Journals of the Senate
70 Elizabeth II , A.D. 2021, Canada
1st Session, 44th Parliament
Issue 11 (Unrevised)
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
2 p.m.
The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWooYussuff
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
AndersonArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBellemareBlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBussonCarignanChristmasClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWooYussuff
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 Ringuette, Speaker pro tempore, took the chair, pursuant to rule 2-4(2).
PRAYERS
Senators’ Statements
Some Honourable Senators made statements.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
The Honourable the Speaker pro tempore tabled the following:
The 2021 Fall Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17, sbs. 7(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-22.
Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees
The Honourable Senator Busson tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 1/44-23S):
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such matters as were referred to it, tables, pursuant to rule 12-26(2), the following report on expenses incurred for that purpose during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament:
| 1. | Witness expenses | $ | 56 |
During the session, your committee held four meetings (5 hours 45 minutes), heard 17 witnesses and submitted one report in relation to its work. Your committee received a total of one order of reference.
Respectfully submitted,
BEV BUSSON
Deputy Chair
The Honourable Senator Mockler tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 1/44-24S):
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such matters as were referred to it, tables, pursuant to rule 12-26(2), the following report on expenses incurred for that purpose during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament:
| 1. | Witness Expenses | $ | 91 |
During the session, your committee held 30 meetings (61 hours 45 minutes), heard 239 witnesses and submitted six reports in relation to its work. Your committee examined three bills, the subject matter of two bills (pre-studies), five government estimates and received a total of nine orders of reference.
Respectfully submitted,
PERCY MOCKLER
Chair
Government Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné:
That, notwithstanding any provisions of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:
1.the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021, to consider the subject matter of Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19, with any proceedings then before the Senate being interrupted until the end of Committee of the Whole;
2.if the bells are ringing for a vote at the time the committee is to meet, they be interrupted for the Committee of the Whole at that time, and resume once the committee has completed its work for the balance of any time remaining;
3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-2 receive the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, accompanied by no more than four officials;
4.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill C-2 rise no later than 95 minutes after it begins;
5.the witness’ introductory remarks last a maximum total of five minutes;
6.if a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-32(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator; and
7.the start of the evening suspension be delayed until the Committee of the Whole has reported, and last one hour, provided that if under the terms of paragraph 13 of the order of November 25, 2021, something is to take place at 7 p.m., it instead take place once the sitting resumes after the evening suspension.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations
The Honourable Senator Mercer tabled the following:
Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association United Kingdom Virtual Forum on Climate Change, by videoconference, from March 22 to 24, 2021.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-25.
Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Cormier moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to study and to report on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act;
That the committee also be authorized to study the reports and documents published by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Minister of Official Languages, the President of the Treasury Board and the Commissioner of Official Languages, and any other subject concerning official languages;
That the documents received, evidence heard and business accomplished on this subject by the committee since the beginning of the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than June 15, 2023, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Cotter moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda:
That the papers and documents received and/or produced by the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament, and by the Intersessional Authority be referred to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
Second reading of Bill C-6, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., 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
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:
That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Other Business
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, for the second reading of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The bill was then read the second time.
The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cormier, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, for the second reading of Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Languages Skills Act (Governor General).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bovey, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill S-229, An Act to amend the Language Skills Act (Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick).
The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Omidvar, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 19, 20 and 21 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Reports of Committees – Other
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator MacDonald, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, for the adoption of the second report (interim) of the Committee of Selection, entitled Duration of membership on committees, presented in the Senate on December 2, 2021.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
ArnotAtaullahjanBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoyerBussonCarignanChristmasClementCoyleDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDuncanDupuisForestGriffinHousakosJafferLoffredaMacDonaldManningMartinMarwahMégieMocklerMoncionNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPoirierRavaliaRichardsSaint-GermainSimonsSorensenWellsWetstonWooYussuff—44
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
AndersonBattersBellemareBoveyCordyDalphondDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)FrancisGerbaGignacHarderKlyneKutcherLankinLovelace NicholasMarshallMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMercerMiville-DechêneQuinn—23
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senators
AudetteCormierCotterGagnéGalvezGoldLaBoucane-BensonTannasWallin—9
A point of order was raised with respect to the voting process.
After debate,
The Speaker pro tempore reserved her decision.
Motions
Order No. 6 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Galvez, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest:
That the Senate of Canada recognize that:
(a)climate change is an urgent crisis that requires an immediate and ambitious response;
(b)human activity is unequivocally warming the atmosphere, ocean and land at an unprecedented pace, and is provoking weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe, including in the Arctic, which is warming at more than twice the global rate;
(c)failure to address climate change is resulting in catastrophic consequences especially for Canadian youth, Indigenous Peoples and future generations; and
(d)climate change is negatively impacting the health and safety of Canadians, and the financial stability of Canada;
That the Senate declare that Canada is in a national climate emergency which requires that Canada uphold its international commitments with respect to climate change and increase its climate action in line with the Paris Agreement’s objective of holding global warming well below two degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius; and
That the Senate commit to action on mitigation and adaptation in response to the climate emergency and that it consider this urgency for action while undertaking its parliamentary business.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Tannas moved, for the Honourable Senator Black, seconded by the Honourable Senator Griffin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean:
That the Senate of Canada:
(a)acknowledge that racism, in all its forms, was a cornerstone upon which the residential school system was created;
(b)acknowledge that racism, discrimination and abuse were rampant within the residential school system;
(c)acknowledge that the residential school system, created for the malevolent purpose of assimilation, has had profound and continuing negative impacts on Indigenous lives, cultures and languages; and
(d)apologize unreservedly for Canada’s role in the establishment of the residential school system, as well as its resulting adverse impacts, the effects of which are still seen and felt by countless Indigenous peoples and communities today.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin 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.
Orders No. 11 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ngo, seconded by the Honourable Senator Patterson:
That the Senate note that, by adopting the Journey to Freedom Day Act on April 23, 2015, and taking into account the first two elements of the preamble of the said Act, the Parliament of Canada unequivocally recognized violations of:
(a)the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Viet-Nam and its protocols (Paris Peace Accords); and
(b)the Act of the International Conference on Viet-Nam; and
That the Senate urge the Government of Canada to call upon six or more of the current parties to the Act of the International Conference on Viet-Nam, which include Canada, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, amongst others, to agree to the reconvention of the International Conference on Viet-Nam pursuant to Article 7(b) of the Act of the International Conference on Viet-Nam in order to settle disputes between the signatory parties due to the violations of the terms of the Paris Peace Accords and the Act of the International Conference on Viet-Nam.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived, on division.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized, when and if it is formed, to examine and report on the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention, including, but not limited to:
(a)evaluating the effectiveness of the Framework in significantly, substantially and sustainably decreasing rates of suicide since it was enacted;
(b)examining the rates of suicide in Canada as a whole and in unique populations, such as Indigenous, racialized and youth communities;
(c)reporting on the amount of federal funding provided to all suicide prevention programs or initiatives for the period 2000-2020 and determining what evidence-based criteria for suicide prevention was used in each selection;
(d)determining for each of the programs or interventions funded in paragraph (c), whether there was a demonstrated significant, substantive and sustained decrease in suicide rates in the population(s) targeted; and
(e)providing recommendations to ensure that Canada’s Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention and federal funding for suicide prevention activities are based on best available evidence of impact on suicide rate reduction; and
That the committee submit its final report on this study to the Senate no later than December 16, 2022.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 15 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Inquiries
Orders No. 2 and 5 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
INQUIRIES
The Honourable Senator Boyer called the attention of the Senate to the positive contributions and impacts that Métis, Inuit, and First Nations have made to Canada, and the world.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Smith, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 7:15 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The Honourable Senator Arnot replaced the Honourable Senator Sorensen (December 13, 2021).
The Honourable Senator Sorensen replaced the Honourable Senator Arnot (December 13, 2021).
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Seidman (December 13, 2021).
The Honourable Senator Downe replaced the Honourable Senator Griffin (December 13, 2021).
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan replaced the Honourable Senator Wells (December 10, 2021).
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
The Honourable Senator Loffreda replaced the Honourable Senator Forest (December 14, 2021).
The Honourable Senator Housakos replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (December 13, 2021).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (December 13, 2021).
The Honourable Senator Wetston replaced the Honourable Senator Simons (December 13, 2021).
The Honourable Senator Simons replaced the Honourable Senator Wetston (December 10, 2021).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (December 14, 2021).
The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Bernard (December 13, 2021).