Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacDonaldManningMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMoncionMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacHarderHenkelHousakosInceKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacDonaldManningMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMoncionMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPatePattersonPetitclercPettenPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSorensenTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador)WhiteWilsonYouanceYussuff

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

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Kutcher, who will resign from the Senate on May 25, 2026.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Cormier tabled the second report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, entitled Proposed Official Languages Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1070S.

The Honourable Senator Cormier moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, 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.

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The Honourable Senator Klyne, Chair of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, tabled the eighth report (interim) of the committee, entitled Annual Report of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight: Activities and Observations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1071S.

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The Honourable Senator Klyne, Chair of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, tabled the ninth report (interim) of the committee, entitled Senate Expenditure Comparison and Trending Analysis.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1072S.

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.

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The Honourable Senator Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, presented the committee’s fifth report (Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (disposal of foreign state assets), without amendment).

The Honourable Senator Dasko moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, 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.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Galvez tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, Bilateral Mission, Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico, from March 2 to 6, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1073.

Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, 17th Gathering of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality, Brasília, Brazil, September 25 and 26, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1074.

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The Honourable Senator Gignac tabled the following:

Report of the Canada-China Legislative Association, 25th Bilateral Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia, from December 1 to 3, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1075.

Report of the Canada-China Legislative Association, Co-Chairs’ Annual Visit to China, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China, from March 16 to 20, 2026.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1076.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:

1.the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-20, An Act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes, introduced in the House of Commons on February 5, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 4, 2026;

2.the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026, introduced in the House of Commons on March 26, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 4, 2026;

3.the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026, introduced in the House of Commons on April 29, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 11, 2026;

4.each of the aforementioned committees be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting;

5.as the report from each of the aforementioned committees is tabled in the Senate, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting, provided that if a report is deposited with the Clerk, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting following the one on which the depositing is recorded in the Journals of the Senate; and

6.for the purposes of its study, each of the aforementioned committees be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

After debate,

In amendment, the Honourable Senator Robinson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tannas:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended:

1.by replacing the words “subject matter of Bill C-30” with the words “subject matter of all of Bill C-30” in point 3;

2.by adding the following new points 4 and 5:

“4. the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine the subject matter of Divisions 7 and 8 of Part 3 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026, introduced in the House of Commons on April 29, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 4, 2026;

5. the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to take any report tabled under point 4 of this order into consideration during its study of the subject matter of all of Bill C-30;” and

3.by renumbering current points 4, 5 and 6 as points 6, 7 and 8.

After debate,

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

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:

1.the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-20, An Act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes, introduced in the House of Commons on February 5, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 4, 2026;

2.the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026, introduced in the House of Commons on March 26, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 4, 2026;

3.the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026, introduced in the House of Commons on April 29, 2026, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 11, 2026;

4.each of the aforementioned committees be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting;

5.as the report from each of the aforementioned committees is tabled in the Senate, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting, provided that if a report is deposited with the Clerk, it be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting following the one on which the depositing is recorded in the Journals of the Senate; and

6.for the purposes of its study, each of the aforementioned committees be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

The motion was adopted.

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

That, for the purposes of its study of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), as authorized by the Senate on April 30, 2026, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

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

Bills – Third Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kingston, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, for the third reading of Bill S-5, An Act respecting the interoperability of health information technology and to prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors, as amended.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) 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.

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.

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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, May 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.

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

Inquiries

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

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

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

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

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.

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Second reading of Bill S-247, An Act to establish a national framework on food allergy.

The Honourable Senator Cardozo moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., that the bill be read for the second time.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) 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.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

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

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 23, 24 and 26 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Question Period

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

The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indigenous Services, entered the Senate and took part in Question Period.

Reports of Committees – Other

Consideration of the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, entitled Russia’s Disinformation – Understanding the Challenge, Strengthening Canada’s Response, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on April 30, 2026.

The Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement:

That the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, entitled Russia’s Disinformation – Understanding the Challenge, Strengthening Canada’s Response, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on Thursday April 30, 2026, be adopted and that, pursuant to rule 12-23(1), the Senate request a complete and detailed response from the government, with the Minister of Public Safety being identified as minister responsible for responding to the report, in consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), 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.

Ordered: That further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting, in the name of the Honourable Senator Martin.

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Orders No. 4, 5, 7 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

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

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Order No. 9 was called and, pursuant to rule 4-14(2), dropped from the Order Paper and Notice Paper.

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Orders No. 11, 12, 13 and 16 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Petten moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pupatello:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

(Accordingly, at 5:06 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.)

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

Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, pursuant to the Employment Insurance Act, S.C. 1996, c. 23, sbs. 3(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1067.

Special Report of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, entitled Investigation of Unauthorized Disclosures and Modifications of Taxpayer Personal Information at the Canada Revenue Agency, pursuant to the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, s. 39 (2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1068.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled The Government’s Expenditure Plan and the Main Estimates for 2026-27, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1069.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Dhillon replaced the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario) (May 7, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Woo replaced the Honourable Senator Dasko (May 7, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Dasko replaced the Honourable Senator Woo (May 7, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Dhillon replaced the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain (May 7, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain replaced the Honourable Senator Dhillon (May 6, 2026).