Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandlerGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandler*GagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcBeanMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-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.

PRAYERS

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Tabling of Documents

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill S-6, A fourth Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-930.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Moodie tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Parliament of Jamaica Post-Election Seminar, Kingston, Jamaica, from January 28 to 30, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-931.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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

That:

1.notwithstanding the order adopted by the Senate on June 4, 2025, the sitting of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, continue beyond 4 p.m., if Government Business is not completed, and be adjourned at the later of the completion of Government Business or 4 p.m.;

2.notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph one of this order, the sitting not continue beyond the ordinary time of adjournment provided in the Rules; and

3.committees of the Senate scheduled to meet on that day be authorized to do so after 4 p.m. for the purpose of considering Government Business or if a Minister of the Crown is appearing, even though the Senate may then be sitting, with rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

The question being put on the motion, it was negatived on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

ArnoldArnotAudetteClementDalphondKingstonMcBeanMoncionMoodiePetitclercSeniorSimonsWoo—13

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyBussonCarignanCoyleCuznerDeacon (Nova Scotia)DeanDhillonDowneForestFrancisFridhandlerGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMcNairMiville-DechêneMohamedMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPattersonPettenProsperPupatelloRavaliaRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff—65

ABSTENTION

The Honourable Senator

Galvez—1

The question being put on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten:

That:

1.notwithstanding the order adopted by the Senate on June 4, 2025, the sitting of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, continue beyond 4 p.m., if Government Business is not completed, and be adjourned at the later of the completion of Government Business or 4 p.m.;

2.notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph one of this order, the sitting not continue beyond the ordinary time of adjournment provided in the Rules; and

3.committees of the Senate scheduled to meet on that day be authorized to do so after 4 p.m. for the purpose of considering Government Business or if a Minister of the Crown is appearing, even though the Senate may then be sitting, with rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto.

The motion was adopted.

Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Pupatello, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, for the second reading of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.

After debate,

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

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Pupatello moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.

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

Bills – Third Reading

Third reading of Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures.

The Honourable Senator Dean moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm, that the bill be read for the third time.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Dean moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Simons:

That Bill C-12 be not now read a third time, but that it be amended,

(a)on page 35, by adding the following after line 16:

“Report

75.1 (1) At the start of the fifth year after the day on which this Part comes into force, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration must prepare a report in respect of the application of paragraph 101(1)(b.1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

(2) The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the report is prepared.

(3) The report must include

(a) for the calendar year in which this Part came into force and each subsequent calendar year, the average number of days between the day on which a refugee protection claimant entered Canada and the day on which they made the claim, disaggregated by the type of immigration document held by the refugee protection claimant;

(b) the number of refugee protection claimants whose claims were ineligible by reason of paragraph 101(1)(b.1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;

(c) the proportion of refugee protection claimants referred to in paragraph (b) who exited and re-entered Canada after the day of entry referred to in that paragraph;

(d) the number of refugee protection claimants referred to in paragraph (b) who applied for protection under subsection 112(1) of that Act, as well as the number of the claimants whose applications were allowed and the number of the claimants whose applications were not allowed; and

(e) any recommendations for changes in relation to the application of paragraph 101(1)(b.1) of that Act.”;

(b)on page 62, by adding the following after line 26:

“PART 12

Review

138 (1) At the start of the fifth year after the day on which this Act receives royal assent, a comprehensive review of the operation and effect of the amendments made by this Act must be undertaken by the committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that is designated or established for that purpose.

(2) The committee must, within one year after the review is undertaken, submit to the House or Houses of Parliament of which it is a committee a report that includes a statement setting out any changes to the Acts amended by this Act that the committee recommends.”.

After debate,

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

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dean, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm, for the third reading of Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures, as amended.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Senior moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Busson:

That Bill C-12, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended in clause 28, on page 13, by replacing line 16 with the following:

“same meaning as in section 3 of the Privacy Act, but does not include any personal information, as defined in that Act, about a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident as that term is defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.”.

After debate,

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

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dean, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm, for the third reading of Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures, as amended.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Moncion moved, for the Honourable Senator Kingston, 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.

Bills – Second Reading

Order No. 4 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Bills – Third Reading

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

Bills – Second Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Wilson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerba, for the second reading of Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, for the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, 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. 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.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

Third reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages).

The Honourable Senator Brazeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacAdam, that the bill be read for the third time.

Debate.

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Pursuant to rule 3-3(1), the Speaker pro tempore left the Chair to resume the same at 8 p.m.

The sitting resumed.

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Brazeau, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacAdam, for the third reading of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages).

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, for the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, 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. 2 was 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.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Downe, seconded by the Honourable Senator Prosper, for the second reading of Bill S-217, An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (reporting on unpaid income tax).

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

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Downe moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ince, 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.

o o o

Orders No. 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.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Consideration of the second report (interim) of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, entitled The Role of Non-Affiliated Senators, tabled in the Senate on February 24, 2026.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Batters, 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.

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Ordered : That Order No. 2, under Senate Public Bills — Third Reading, be again called.

Third reading of Bill S-212, An Act respecting a national strategy for children and youth in Canada, as amended.

The Honourable Senator Moodie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that the bill, as amended, be read for the third time.

After debate,

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

The bill, as amended, was then read for the third time.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.

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Ordered : That Order No. 20, under Senate Public Bills — Second Reading, be again called.

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Tannas, seconded by the Honourable Senator Osler, for the second reading of Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Moncion moved, for the Honourable Senator Kingston, 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, on division.

Motions

Orders No. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Woo, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean:

That, in light of findings and orders from the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court on the situation in Gaza, the Senate call on the Government to examine the risk to Canada and Canadians of complicity in violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and to report on its findings within three months of the adoption of this motion.

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

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

Inquiries

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario), calling the attention of the Senate to the vital role that physical activity and sport play in enhancing our well-being, strengthening our communities and shaping the fabric of the Canadian experience.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

ADJOURNMENT

At 9:44 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate earlier today, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

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

Management Plan for Thaidene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area, pursuant to the Parks Canada Agency Act, S.C. 1998, c. 31, sbs. 32(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-928.

Copy of Order in Council P.C. 2026-144 dated February 24, 2026, concerning the Order Amending the China Surtax Order (2024), pursuant to the Customs Tariff, S.C. 1997, c. 36, sbs. 53(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-929.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights

The Honourable Senator Karetak-Lindell replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (March 10, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Kingston replaced the Honourable Senator Oudar (March 10, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Loffreda replaced the Honourable Senator MacAdam (March 10, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Youance replaced the Honourable Senator Dalphond (March 10, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (March 10, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) replaced the Honourable Senator Boehm (March 10, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Cormier replaced the Honourable Senator Loffreda (March 10, 2026).