The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

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

Certificate of nomination and biographical notes for the proposed reappointment of Joe Friday to the position of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner for a term of eighteen months.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-549.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Boniface, Joint Chair of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency, informed the Senate that, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on March 3, 2022, the committee deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on March 22, 2022, its first report (interim).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-548S.

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That the Address by His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, to members of both Houses of Parliament, delivered Tuesday, March 15, 2022, together with all introductory and related remarks, be printed as an appendix to the Debates of the Senate of this day and form part of the permanent records of this House.

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

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Quinn introduced Bill S-240, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (definition of income).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Quinn moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, 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 Klyne introduced Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate, 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.

Motions

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons).

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion, 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. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-232, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for the decriminalization of illegal substances, to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

The Honourable Senator Boniface moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hartling, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Wells moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, 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. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-239, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate).

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ravalia, that the bill be read the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Order No. 5 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized, when and if it is formed, to examine and report on the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention, including, but not limited to:

(a)evaluating the effectiveness of the Framework in significantly, substantially and sustainably decreasing rates of suicide since it was enacted;

(b)examining the rates of suicide in Canada as a whole and in unique populations, such as Indigenous, racialized and youth communities;

(c)reporting on the amount of federal funding provided to all suicide prevention programs or initiatives for the period 2000-2020 and determining what evidence-based criteria for suicide prevention was used in each selection;

(d)determining for each of the programs or interventions funded in paragraph (c), whether there was a demonstrated significant, substantive and sustained decrease in suicide rates in the population(s) targeted; and

(e)providing recommendations to ensure that Canada’s Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention and federal funding for suicide prevention activities are based on best available evidence of impact on suicide rate reduction; and

That the committee submit its final report on this study to the Senate no later than December 16, 2022.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, 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

Resuming debate on the motion, as amended, of the Honourable Senator Dalphond, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:

That the Senate:

1.recall that, despite the commitment found in section 55 of the Constitution Act, 1982 to have a fully bilingual Constitution, as of today, of the 31 enactments that make up the Canadian Constitution, 22 are official only in their English version, including almost all of the Constitution Act, 1867; and

2.call upon the government to consider, in the context of the review of the Official Languages Act, the addition of a requirement to submit, every 12 months, a report detailing the efforts made to comply with section 55 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Wells moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that further debate on the motion, as amended, be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

Orders No. 30, 48, 50, 52 and 55 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Simons, calling the attention of the Senate to the challenges and opportunities that Canadian municipalities face, and to the importance of understanding and redefining the relationships between Canada’s municipalities and the federal government.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

o o o

Orders No. 3, 4, 5 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Seidman moved, for the Honourable Senator Cotter, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith:

That, for the remainder of the current parliamentary session, the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators be authorized to:

(a)meet even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto;

(b)hold hybrid meetings or meetings entirely by videoconference; and

That for greater certainty the provisions of subparagraphs 20 to 22 of the order adopted by the Senate on November 25, 2021, concerning hybrid committee meetings apply in relation to meetings of this committee, including meetings held entirely by videoconference.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate:

That, notwithstanding rule 12-15(2), the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be empowered to hold an in camera meeting for the purpose of hearing witnesses and gathering specialized or sensitive information in relation to its study of Bill S-210, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material.

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

INQUIRIES

The Honourable Senator McPhedran called the attention of the Senate to parliamentary privilege, the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators and options for increasing accountability, transparency and fairness in the context of the Senate’s unique self-governance, including guidelines on public disclosure.

After debate,

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:22 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)

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Planned Capital Spending Under Strong, Secure, Engaged – Canada’s Defence Policy: 2022 Update, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-538.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled The Government’s Expenditure Plan and Main Estimates for 2022-23, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-539.

Copy of Order in Council P.C. 2022-177 concerning minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in Canada (Prohibition of Entry into Canada), pursuant to the Quarantine Act, S.C. 2005, c. 20, sbs. 61(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-540.

Copy of Order in Council P.C. 2022-178 concerning minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in Canada (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations), pursuant to the Quarantine Act, S.C. 2005, c. 20, sbs. 61(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-541.

Interim Order No. 57 Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, pursuant to the Aeronautics Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-2, sbs. 6.41(5) and (6).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-542.

Annual report on the administration of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act for the year 2020, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2018, c. 12, s. 270.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-543.

Service Fees Reports of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General for the years 2018 to 2021, pursuant to the Service Fees Act, S.C. 2017, c. 20, s. 20.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-544.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (P.C. 2022-219, P.C. 2022-247, P.C. 2022-248, P.C. 2022-251, P.C. 2022-252 and P.C. 2022-253), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-545.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations (P.C. 2022-249 and P.C. 2022-255), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-546.

Amendments to the Management Plan for the Thousand Islands National Park of Canada, pursuant to the Canada National Parks Act, S.C. 2000, c. 32, sbs. 11(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-547.

First report (interim) of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on March 22, 2022, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on March 3, 2022.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-548S.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

The Honourable Senator Coyle replaced the Honourable Senator Duncan (March 22, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Duncan replaced the Honourable Senator Coyle (March 21, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Quinn was added to the membership (March 17, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Griffin was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 15, 2022).

Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency

The Honourable Senator Boniface was added to the membership (March 4, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator McCallum was added to the membership (March 18, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Griffin was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 15, 2022).

The Honourable Senator McCallum was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 14, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Griffin was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 15, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (March 14, 2022).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (March 22, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Wallin replaced the Honourable Senator White (March 22, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Wetston (March 21, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Batters replaced the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C. (March 17, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Boehm replaced the Honourable Senator Moncion (March 22, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Boehm (March 16, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Boehm replaced the Honourable Senator Wetston (March 16, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Oh (March 22, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Boehm replaced the Honourable Senator Ravalia (March 22, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Anderson replaced the Honourable Senator Klyne (March 21, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Klyne replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (March 21, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Oh replaced the Honourable Senator Martin (March 18, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Ravalia replaced the Honourable Senator Boehm (March 16, 2022).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Petitclerc (March 22, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator Manning (March 21, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Manning replaced the Honourable Senator Housakos (March 18, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Mockler was added to the membership (March 18, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Petitclerc replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (March 18, 2022).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator Omidvar (March 16, 2022).