The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Black (Ontario)BoisvenuCampbellCormierCotterDalphondDaskoDeanGalvezHarderHousakosLoffredaMassicotteMiville-DechêneMoodieMunsonNgoPatePetitclercPlettRinguetteSeidmanSmithWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Black (Ontario)BoisvenuCampbellCormierCotterDalphondDaskoDeanGalvezHarderHousakosLoffredaMassicotteMiville-DechêneMoodieMunsonNgoPatePetitclercPlettRinguetteSeidmanSmithWhiteWoo

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.

(Pursuant to rule 3-6(1) the Senate was recalled to sit this date, rather than April 21, 2020, as previously ordered.)

ABSENCE OF SPEAKER

The clerk at the table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker was unavoidably absent.

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

That during the absence of the Honourable the Speaker, the Honourable Senator Housakos do preside as Speaker.

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

Whereupon the Honourable Senator Housakos took the chair.

PRAYERS

With leave of the Senate,

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

That, notwithstanding rule 3-4, the sitting continue beyond the ordinary time of adjournment today;

That rule 3-3(1) be suspended today; and

That, notwithstanding rules 6-1 and 9-8(1)(b), senators may speak or vote from a seat other than their assigned places during today’s sitting.

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Woo moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or usual practice, the Honourable Senator Ringuette be Acting Speaker pro tempore for today’s sitting.

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

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

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

That, notwithstanding any provisions of the Rules or usual practice:

1.the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at the start of Orders of the Day today to consider the subject matter of Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19;

2.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-13, receive the Honourable Bill Morneau, P.C., M.P., Minister of Finance, accompanied by one official;

3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-13 rise no later than one hour after it begins;

4.the Senate resolve itself into another Committee of the Whole immediately before the calling of Motions under Government Business today in order to consider the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic;

5.the Committee of the Whole on the government’s response to the pandemic receive the Honourable Bill Blair, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, accompanied by one official each;

6.the Committee of the Whole on the government’s response to the pandemic rise no later than one hour and thirty minutes after it begins; and

7.the speaking time provided for in rule 12-32(3)(d) be five minutes for both Committees of the Whole today, including the time for both questions and answers.

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-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, 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 later this day.

Orders of the Day

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 10:14 a.m., pursuant to the order adopted earlier today, the Senate was suspended during pleasure and resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the subject matter of Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, the Honourable Senator Ringuette in the Chair.

—In the Committee—

Pursuant to rule 12-32(4), the Honourable Bill Morneau, P.C., M.P., Minister of Finance, accompanied by Jenifer Aitken, Executive Director and Senior General Counsel, Central Agencies Portfolio, Finance - Law Branch, were escorted to seats in the Senate Chamber.

Debate.

It was agreed that the chair report to the Senate that the witnesses had been heard.

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The sitting of the Senate resumed.

The Chair of the Committee stated that the Committee had heard the witnesses on the subject matter of Bill C-13 and had directed her to report the same to the Senate.

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19.

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, that the bill be read the second time.

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

The bill was then read the second time.

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, that the bill be read for a third time.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, without amendment.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 11:59 a.m., pursuant to the order adopted earlier today, the Senate was suspended during pleasure and resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Honourable Senator Ringuette in the Chair.

—In the Committee—

Pursuant to rule 12-32(4), the Honourable Bill Blair, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, accompanied by Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister, Public Safety, and Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, were escorted to seats in the Senate Chamber.

Debate.

It was agreed that the chair report to the Senate that the witnesses had been heard.

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The sitting of the Senate resumed.

The Chair of the Committee stated that the Committee had heard the witnesses on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and had directed her to report the same to the Senate.

WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT

At 1:35 p.m., the Honourable the Acting Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:

RIDEAU HALL

March 25, 2020

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bill listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 25^th day of March, 2020, at 12:18 p.m.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable

The Speaker of the Senate

Ottawa

Schedule

Bill Assented To

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19 (Bill C-13, Chapter 5, 2020)

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With leave of the Senate,

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at 2 p.m.

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

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 1:45 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at 2 p.m.)