Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamManningMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldAtaullahjanAucoinBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHayHébertHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamManningMcBeanMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSeniorSimonsSorensenSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWells (Alberta)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:

Document entitled Spring Economic Update 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1032.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Second Reading

Order No. 1 was 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.

Other

Consideration of the message from the House of Commons:

Monday, April 27, 2026

EXTRACT, —

That, for the duration of the 45th Parliament:

(a)Standing Order 104(1) be amended by replacing the words “consist of 10 members” with the words “consist of 12 members”;

(b)paragraph (a)(i) of the order adopted on June 5, 2025, be rescinded, and Standing Order 104(2) be amended by replacing the words “consist of 10 members” with the words “consist of 12 members” and by adding after the words “12 members” the following: “which shall be composed of seven members from the Liberal Party, four members from the Conservative Party and one member from the Bloc Québecois, except for the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, which shall consist of 10 members and be composed of five members from the Liberal Party, four members from the Conservative Party and one member from the Bloc Québécois, and for which the lists of members are to be prepared, except as provided in section (1) of this standing order, shall be on:”;

(c)for greater certainty, the membership of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be increased by two members of the House of Commons from the government party and the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations be increased by one member of the House of Commons from the government party;

(d)the Clerk of the House be authorized to make any required editorial and consequential alterations to the Standing Orders, including to the marginal notes;

(e)paragraph (a) of the order adopted on November 20, 2025, be amended by replacing the words “11 members of the House of Commons, including five members of the House of Commons from the government party,” with the words “12 members of the House of Commons, including six members of the House of Commons from the government party,”;

(f)paragraph (b) of the order adopted on February 13, 2026, be amended by replacing the words “10 members of the House of Commons be members of the committee, including five members of the House of Commons from the governing party,” with the words “12 members of the House of Commons be members of the committee, including seven members of the House of Commons from the governing party,”;

(g)notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House, the whip of the recognized party affected by the above changes to the composition of committees submit his membership changes to the Clerk of the House following the adoption of this order, and these changes be effective immediately; and

that a message be sent to the Senate to acquaint Their Honours that this House has adopted this order, and inviting Their Honours to concur in the changes made under paragraphs (e) and (f) of this order.

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

That, in relation to the message from the House of Commons of April 27, 2026, the Senate agree to paragraphs (e) and (f); and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

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

Other Business

Ordered, That Order No. 14 under OTHER BUSINESS, Senate Public Bills — Second Reading, be brought forward.

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Klyne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Audette, for the second reading of Bill S-239, An Act to amend the Competition Act.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, 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.

ADJOURNMENT

With leave of the Senate,

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

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 3:17 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.)

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

Copy of Order in Council P.C. 2026-280 dated March 30, 2026, concerning the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Ecuador, pursuant to the Old Age Security Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. O-9, sbs. 42(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1031.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Ross replaced the Honourable Senator Black (April 29, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne replaced the Honourable Senator Wilson (April 28, 2026).

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

The Honourable Senator Varone replaced the Honourable Senator Hébert (April 29, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator White (April 28, 2026).