016, relating to the adjournment or suspension of the sitting at 4 p.m. only take effect at the later of 4 p.m., the end of Question Period, or the end of Government Business;

2.notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this order, the sitting not continue beyond the time otherwise provided in the Rules; and

3.without affecting any authority separately granted to a committee to meet while the Senate is sitting, if the Senate sits past 4 p.m. pursuant to this order, committees scheduled to meet be authorized to do so for the purpose of considering bills, even if the Senate is then sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

Inquiries

Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

Third reading of Bill S-203, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts (ending the captivity of whales and dolphins), as amended.

The Honourable Senator Sinclair moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, that the bill, as amended, be read for a third time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, for the Honourable Senator Christmas, 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.

o o o

Orders No. 2 to 5 were 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.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Downe, seconded by the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-243, An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (reporting on unpaid income tax).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Omidvar moved, for the Honourable Senator McPhedran, 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.

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Ordered : That Order No. 2, under GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, Bills - Third Reading, be again called.

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cormier, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wetston, for the third reading of Bill C-66, An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain historically unjust convictions and to make related amendments to other Acts.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Mercer moved, for the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., 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.

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on May 24, 2018, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Pursuant to the order adopted on December 10, 2015, the Honourable  Lawrence MacAulay, P.C., M.P., Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 6 to 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-250, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (interception of private communications).

The Honourable Senator Wetston moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marwah, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Marwah moved, for the Honourable Senator Boniface, seconded by the Honourable Senator Coyle, 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

Orders No. 1 to 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1 and 5 to 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, for the adoption of the tenth report (interim), as amended, of the Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization, entitled Senate Modernization: Moving Forward (Nature), presented in the Senate on October 26, 2016.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cools, 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. 15, 50, 66, and 83 and 84 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the twelfth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples (Budget—study on the new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples), presented in the Senate on May 24, 2018.

The Honourable Senator Dyck moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Day, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

Motions

Orders No. 31, 73, 89 and 146 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.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, 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. 189, 215 and 245 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C.:

That, pursuant to chapter 4:01, section 2, of the Senate Administrative Rules, for the remainder of the current session, any senator who occupies more than one position of chair or deputy chair of a committee for which an additional allowance is payable be authorized to waive the portion of his or her allowance payable in respect of those additional positions of chair or deputy chair.

After debate,

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

o o o

Orders No. 302, 309 and 310, 325, 328 and 334 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Ordered, That the debate on Order No. 8 stand adjourned in the name of the Honourable Senator Andreychuk.

o o o

Orders No. 12 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Pate, calling the attention of the Senate to the circumstances of some of the most marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized in Canada, particularly the increasing over-representation of Indigenous women in Canadian prisons.

Debate concluded.

o o o

Orders No. 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 39 to 42 and 44 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator Cools called the attention of the Senate to the great nation-building authors of Canada and their constituting statute, the British North America Act, 1867, and to this Act’s single conceptual and comprehensive framework expressed in its section 91, in the words “It shall be lawful for the Queen to make Laws for the Peace, Order and good Government of Canada;” and, to the meeting of the British North American Provinces’ delegates at their Quebec Conference, held October 10 to 25, 1864, which conference yielded the famous 72 Quebec Resolutions, which, when corrected and perfected, became the British North America Act, 1867; and to Canada’s first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, who, with his clear, well-stocked mind, his exceptional skills, and his political intelligence was key to the achievement, success and longevity of our Constitution, the British North America Act, 1867, which has now lasted 150 years, a long time in constitution time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells, 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 6:10 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)

Federal-Provincial Agreement with respect to Western Livestock Price Insurance between the Government of Canada and the governments of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, pursuant to the Farm Income Protection Act, S.C. 1991, c. 22, sbs. 6(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2061.

Report on Operations Under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Agreement Act for the year 2017, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1991, c. 12, s. 7.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2062.

Copies of Regulations Amending the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on Libya (P.C. 2018-541), pursuant to the United Nations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. U-2, sbs. 4(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2063.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Gold (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Gold replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (May 28, 2018).

Special Committee on the Arctic

The Honourable Senator Bovey replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator McCallum (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator McCallum replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Deacon replaced the Honourable Senator Bovey (May 28, 2018).

Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (May 28, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Boyer replaced the Honourable Senator Brazeau (May 29, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Gold (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator Sinclair (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator McInnis replaced the Honourable Senator McIntyre (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (May 24, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Doyle replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator McIntyre (May 25, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator McIntyre replaced the Honourable Senator Mockler (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Mockler replaced the Honourable Senator McIntyre (May 24, 2018).

Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

The Honourable Senator Mégie was added to the membership (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Duffy was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (May 28, 2018).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Dean replaced the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C. (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Gold (May 29, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Dean (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Gold replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Bernard replaced the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain replaced the Honourable Senator Bernard (May 28, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Patterson replaced the Honourable Senator Manning (May 25, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (May 25, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (May 25, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Mégie replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (May 25, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Bernard replaced the Honourable Senator Gold (May 25, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Deacon replaced the Honourable Senator Mégie (May 24, 2018).

The Honourable Senator Gold replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (May 24, 2018).