The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCampbellCardozoCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PlettRavaliaRichardsSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCampbellCardozoCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PlettRavaliaRichards*RinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

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

First Reading of Commons Public Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-291, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (child sexual abuse and exploitation material), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, 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.

Delayed Answers

Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator Gagné tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 7, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding excise duty on alcohol products.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1486S.

Reply to Question No. 34, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Revenue Agency — shelters.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1487S.

Reply to Question No. 51, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding human trafficking — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1488S.

Reply to Question No. 51, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding human trafficking — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1489S.

Reply to Question No. 51, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding human trafficking — Public Services and Procurement Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1490S.

Reply to Question No. 105, dated November 25, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, regarding the Canada Child Benefit.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1491S.

Reply to Question No. 107, dated November 25, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, regarding the write-off of debts.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1492S.

Reply to Question No. 108, dated November 25, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, regarding the Canada Revenue Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1493S.

Reply to Question No. 161, dated May 5, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding icebreakers — Fisheries and Oceans Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1494S.

Reply to Question No. 161, dated May 5, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding icebreakers — Public Services and Procurement Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1495S.

Reply to Question No. 162, dated May 5, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding tax evasion and tax avoidance.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1496S.

Reply to Question No. 172, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 2 Billion Trees program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1497S.

Reply to Question No. 173, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 24 Sussex site.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1498S.

Reply to Question No. 186, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1499S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moncion:

That all proceedings to date on Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada, be declared null and void.

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

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, 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.

Bills – Third Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dawson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, for the third reading of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, as amended.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Plett moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That Bill C-11, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended, in clause 4 (as amended by the decision of the Senate on December 14, 2022),

(a) on page 9, by deleting lines 30 to 37;

(b) on page 10, by deleting lines 9 to 32.

The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

BattersBlackBoisvenuCarignanHousakosMacDonaldMartinOhPatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PlettRichardsSeidmanVernerWallinWells—16

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotBellemareBernardBoehmBonifaceBoveyBureyCampbellCardozoClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreeneGreenwoodHarderKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionOmidvarOslerPateRavaliaSaint-GermainSimonsSorensenWoo—44

ABSTENTION

The Honourable Senator

McCallum—1

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, 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.

Bills – Third Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dawson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, for the third reading of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, as amended.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:

That Bill C-11, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended,

(a) in clause 3 (as amended by the decision of the Senate on December 14, 2022), on page 8, by replacing line 31 with the following:

“(i) allow the discoverability of Canadian program-”;

(b) in clause 10 (as amended by the decision of the Senate on December 14, 2022), on page 14, by replacing lines 27 to 30 with the following:

“services for selection by the public;”.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

BattersBlackCarignanHousakosMacDonaldMartinOhPatterson (Nunavut)PlettRichardsSeidmanWallinWells—13

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotBernardBoehmBonifaceBoveyBureyCardozoClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)RavaliaSaint-GermainSimonsWooYussuff—42

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

GreeneMcCallumMcPhedran—3

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dawson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, for the third reading of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, as amended.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotBernardBoehmBonifaceBoveyBureyCardozoClementCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionOmidvarOslerPateRavaliaSaint-GermainSimonsWooYussuff—43

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

BattersBlackCarignanGreeneHousakosMacDonaldMartinOhPatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PlettRichardsSeidmanWallinWells—15

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

Nil

Accordingly, Bill C-11, as amended, was read a 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 with certain amendments, to which it desires its concurrence.

Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 and 3 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 7 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 2 p.m.

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

---

Ordered, That Order No. 6 under OTHER BUSINESS, Inquiries, be brought forward; and

That the Senate then adjourn.

Other Business

Inquiries

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator McPhedran, calling 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.

Debate concluded.

ADJOURNMENT

At 7:29 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate earlier this day, the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 2 p.m.

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

Legislative Costing Note of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled A Tax on Share Buybacks, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1485.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Sorensen (February 2, 2023).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator MacDonald replaced the Honourable Senator Marshall (February 2, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (Ontario) (February 2, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Mégie (February 2, 2023).