Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

Al ZaibakArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBlackBoehmBoudreauBureyCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSmithSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (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 C-13, An Act to implement the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-955.

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-956.

Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-18, An Act to implement the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and Indonesia, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-957.

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Klyne presented the following:

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight has the honour to present its

FIFTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized to examine and report on the appropriate consequential amendments to chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules that may be necessary to align with provisions within the revised Senate Audit and Oversight Charter, in relation to the financial rules and procedures for committees, has, in obedience to the order of reference of the Senate of March 24, 2026, examined the said consequential amendments and now recommends:

1.That the Senate Administrative Rules be amended in Chapter 3:05 by replacing subsection 1(3) with the following:

“(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight’s allocated budget is provided annually through the estimates, whereby the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration presents estimates with an amount to be allocated to the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight. The Senate must approve any budget for the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight for amounts not previously allocated to the committee in the estimates. The budget of the committee for any additional expenses related to carrying out its mandate or for any other order of the Senate must

(a) be adopted by the committee;

(b) be presented to the Senate, as a report of the committee, for adoption; and

(c) contain a general estimate of the total cost of such additional expenses.”.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Muggli, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

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

o o o

The Honourable Senator Klyne presented the following:

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight has the honour to present its

SIXTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized to examine and report on amendments to the Rules of the Senate in relation to the referral of papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee during past sessions and by past intersessional authorities, has, in obedience to the order of reference of the Senate of March 24, 2026, examined the said amendments and now recommends:

1.That the Rules of the Senate be amended by adding the following new rule immediately after rule 12-9(3):

“Audit and Oversight — referral of papers and evidence

12-9. (4) The papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight in past sessions, and by its past intersessional authorities, shall automatically be referred to the successor Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight in a new session.”.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hay, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

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

Question Period

Pursuant to the order adopted on June 4, 2025, the Senate proceeded to Question Period.

The Honourable Marjorie Michel, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

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At 3:31 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:33 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Question Period

The Senate resumed Question Period with the Honourable Marjorie Michel, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

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-23, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

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 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

Second reading of Bill C-24, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027.

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

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 LaBoucane-Benson, 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.

Motions

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C.:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized, for the purpose of its consideration of Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing), 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.

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

Bills – Third Reading

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

Bills – Second Reading

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

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Ordered, That Order No. 60 under GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, Motions, be brought forward.

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C.:

That, in accordance with subsection 79.1(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, the Senate approve the appointment of Annette Ryan as Parliamentary Budget Officer.

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

Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 2, 3 and 4 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

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

Inquiries

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

ADJOURNMENT

At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on June 4, 2025, the Senate adjourned until 1:30 p.m., tomorrow.

DECLARATIONS OF PRIVATE INTERESTS

Pursuant to rule 15-7(1) and subsection 12(1) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, a declaration of private interest was made as follows:

The Honourable Senator Dhillon, respecting Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025, by written declaration.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Hébert (March 25, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Gerba replaced the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne (March 25, 2026).