The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCampbellCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDupuisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndersonArnotAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBlackBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCampbellCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDupuisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreeneGreenwoodHarderHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMoodieOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWooYussuff

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 Gagné tabled the following:

Supplementary Estimates (C), 2022-23.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1564.

Main Estimates for the year 2023-24.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1565.

Report on Federal Tax Expenditures 2023.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1566.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Black, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, presented the eighth report of the committee (Supplementary budget—examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada—power to travel).

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 1270-1277 (available in print format PDF).)

(The HTML version of the report is available on the committee website.)

With leave,

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report.

The Honourable Senator Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, that the report be adopted.

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

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-39, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), 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.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Galvez tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, 9th Summit of the Americas, Los Angeles, United States, June 6 to 8, 2022.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1567.

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 Dalphond, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., for the second reading of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Judges Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin 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

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare, for the second reading of Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, 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 of the Honourable Senator Cotter, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, for the second reading of 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.

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

Order No. 4 was 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, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:

1.the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, to consider the subject matter of Bill C-39, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), with any proceedings then before the Senate being interrupted until the end of the Committee of the Whole;

2.if the bells are ringing for a vote at the time the committee is to meet, they be interrupted for the Committee of the Whole at that time, and resume once the committee has completed its work for the balance of any time remaining;

3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-39 receive the Honourable David Lametti, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, accompanied by a total of no more than three officials;

4.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-39 rise no later than 65 minutes after it begins;

5.the witnesses’ introductory remarks last a maximum total of five minutes;

6.if a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-32(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator; and

7.the sitting continue beyond 4 p.m., if necessary, and the Senate adjourn once business of Committee of the Whole has been completed.

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

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, March 7, 2023, at 2 p.m.

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Commons Public Bills – Third Reading

Third reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner).

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bernard, that the bill be read for a third time.

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.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, for the second reading of Bill S-204, An Act to amend the Customs Tariff (goods from Xinjiang).

The Honourable Senator Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, 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. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Moncion, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, for the second reading of Bill S-252, An Act respecting Jury Duty Appreciation Week.

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. 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 27 and 28 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the fifth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, entitled Canada’s Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan, tabled in the Senate on December 14, 2022.

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Marshall:

That the fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, entitled Canada’s Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan, tabled in the Senate on December 14, 2022, be adopted and that, pursuant to rule 12-24(1), the Senate request a complete and detailed response from the government, with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada being identified as minister responsible for responding to the report, in consultation with the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.

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

o o o

Orders No. 30, 31 and 32 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 77 and 96 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., calling the attention of the Senate to the role and mandate of the RCMP, the skills and capabilities required for it to fulfill its role and mandate, and how it should be organized and resourced in the 21st century.

After debate,

With leave of the Senate,

Further debate on the inquiry was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Busson.

o o o

Orders No. 8, 10 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 4 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 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 Federal Program Spending on Housing in 2022, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1562.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled Corporate Loss Utilization, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1563.

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 Marwah (February 16, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Quinn replaced the Honourable Senator Smith (February 16, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Marwah replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (February 16, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Senator Hartling replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (February 16, 2023).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Quinn replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (Ontario) (February 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Patterson (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Quinn (February 15, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Poirier (February 16, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Osler replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (Ontario) (February 15, 2023).