The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuCarignanCoyleDagenaisDalphondDeacon (Ontario)FureyGalvezGoldHarderHousakosLoffredaMiville-DechêneMunsonNgoPatePetitclercPlettRinguetteSaint-GermainSmithVernerWhiteWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuCarignanCoyleDagenaisDalphondDeacon (Ontario)FureyGalvezGoldHarderHousakosLoffredaMiville-DechêneMunsonNgoPatePetitclercPlettRinguetteSaint-GermainSmithVernerWhiteWoo

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.)

PRAYERS

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Woo moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain:

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

After debate,

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate:

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.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

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

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/43-386.

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate:

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-14, A second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, introduced in the House of Commons on April 11, 2020, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate;

2.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-14, 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-14 rise no later than 125 minutes after it begins; and

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

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

Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senators Plett, Woo and Verner, P.C.:

That, notwithstanding rule 12-2(2) and usual practice, and subject to the terms of the following paragraph of this order, the Honourable Senators Carignan, P.C., Dean, Downe, Dupuis, Forest, Jaffer, Marshall, Marwah, McPhedran, Moncion, Munson, Plett, Seidman, Saint-Germain and Verner, P.C., be appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration;

That, notwithstanding rules 12-2(2), 12-2(3) and 12-5, and usual practice, the Honourable Senator Munson, or any senator who has replaced him as a member of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, cease to be a member of that committee at the adjournment of the third successive sitting of the Senate with a daily attendance of at least 60 senators that follows the adoption of this order, with the resulting vacancy to be filled by the facilitator of the Independent Senators Group or a designate;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-2(2) and usual practice, the Honourable Senators Boehm, Dagenais, Deacon (Ontario), Duncan, Forest, Galvez, Klyne, Loffreda, Marshall, Mockler, Smith and Tannas be appointed to serve on the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-3(1) and usual practice, in addition to the members appointed under the previous paragraph of this order, the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., also be appointed to serve on the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance until the committee completes the study authorized by this order, at which time he or any senator who has replaced him as a member, cease to be a member of the committee;

That, notwithstanding usual practice, the senator who was most recently chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance remain in that position, while still a member of the committee, until the committee decides otherwise;

That, notwithstanding usual practice, the senator who was most recently deputy chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance remain in that position, while still a member of the committee, until the committee decides otherwise;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-2(2) and usual practice, the Honourable Senators Black (Ontario), Dasko, Forest-Niesing, Griffin, Kutcher, Manning, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Petitclerc, Poirier and Seidman be appointed to serve on the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-3(1) and usual practice, in addition to the members appointed under the previous paragraph of this order, the Honourable Senator Munson also be appointed to serve on the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, until the committee completes the study authorized by this order, at which time he, or any senator who has replaced him as a member, cease to be a member of the committee;

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on:

1.all actions undertaken pursuant to parts 3, 8 and 19 of Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, which received Royal Assent on March 25, 2020, as well as the provisions and operations of the act in general;

2.the provisions and operations of Bill C-14, A second Act respecting measures in response to COVID-19, if and when it receives Royal Assent; and

3.the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences;

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic;

That the government be authorized to table with the Clerk of the Senate, following the processes of rule 14-1(6), any report or document relating to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects, and to actions undertaken pursuant to either Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, which received Royal Assent on March 25, 2020, or Bill C-14, A second Act respecting measures in response to COVID-19, if and when it receives Royal Assent, as well as the provisions and operations of the acts, including any regular report on this subject tabled in the House of Commons, and that the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to consider any such reports or documents for the purposes of the studies authorized by this order;

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be permitted to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate any reports on studies authorized by this order, if the Senate is not then sitting, with the reports then being deemed to have been tabled or presented in the Chamber;

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology have power to meet for the purposes of the studies authorized by this order when the Senate is adjourned, and that rule 12-18(2) be suspended in relation thereto;

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or usual practices, and taking into account the exceptional circumstances of the current pandemic of COVID-19, the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology have the power to meet by videoconference or teleconference, if technically feasible for the purposes of:

1.the studies authorized by this order;

2.any business, in the case of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration;

3.an organization meeting pursuant to rule 12-13;

4.electing a chair or deputy chair if there is a vacancy in either of those positions; or

5.holding a meeting called pursuant to the final paragraph of this order or the order of March 11, 2020, to which it makes reference;

That both senators and witnesses be allowed to participate in meetings of these committees by videoconference or teleconference, with such meetings being considered for all purposes to be meetings of the committee in question, and senators taking part in such meetings being considered for all purposes to be present at the meeting;

That, for greater certainty, and without limiting the general authority granted by this order, when a committee meets by videoconference or teleconference:

1.members of the committee participating count towards quorum;

2.priority be given to ensuring that members of the committee are able to participate;

3.such meetings be considered to be occurring in the parliamentary precinct, irrespective of where participants may be; and

4.the committee be directed to approach in camera meetings with all necessary precaution, taking account of the risks to confidentiality inherent in such technologies;

That, when a committee meets by videoconference or teleconference, the provisions of rule 14-7(2) be applied so as to allow recording or broadcasting through any facilities arranged by the Clerk of the Senate, and, if a meeting being broadcast or recorded cannot be broadcast live, the committee be considered to have fulfilled the requirement that a meeting be public by making any available recording publicly available as soon as possible thereafter;

That there be a minimum of 72 hours’ notice for a meeting of a committee by videoconference or teleconference, subject to technical feasibility; and

That, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph five of the order of March 11, 2020, allowing certain members of a Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to direct the convening of a meeting of a committee, in the case of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, the terms of that paragraph also apply so as to allow the members of their respective Subcommittees on Agenda and Procedure, other than the chair, to direct the convening of a meeting of the relevant committee, and, if such a request is made during a period that the Senate is adjourned, the meeting be convened at the earlier of the time provided for in that paragraph or, if technically feasible, 2 p.m., Ottawa time, on the fourth day during the period from Monday to Friday after the clerk of the committee receives the letter.

After debate,

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

o o o

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senators Plett, Woo and Verner, P.C.:

That a Special Senate Committee on the Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Preparedness be appointed to conduct a sober second thought assessment of the various impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic in Canada, as well as the initiatives that have been undertaken to address this crisis, to carry out a broad consultation of Canadians to determine the challenges and specific needs of various regions and communities, and to identify lessons learned to prepare for future pandemics;

That, without limiting its mandate, the committee be authorized:

1.to assess the key milestones and evolution of the coronavirus spread, both abroad and in Canada;

2.to review the federal government’s use and effectiveness of legislation, policies, federal-provincial-territorial collaboration initiatives, and fiscal and spending measures during this public health, social and economic emergency;

3.to examine the specific impacts of the pandemic and its management, including on the Canadian public, public health, healthcare and private sectors, federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations, essential workers, vulnerable groups, Indigenous peoples, as well as linguistic and cultural communities;

4.to review Canada’s compliance with its international public health obligations and cooperation with other countries and international organizations;

5.to explore how intergovernmental and international relationships can be addressed and strengthened at the national and international levels, while considering the division of jurisdictional powers for control of communicable diseases, safety and security of supply chains, and enhancement of public health investments and research; and

6.to develop recommendations to improve Canada’s preparedness and response for future pandemics;

That the committee be composed of 13 members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, and that 5 members constitute a quorum;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-13, the committee hold its organization meeting no earlier than the start of October 2020;

That the committee have the power to send for persons, papers and records; to hear witnesses; and to publish such papers and evidence from day to day as may be ordered by the committee;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-12(1), the committee have the power to appoint senators who are not members of the committee to be members of any subcommittee it may establish, with all the rights and obligations as a member of the subcommittee, and that the committee also be authorized to permit membership changes for such members in accordance with rule 12-5;

That, notwithstanding usual practice, if the Senate authorizes any other committees to study any issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Special Senate Committee on the Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Preparedness be authorized to take those other committees’ reports and evidence into consideration for the purposes of its study as those reports are tabled or presented in the Senate;

That, pursuant to rule 12-18(2)(b)(i), the committee have the power to sit from Monday to Friday, even though the Senate may then be adjourned for a period exceeding one week;

That, the committee be authorized to report from time to time, submit a comprehensive interim report no later than six months after its organization meeting, and submit its final report no later than six months after the tabling or presenting of the comprehensive interim report;

That the committee be permitted to deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, with the reports then being deemed to have been tabled or presented in the Senate; and

That the committee retain the powers necessary to publicize its findings for 60 days after submitting its final report.

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

Orders of the Day

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 4:33 p.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-14, An second 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 Andrew Marsland, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance 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 subject matter of Bill C-14 and had directed her to report the same to the Senate.

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-14, A second 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.

With leave of the Senate,

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

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

The bill was then read the second time.

With leave of the Senate,

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

After debate,

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

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.

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With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate:

That the sitting be suspended to the call of the chair, with the bells to ring for five minutes before the sitting resumes.

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

(Accordingly, at 8:52 p.m., the sitting was suspended.)

At 9:31 p.m., the sitting resumed.

WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT

At 9:31 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:

RIDEAU HALL

April 11, 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 11^th day of April, 2020, at 9:09 p.m.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable

The Speaker of the Senate

Ottawa

Schedule

Bill Assented To

Saturday, April 11, 2020

A second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19 (Bill C-14, Chapter 6, 2020)

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With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm:

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 Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 9:35 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at 2 p.m.)