The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehmBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)DowneDuncanForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGoldGreeneGreenwoodHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinManningMartinMarwahMassicotteMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenVernerWallinWellsWoo

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

*AndersonArnotBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoehm*BoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyle*DagenaisDalphond*DaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)*Deacon (Ontario)*DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerba*GignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinManningMartinMarwahMassicotteMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodie*OhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenVernerWallinWellsWoo*Yussuff

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

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or usual practice, for today’s sitting, tributes to our colleague the Honourable Senator Dawson be of 40 minutes, not including the time for his response, followed by an additional statement.

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

Senators’ Statements

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Dawson, who will resign from the Senate on February 9, 2023.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

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

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 1, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, concerning employment insurance reform.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1540S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 2, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the funding for equitable library access.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1541S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 19, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — Canada Revenue Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1542S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 19, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — Employment and Social Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1543S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 7, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Bovey, concerning the Canada Disability Benefit.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1544S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on September 28, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning Canada-China relations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1545S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 18, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Francis, concerning support for victims of Hurricane Fiona.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1546S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 20, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, concerning the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1547S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 17, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), concerning the Strategic Innovation Fund.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1548S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 22, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Duncan, concerning employment insurance regional boundaries.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1549S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 29, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Seidman, concerning drug shortages.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1550S.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 13, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, concerning employment insurance reform.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1551S.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

With leave of the Senate,

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 3:50 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 Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 24 (4th Supp.), s. 8.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1539.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Batters replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (February 8, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Pate replaced the Honourable Senator McCallum (February 8, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Busson (February 8, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Jaffer was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (February 8, 2023).