Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandlerGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBrazeauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandler*GagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauOslerOudarPatePattersonPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

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.

Absence of the Speaker

The clerk at the table informed the Senate that the Honourable the Speaker was unavoidably absent, whereupon the Honourable Senator Cormier, Speaker pro tempore, took the chair, pursuant to rule 2-4(6).

PRAYERS

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Certificate of nomination and biographical notes for the proposed appointment of Annette Ryan to the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-927.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

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At 6:32 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6:36 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Question Period

The Senate resumed Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing).

The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that the bill be read for the second time.

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

Second reading of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.

The Honourable Senator Pupatello moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, that the bill be read for the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Kingston moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

Motions

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

That, in accordance with section 9(2)(b) of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, S.C. 2024, c. 16, s. 113, the Senate approve the appointment of Anton Boegman as Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner.

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

o o o

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

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, 2027, with the exception of Library of Parliament Vote 1;

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, 2027; 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.

Bills – Third Reading

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Orders No. 1 and 49 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

ADJOURNMENT

With leave of the Senate,

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 9:03 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 on the administration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 1999, c. 33, sbs. 342(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-925.

Report on the operation of the Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023 for the year ended December 31, 2025, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2024, c. 3, sbs. 15.1(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-926.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator McNair replaced the Honourable Senator McBean (March 9, 2026).

Special Joint Committee on the Exercise of Powers Under the Building Canada Act

The Honourable Senator Gignac replaced the Honourable Senator Quinn (March 9, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (March 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator McCallum (March 3, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Arnot was added to the membership (March 3, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) was added to the membership (March 9, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Kingston (March 9, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Boehm replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (March 5, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Anderson replaced the Honourable Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) (March 4, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Loffreda replaced the Honourable Senator Cormier (March 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Wilson (March 3, 2026).