The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisFrancisFureyGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisFrancisFureyGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWooYussuff

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 former senator the Honourable Leonard J. Gustafson, P.C., and the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, P.C., O.N.B.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan presented the following:

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights has the honour to present its

FIRST REPORT

Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff, has, in obedience to the order of reference of December 14, 2021, examined the said bill and now reports the same with the following amendments:

1.Clause 6, page 4: Add the following after line 21:

“(d.1) any measures taken to remediate the loss of income to the most vulnerable families that results from any measure taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains;”.

2.Clause 11, pages 6 and 7:

(a)On page 6, add the following after line 25:

“(d.1) any measures taken to remediate the loss of income to the most vulnerable families that results from any measure taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains;”;

(b)on page 7, replace line 12 with the following:

“(b) the signature of one or more members of”.

Respectfully submitted,

Observations to the first report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (Bill S-211)

The committee notes that this bill alone will not solve the problem of forced labour and child labour in the world, a complex issue that is inseparable from local socio-economic conditions. The committee therefore encourages the government to adopt this bill as a starting point and to reinforce and supplement these measures with a comprehensive and long-term commitment to fight against the exploitation of people, poverty and inequality. The committee also notes that, in order to adequately protect the victims of forced labour or child labour, they must have the support and means necessary to assert their rights. For this reason, the committee encourages the government to develop realistic means of accompanying and financially supporting victims of modern slavery in their search for justice and reparation.

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, 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.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Bellemare presented the following:

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament has the honour to present its

THIRD REPORT

Pursuant to rule 12-7(2)(a), your committee recommends that the Rules of the Senate be amended:

1.by replacing rule 12-7 by the following:

“Appointment and general mandates

12-7. The Senate shall appoint the following standing committees:

Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

12-7. (1) the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, which shall be authorized:

(a) to consider, on its own initiative, all financial and administrative matters concerning the Senate’s internal administration, and

(b) subject to the Senate Administrative Rules, to act on all financial and administrative matters concerning the internal administration of the Senate and to interpret and determine the propriety of any use of Senate resources;

Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

12-7. (2) the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, which shall be authorized:

(a) to propose from time to time, on its own initiative, amendments to the Rules for the consideration of the Senate,

(b) to examine any question of privilege referred to it by the Senate, and

(c) to consider the orders and practices of the Senate and the privileges of Parliament;

Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators

12-7. (3) the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, which shall be authorized:

(a) to exercise general direction over the Senate Ethics Officer, and

(b) to be responsible, on its own initiative, for all matters relating to the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, including all forms involving Senators that are used in its administration, subject to the general jurisdiction of the Senate;

Audit and Oversight

12-7. (4) the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, which, for the purposes of integrity, independence, transparency and accountability, shall be authorized, on its own initiative, to:

(a) retain the services of and oversee the external auditors and internal auditors;

(b) supervise the Senate’s internal and external audits;

(c) report to the Senate regarding the internal and external audits, including audit reports and other matters;

(d) review the Senate Administration’s action plans to ensure:

(i) that they adequately address the recommendations and findings arising from internal and external audits, and

(ii) that they are effectively implemented;

(e) review the Senate’s Quarterly Financial Reports and the audited Financial Statements, and report them to the Senate; and

(f) report at least annually with observations and recommendations to the Senate;

Official Languages

12-7. (5) the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, to which may be referred matters relating to official languages generally;

Foreign Affairs and International Trade

12-7. (6) the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to which may be referred matters relating to foreign relations and international trade generally;

National Finance

12-7. (7) the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, to which may be referred matters relating to federal estimates generally, the public accounts and reports of the Auditor General, and government finance generally;

Transport and Communications

12-7. (8) the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, to which may be referred matters relating to transport and communications generally;

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

12-7. (9) the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, to which may be referred matters relating to legal and constitutional matters generally;

Banking, Commerce and the Economy

12-7. (10) the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, to which may be referred matters relating to banking, trade, commerce and the economy generally;

Social Affairs, Science and Technology

12-7. (11) the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, to which may be referred matters relating to social affairs, science and technology generally;

Agriculture and Forestry

12-7. (12) the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, to which may be referred matters relating to agriculture and forestry generally;

Fisheries and Oceans

12-7. (13) the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, to which may be referred matters relating to fisheries and oceans generally;

Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

12-7. (14) the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources, to which may be referred matters relating to energy, the environment, natural resources and climate change generally;

Indigenous Peoples

12-7. (15) the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, to which may be referred matters relating to the Indigenous peoples of Canada;

Human Rights

12-7. (16) the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, to which may be referred matters relating to human rights generally; and

National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

12-7. (17) the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs, to which may be referred matters relating to national security, defence and veterans affairs generally.”;

2.by replacing rule 12-3(2)(e) by the following:

“(e) the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, nine Senators;”; and

3.by updating all cross references in the Rules, including the lists of exceptions, accordingly.

Your committee recommends that these amendments come into effect on July 31, 2022.

For greater certainty, under these proposed changes to the Rules, the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce will continue as the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy; the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples will continue as the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples (change in English only); and the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence will continue as the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dalphond, 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.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan, for the second reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, 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 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 4 an 5 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.

ADJOURNMENT

At 3:13 p.m., pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on November 25, 2021, and March 31, 2022, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations (P.C. 2022-336), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-668.

Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (P.C. 2022-335), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-669.

WRITTEN REPLIES TO ORAL QUESTIONS AND TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO THE ORDERS ADOPTED NOVEMBER 25, 2021, AND MARCH 31, 2022

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 15, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Patterson, concerning access to high-speed broadband networks.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-670S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 16, 2021, by the Honourable Senator White, concerning affordable housing.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-671S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 17, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Mégie, concerning Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-672S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 8, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Black, concerning access to high-speed broadband networks.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-673S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 1, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Marshall, concerning the Debt Management Report.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-674S.

Reply to Question No. 60, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding judicial appointments.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-675S.

Reply to Question No. 93, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding temporary foreign workers.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-676S.

Reply to Question No. 97, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding child care benefits for Veterans.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-677S.

Reply to Question No. 98, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding disability benefits for Veterans.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-678S.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (April 6, 2022).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda replaced the Honourable Senator Forest (April 6, 2022).