The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanBattersBoehmBonifaceBoudreauBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMohamedMoodieMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteVaroneVernerWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouance

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjan*AucoinBattersBoehmBonifaceBoudreauBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMohamedMoodieMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteVaroneVernerWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouance

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

INTRODUCTION OF SENATORS

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate had received certificates from the Registrar General of Canada showing that:

Nancy Uqquujuq Karetak-Lindell, and

Todd Verne Lewis,

respectively, had been summoned to the Senate.

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that there were senators without waiting to be introduced.

The Honourable Senator Karetak-Lindell was introduced between the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Greenwood, and having presented His Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:

Mary May Simon

(G.S.)

Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.

TO

Our Trusty and Well-beloved,

A Member of Our Order of Canada,

of Arviat, Nunavut,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada.

AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS:

Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this nineteenth day of December in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and in the third year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Registrar General of Canada

The Honourable Senator Karetak-Lindell came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took her seat as a member of the Senate.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Lewis was introduced between the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., and the Honourable Senator Robinson, and having presented His Majesty’s Writ of Summons it was read by one of the clerks at the table as follows:

Mary May Simon

(G.S.)

Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.

TO

Our Trusty and Well-beloved,

of Lajord no. 128, in the Province of Saskatchewan,

GREETING:

KNOW YOU, that as well for the especial trust and confidence We have manifested in you, as for the purpose of obtaining your advice and assistance in all weighty and arduous affairs which may the State and Defence of Canada concern, We have thought fit to summon you to the Senate of Canada.

AND WE do command you, that all difficulties and excuses whatsoever laying aside, you be and appear for the purposes aforesaid, in the Senate of Canada at all times whensoever and wheresoever Our Parliament may be in Canada convoked and holden, and this you are in no wise to omit.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS:

Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Ottawa, this seventh day of February in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-five and in the third year of Our Reign.

BY COMMAND,

Registrar General of Canada

The Honourable Senator Lewis came to the table and took and subscribed the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed for that purpose, and took his seat as a member of the Senate.

o o o

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the honourable senators introduced today had made and subscribed the Declaration of Qualification required of them by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed to receive and witness same.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., introduced Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements).

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, 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.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator McPhedran introduced Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Sorensen, 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 Petitions

The Honourable Senator Loffreda tabled the following petition:

Of The Gore Mutual Insurance Company, having its principal place of business in the City of Cambridge, in the Province of Ontario, Canada; praying for the passage of a private Act to authorize it to apply to be continued as a body corporate under the laws of the Province of Quebec.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-64S.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

SPEAKER'S STATEMENT

Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 2-4(2), the leaders and facilitators of the parties and groups have been consulted regarding the process for the election of the Speaker pro tempore.

I therefore wish to inform you that, as of today, and until noon (EST) on Monday, June 2, senators wishing to serve in this capacity may indicate their interest in being a candidate by communicating with the Clerk of the Senate. Senators may do this by providing a signed letter to that effect or by sending an email from their Senate email account.

If there is more than one candidate, they will be invited to address the Senate on Tuesday, June 3, during the period set aside for senators’ statements, for a maximum of three minutes each. The order of speakers will be determined by drawing lots. If there are more than six candidates, their statements will continue beyond the time normally allowed, while if there are fewer than six candidates, any remaining time may be used for further statements. If there is only one candidate, that senator will be elected by acclamation, and I will make the announcement on Tuesday, June 3.

Voting will begin one hour after the candidates have finished speaking and will continue until one hour after the Senate adjourns for the day. Voting will resume on Wednesday, June 4, at 11 a.m. (EST) and will end one hour after the adjournment of the Senate, provided that all senators who were in line at that time will be able to vote. The vote will be supervised by one of the table officers and will take place at one of the senators’ workstations adjacent to the reading room. As provided for in rule 2-4(1), if there are more than two candidates, a ranked ballot will be used. Senators will therefore be asked to number the candidates in order of preference on the ballot.

The votes will be counted immediately after the close of voting by the Clerk of the Senate, who may be assisted by a table officer. They will keep all details of the results confidential. I will announce the results at a Senate sitting at the earliest opportunity after the votes have been counted.

Senators will receive more detailed instructions for those who wish to be candidates from the Clerk of the Senate. Reminders will also be sent by email periodically from the Chamber Operations and Procedure Office during the voting period.

If adjustments to the above process are necessary, senators will be informed as soon as possible by a new announcement during a sitting, if possible, or by email.

Government Business

Motions

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten:

That, notwithstanding rules 12-3(2)(f) and 12-26(1) and subsections 35(2), (4), (5) and (8) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the Honourable Senators Boniface, Busson, Carignan, P.C., Harder, P.C., Seidman and Smith be appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, until such time as a motion pursuant to rule 12-26(1) is adopted by the Senate or the Senate otherwise replaces the membership of the committee;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-26(2) and subsection 35(2) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the quorum of the committee be four members;

That, notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, following the retirement of the Honourable Senator Seidman, she not be replaced as a member of the committee, which from that time have five members, of whom three constitute the quorum;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-26(1), for the duration of the membership of the committee pursuant to this order, when a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee, the replacement member be appointed by order of the Senate;

That the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto; and

That the committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings or meetings entirely by videoconference, with the following provisions applying in relation to such meetings:

1.all members of the committee participating count towards quorum;

2.such meetings be considered to be occurring in the parliamentary precinct, irrespective of where participants may be located, subject to point 4(a);

3.the committee be directed to approach in camera meetings with the utmost caution and all necessary precautions, taking account of the risks to the confidentiality of in camera proceedings inherent in such technologies;

4.subject to variations that may be required by the circumstances, to participate in a meeting of the committee by videoconference senators must:

(a)participate from a designated office or designated residence within Canada;

(b)use a device and a headset with integrated microphone provided by the Senate and authorized for videoconferences with interpretation;

(c)be the only people visible during the videoconference;

(d)have their video on and broadcasting their image at all times, unless the meeting is suspended; and

(e)leave the videoconference if they leave their seat, unless the meeting is suspended; and

5.if the committee holds a hybrid or videoconference meeting in public, the provisions of rule 14-7(2) be applied so as to allow recording or broadcasting through facilities arranged by the Clerk of the Senate, and, if such a meeting cannot be broadcast live, the committee be considered to have fulfilled any obligations under the Rules relating to public meetings by making any available recording publicly available as soon as possible thereafter.

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

o o o

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

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, with the exception of Library of Parliament Vote 1, when and if the committee is formed;

That, for the purpose of this study, the committee have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, and that rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) be suspended in relation thereto;

That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in Library of Parliament Vote 1 of the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, when and if the committee is formed; and

That, in relation to the expenditures set out in Library of Parliament Vote 1, a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

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

o o o

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

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 2 p.m.

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

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe:

That, for the remainder of the current session, all committees consider the influences and impacts of technology in any study, including the consideration of bills, the subject matter of bills, estimates and special studies, authorized by the Senate, including any such work already authorized but not yet completed.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Burey, that further debate on the motion 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 3:46 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 2 p.m.)

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

Report of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for the year 2024, pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. H-6, sbs. 61(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-47.

Report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission for the year 2024, pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. H-6, sbs. 61(4) and to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, s. 32.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-48.

Report on the Statutes Repeal Act for the year 2025, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2008, c. 20, s. 2.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-49.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations (P.C. 2025-26), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-50.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (P.C. 2025-155), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-51.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Sudan) Regulations (P.C. 2025-74), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-52.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (P.C. 2025-104), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-53.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (P.C. 2025-264), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-54.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Sudan) Regulations (P.C. 2025-271), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-55.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations (P.C. 2025-1), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-56.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations (P.C. 2025-450), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-57.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations (P.C. 2025-449), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-58.

Copies of Regulations Amending the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on Haiti (P.C. 2025-281), pursuant to the United Nations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. U-2, sbs. 4(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-59.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations (P.C. 2025-294), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-60.

Copies of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (P.C. 2025-296), pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, sbs. 7(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-61.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2025 to 2029 and Budgets for 2025 of the Canada Post Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-62.

Report of the Canada Post Corporation, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2024, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-63.