The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlackBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCormierCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DowneDoyleDuffyDuncanDupuisDyckEatonForestForest-NiesingFrancisFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferJoyalKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMitchellMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTkachukWallinWellsWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonAndreychukAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlackBlack (Alberta)BoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauCampbellCarignanChristmasCormierCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawson*DayDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DowneDoyleDuffyDuncanDupuisDyckEatonForestForest-NiesingFrancisFureyGagnéGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferJoyalKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLovelace NicholasMacDonaldMaltaisManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcInnisMcIntyreMcPhedranMégieMercerMitchellMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNeufeldNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierPratteRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSinclairSmithStewart OlsenTkachukWallinWellsWhiteWoo

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 Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 on March 9 and the victims of the tragedy in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

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

That, notwithstanding the order of February 28, 2019, Question Period on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, be at 3 p.m. rather than 3:30 p.m.

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

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-77, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

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

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Munson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dyck, for the second reading of Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada.

After debate,

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

Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 22 to 28 and 30 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 1, 246 and 247 and 251 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Seidman, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu:

That the Senate agree to the amendments made by the House of Commons to Bill S-228, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibiting food and beverage marketing directed at children); and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Wells 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.

Senate 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 Ringuette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion, for the third reading of Bill S-237, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate), as amended.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Cools, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey:

That Bill S-237, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended in clause 1, on page 1, by replacing line 15 (as replaced by decision of the Senate on April 19, 2018) with the following:

“plus thirty-five per cent on the credit advanced under an”.

The Honourable Senator Hartling moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, that further debate on the motion in amendment 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.

Private Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Griffin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood).

The Honourable Senator Wells 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. 7 to 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 5 to 7, 50, 100 to 102, 104 and 105, 107 and 110 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the thirty-fourth report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, entitled Committee budget - legislation, presented in the Senate on February 28, 2019.

The Honourable Senator Marwah moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

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

Motions

Orders No. 73, 89, 146, 189, 215, 302, 310, 325, 357 and 358, 371, 407 and 410 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Smith, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the serious and disturbing allegations that persons in the Office of the Prime Minister attempted to exert pressure on the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., M.P., and to interfere with her independence, thereby potentially undermining the integrity of the administration of justice;

That, as part of this study, and without limiting the committee’s right to invite other witnesses as it may decide, the committee invite:

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada;

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., M.P.;

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada;

Michael Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council;

Kathleen Roussel, Director of Public Prosecutions;

Katie Telford, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister;

Gerald Butts, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister;

Mathieu Bouchard, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister;

Elder Marques, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister; and

Jessica Prince, former Chief of Staff to the Minister of Veterans Affairs;

That the committee submit its final report no later than June 1, 2019; and

That the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after tabling the final report.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Mitchell:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by replacing all words following the first instance of the word “That” in the motion with the following:

“the Senate acknowledge that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, an independent, impartial, apolitical and non-partisan Officer of the House of Commons, has launched an examination under Section 45(1) of the Conflict of Interest Act into the conduct of public office holders alleged to have occurred in relation with legal proceedings involving SNC-Lavalin;

That the Senate observe that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner has all the statutory powers necessary to summon the witnesses that his office will deem relevant and necessary to the said examination and to compel them to give evidence and produce documents; and

That the Government Representative table a copy of the report of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner setting out the facts in question as well as the Commissioner’s analysis and conclusions pursuant to Section 45 of the Conflict of Interest Act once it is public.”.

After debate,

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

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

Inquiries

Orders No. 12, 20, 26, 36, 39 and 40, 45, 47, 52 and 54 to 56 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

Order No. 427 was withdrawn pursuant to rule 5-10(2).

o o o

The Honourable Senator Christmas moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Griffin:

That the Senate call on the government to raise awareness of the magnitude of modern day slavery in Canada and abroad and to take steps to combat human trafficking; and

That the Senate also urge the government to designate the 22nd day of February each year as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, to coincide with the anniversary of the unanimous declaration of the House of Commons on February 22, 2007, to condemn all forms of human trafficking and slavery.

After debate,

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

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans have the power to meet on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 6 p.m., even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

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

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 8:53 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)

Service Fees Report of Environment and Climate Change Canada for 2017 to 2018, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, sbs. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-2791.

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Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain replaced the Honourable Senator Moodie (March 18, 2019).

The Honourable Senator Ravalia replaced the Honourable Senator Kutcher (March 18, 2019).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Patterson replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (March 15, 2019).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Wells replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (March 15, 2019).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain replaced the Honourable Senator McCoy (March 18, 2019).

The Honourable Senator Oh replaced the Honourable Senator Frum (March 15, 2019).

Committee of Selection

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Kutcher (March 1, 2019).