The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernardBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDupuisForestFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMocklerOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallinWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBernard*BlackBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)Dean*Downe*DuncanDupuisForest*FrancisFureyGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreeneGreenwoodHarderHartlingHousakosKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMockler*MoncionOhOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercPlettPoirierQuinnRavaliaRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanShugartSimonsSmithSorensenTannasVernerWallin*WellsWooYussuff

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

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., introduced Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

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

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan tabled the following:

Report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, August 20 to 26, 2022.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1699.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

Resuming debate on the motion, as amended, of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, in relation to Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, the Senate:

(a)agree to the amendments made by the House of Commons to its amendments; and

(b)do not insist on its amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;

That the Senate take note of the Government of Canada’s public assurance that Bill C-11 will not apply to user-generated digital content and its commitment to issue policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission accordingly; and

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

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Plett, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That the motion, as amended, be further amended:

1. by replacing sub-paragraph (b) by the following:

“(b) insist on its amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;”;

2.by adding, before the final paragraph, the following new paragraph:

“That, pursuant to rule 16-3, the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be charged with drawing up the reasons for the Senate’s insistence on its amendments; and”; and

3.by replacing, in the final paragraph, the words “That a message be sent” by the words “That, once the reasons for the insistence have been agreed to by the Senate, a message be sent”.

And on the subamendment of the Honourable Senator MacDonald, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That the motion in amendment be amended:

1. in the proposed new wording for sub-paragraph (b), by replacing the words “amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;” by the following:

“amendment 3 to which the House of Commons disagrees; and

(c)do not insist on its other amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;”; and

2.in the proposed new paragraph empowering the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications to develop the Senate’s reasons for its insistence, by replacing the word “amendments” by the word “amendment”.

Debate.

MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-288, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (transparent and accurate broadband services information), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

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

o o o

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-248, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (Ojibway National Urban Park of Canada), to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dupuis, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

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

Government Business

Bills – Messages from the House of Commons

The question being put on the subamendment of the Honourable Senator MacDonald, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That the motion in amendment be amended:

1. in the proposed new wording for sub-paragraph (b), by replacing the words “amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;” by the following:

“amendment 3 to which the House of Commons disagrees; and

(c)do not insist on its other amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;”; and

2.in the proposed new paragraph empowering the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications to develop the Senate’s reasons for its insistence, by replacing the word “amendments” by the word “amendment”.

The subamendment was negatived on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersCarignanGreeneHousakosMacDonaldMarshallMartinMocklerOhPlettPoirierSeidmanVernerWallin—15

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAudetteBernardBoehmBonifaceBoveyBoyerBureyBussonCardozoClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDupuisGagnéGalvezGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMarwahMassicotteMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneOmidvarOslerPatePatterson (Ontario)PetitclercQuinnRavaliaRinguetteSaint-GermainShugartSorensenWooYussuff—53

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

SmithTannas—2

The Senate resumed debate on the motion, as amended, of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, in relation to Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, the Senate:

(a)agree to the amendments made by the House of Commons to its amendments; and

(b)do not insist on its amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;

That the Senate take note of the Government of Canada’s public assurance that Bill C-11 will not apply to user-generated digital content and its commitment to issue policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission accordingly; and

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

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Plett, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos:

That the motion, as amended, be further amended:

1. by replacing sub-paragraph (b) by the following:

“(b) insist on its amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;”;

2.by adding, before the final paragraph, the following new paragraph:

“That, pursuant to rule 16-3, the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be charged with drawing up the reasons for the Senate’s insistence on its amendments; and”; and

3.by replacing, in the final paragraph, the words “That a message be sent” by the words “That, once the reasons for the insistence have been agreed to by the Senate, a message be sent”.

After debate,

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

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersCarignanHousakosMacDonaldMarshallMartinMocklerOhPatterson (Ontario)PlettPoirierSeidmanSmithTannasVernerWallin—17

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAudetteBernardBonifaceBoveyBoyerBureyBussonCardozoClementCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDupuisGagnéGalvezGerbaGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMassicotteMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneOmidvarOslerPatePetitclercQuinnRavaliaRinguetteSaint-GermainSimonsSorensenWooYussuff—47

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

Nil

The Senate resumed debate on the motion, as amended, of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, in relation to Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, the Senate:

(a)agree to the amendments made by the House of Commons to its amendments; and

(b)do not insist on its amendments to which the House of Commons disagrees;

That the Senate take note of the Government of Canada’s public assurance that Bill C-11 will not apply to user-generated digital content and its commitment to issue policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission accordingly; and

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

After debate,

The question was put on the motion.

Pursuant to rule 7-4(5)c), a standing vote was deferred until 5:30 p.m. at the next sitting, with the bells to sound at 5:15 p.m. for fifteen minutes.

ADJOURNMENT

At 7:54 p.m., pursuant to rule 7-4(6) and the order adopted by the Senate on September 21, 2022, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.

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

Report of the Governor of the Bank of Canada and Statement of Accounts, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the Bank of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. B-2, sbs. 30(3).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-1698.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Gignac (April 26, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Tannas was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (April 26, 2023).

Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Audette was added to the membership (April 26, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Bovey was removed from the membership of the committee, substitution pending (April 26, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Audette replaced the Honourable Senator Gignac (April 26, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Dupuis replaced the Honourable Senator Forest (April 26, 2023).

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Omidvar replaced the Honourable Senator Mégie (April 26, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Busson replaced the Honourable Senator Boniface (April 26, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

The Honourable Senator Arnot replaced the Honourable Senator Mégie (April 26, 2023).