Journals of the Senate
3 Charles III , A.D. 2024, Canada
1st Session, 44th Parliament
Issue 234 (Unrevised)
Thursday, October 31, 2024
2 p.m.
The Honourable RAYMONDE GAGNÉ, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
AdlerAl ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)DowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHartlingHousakosKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMuggliOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWooYouanceYussuff
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
AdlerAl ZaibakArnotAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanClementCormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)DowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneHartlingHousakosKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncion*MoodieMuggliOmidvarOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWooYouanceYussuff
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
Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees
The Honourable Senator Omidvar presented the following:
Thursday, October 31, 2024
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its
TWENTY-EIGHTH REPORT
Your committee, to which was referred Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care, has, in obedience to the order of reference of Wednesday, May 29, 2024, examined the said bill and now reports the same without amendment but with certain observations, which are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
RATNA OMIDVAR
Chair
Observations to the twenty-eighth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Bill C-284)
Your committee has heard that Health Canada will effectively consult official language minority communities (OLMC) if this bill is duly passed. Your committee urges the federal government to fully respect its official languages obligations, including those set out in Part VII of the Official Languages Act, and expects an “official languages” lens to be applied in developing the proposed national strategy to support the prevention and treatment of eye disease.
Your committee notes that regular eye care follow-ups are not always systematically practiced. Your committee therefore proposes that the national strategy explicitly consider regular eye care follow-ups as part of its prevention methods.
The Honourable Senator Ravalia moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Arnot, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Question Period
The Senate proceeded to Question Period.
Delayed Answers
Pursuant to rule 4-9(7), the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:
Response to Question No. 218, dated March 22, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 2018 report entitled Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle from the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications — Employment and Social Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3895S.
Response to Question No. 218, dated March 22, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 2018 report entitled Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle from the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications — Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3896S.
Response to Question No. 218, dated March 22, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 2018 report entitled Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle from the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3897S.
Response to Question No. 218, dated March 22, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 2018 report entitled Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle from the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications — Public Safety Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3898S.
Response to Question No. 218, dated March 22, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the 2018 report entitled Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle from the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications — Transport Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3899S.
Orders of the Day
Government Business
Bills – Third Reading
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Omidvar, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, for the third reading of Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the 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, without amendment.
Reports of Committees – Other
Orders No. 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Orders No. 1, 132, 167, 172 and 197 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Other Business
Ordered, That Order No. 181 under OTHER BUSINESS, Motions, and Order No. 1 under OTHER BUSINESS, Commons Public Bills — Reports of Committees be brought forward.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dalphond:
That the Senate take note:
(a)of the data from Statistics Canada and Jewish organizations such as the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and B’nai Brith indicating a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents across Canada over the past years;
(b)of a global surge in antisemitism, to which Canada has not been immune, since the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and Israel’s duty to respond to it;
(c)that since October 2023, Canada’s Jewish community has witnessed shots fired at its schools, arson attempts at its communal buildings, boycott efforts and vandalism targeting private businesses, simply because their owners are Jewish, and the intimidation of its students at universities;
(d)that police departments across the country all report major and unprecedented increases in hate crimes since October 2023, with the Jewish community being by far the most targeted;
(e)that the Government of Canada has appointed Deborah Lyons, Canada’s former Ambassador to Israel, as the new Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism;
(f)that the authority vested in the Special Envoy’s office permits her to be uniquely placed to convene and chair a second national summit to combat antisemitism; and
(g)that a second national summit to combat antisemitism would provide a valuable forum for stakeholders representing all levels of government, civil servants, law enforcement agencies, educators and community leaders to share information and agree on effective strategies to blunt the unprecedented wave of hate aimed at Jews; and
That the Senate urge the Government of Canada to direct the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism to convene a second national summit to combat antisemitism.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Consideration of the fourteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Bill C-275, An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms), with an amendment and observations), presented in the Senate on October 29, 2024.
The Honourable Senator Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, that the report be adopted.
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 – Third Reading
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Pate, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moodie, for the third reading of Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Criminal Records Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation, as amended.
And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That Bill S-212, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended, in clause 5, on page 3,
(a) by replacing line 5 with the following:
“(a) ten years, in the case of an offence that is prose-”;
(b) by replacing line 14 with the following:
“(b) five years, in the case of an offence that is punish-”.
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator McBean.
Orders No. 2, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills – Third Reading
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), seconded by the Honourable Senator Aucoin, for the third reading of Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the 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, without amendment.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, for the third reading of Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the 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, without amendment.
Senate Public Bills – Reports of Committees
Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut), seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas, for the second reading of Bill S-228, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (property qualifications of Senators).
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Housakos.
Orders No. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Ordered: That consideration of Order No. 24 be postponed until the next sitting of the Senate.
Orders No. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Commons Public Bills – Second Reading
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dalphond, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, for the second reading of Bill C-290, An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act and to make a consequential amendment to the Conflict of Interest 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.
Orders No. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees – Other
Orders No. 31, 33, 40, 62, 63, 72 and 73 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Consideration of the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, entitled Interim Report on the Senate’s Order of Reference of December 7, 2023, tabled in the Senate on October 10, 2024.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Cotter moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dasko, that further debate on the consideration of the report be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 75 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Motions
Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith:
That the Standing Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to examine and report on the situation in Lebanon and determine whether Canada should appoint a special envoy, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than February 28, 2022.
Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Housakos.
Orders No. 6, 7, 11, 12, 19, 30, 77, 96, 107 and 147 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Simons, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greenwood:
That the Senate of Canada:
1.call on the Chief Actuary within the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to publish an actuarial study that reports on:
(a)a possible exit of Alberta from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), including an analysis of the viability of the CPP after such an exit by Alberta;
(b)a reasonable estimate of an exit cost of Alberta’s share of the Canada Pension Plan fund; and
(c)any other information that the Chief Actuary deems to be relevant in the study of this issue; and
2.call on the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer to study a possible exit of Alberta from the CPP, including any fiscal and/or economic impacts of such an exit from the CPP on Canadians.
After debate,
With leave of the Senate,
Further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Martin.
WRITTEN DECLARATION OF ROYAL ASSENT
At 5:38 p.m., the Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the following communication had been received:
RIDEAU HALL
October 31, 2024
Madam Speaker,
I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, signified royal assent by written declaration to the bill listed in the Schedule to this letter on the 31st day of October, 2024, at 5:05 p.m.
Yours sincerely,
Ken MacKillop
Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
The Speaker of the Senate
Ottawa
Schedule
Bill Assented To
Thursday, October 31, 2024
An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments (Bill C-20, Chapter 25, 2024)
Ordered : That Order No. 197, under ORDERS OF THE DAY, GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, Motions, be again called.
The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 2 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders of the Day
Other Business
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Bellemare:
That the Senate express the view that it should not adopt any bill that contains a declaration pursuant to section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, commonly known as the “notwithstanding clause.”
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.
Orders No. 202, 216 and 219 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 26, 28 and 30 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne called the attention of the Senate to the inquiry standing in the name of the Honourable Senator Clement concerning the career of the Honourable Ratna Omidvar.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Clement moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, 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 LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 6:14 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 2 p.m.)
DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2023-24 of the Privy Council Office, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 12(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3887.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2023-24 of the Canada Revenue Agency, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 11(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3888.
Copy of the Complementary Agreement No. 4 to the Northeastern Quebec Agreement, together with a copy of the Order in Council P.C. 2024-1140, dated October 25, 2024, pursuant to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Native Claims Settlement Act, S.C. 1976-77, c. 32, sbs. 5(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3889.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2023-24 of the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 12(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3890.
Copy of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations (P.C. 2024-1139), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3891.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2023-24 of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 11(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3892.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2023-24 of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 11(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3893.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report for 2023-24 of the Department of Veterans Affairs, pursuant to the Federal Sustainable Development Act, S.C. 2008, c. 33, sbs. 12(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-3894.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy
The Honourable Senator McNair was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (October 31, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) replaced the Honourable Senator Gignac (October 30, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Galvez replaced the Honourable Senator Youance (October 30, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The Honourable Senator Kutcher replaced the Honourable Senator Boudreau (October 31, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Duncan (October 31, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Busson (October 31, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Greene (October 31, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Duncan replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (October 31, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (October 30, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Dean (October 30, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Al Zaibak (October 30, 2024).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Moodie replaced the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain (October 31, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs
The Honourable Senator McNair replaced the Honourable Senator Kutcher (October 31, 2024).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Moodie replaced the Honourable Senator Boudreau (October 31, 2024).
The Honourable Senator Dagenais replaced the Honourable Senator Osler (October 31, 2024).