The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordyCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBellemareBernardBoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCordy*CormierCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuncanDupuisForestFrancisGagnéGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingJafferKingstonKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieOhOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenPlettProsperQuinnRavaliaRichardsRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithVernerWallinWellsWhiteWooYussuff

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:

Certificate of nomination and biographical notes for the proposed appointment of Marie-Chantal Girard to the position of President of the Public Service Commission of Canada.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2446.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Delayed Answers

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on September 20, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning carbon pricing.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2447S.

o o o

Pursuant to rule 4-10(2), the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson tabled the following:

Reply to Question No. 109, dated November 25, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Downe, regarding the Canada Revenue Agency.—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2448S.

Orders of the Day

Other Business

Reports of Committees – Other

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Seidman, seconded by the Honourable Senator Poirier, for the adoption of the first report of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, entitled Consideration of an Inquiry Report from the Senate Ethics Officer, presented in the Senate on November 21, 2023.

Pursuant to rule 12-29(2), further debate on the motion was adjourned until the next sitting.

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, for the third reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation, as amended.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator McPhedran, seconded by the Honourable Senator McCallum:

That Bill C-29, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended in the preamble, on page 1, by replacing lines 1 and 2 with the following:

“Whereas, since time immemorial, First Nations and Inuit peoples — and, post-contact, the Métis Nation — have thrived on and managed and governed”.

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

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAtaullahjanAudetteBattersBoisvenuBureyCarignanDagenaisDeacon (Nova Scotia)DuncanGerbaGignacKingstonMacDonaldMarshallMartinMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMocklerMoodieOhOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PlettProsperQuinnRichardsRinguetteSeidmanSmithVernerWellsWhite—36

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

BellemareBoehmBonifaceBussonCardozoClementCordyCotterCoyleCuznerDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanForestFrancisGreenwoodHarderHartlingJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMassicottePettenRavaliaRossSaint-GermainSimonsWooYussuff—32

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

DalphondDupuisGoldMiville-DechêneMoncionPetitclerc—6

The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, for the third reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation, as amended.

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

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

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

AtaullahjanBattersBoisvenuCarignanMacDonaldMartinMocklerOhPlettRichardsSeidmanWells—12

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

ArnotAucoinAudetteBellemareBoehmBonifaceBureyBussonCardozoClementCordyCotterCoyleCuznerDagenaisDalphondDaskoDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DuncanForestFrancisGerbaGignacGoldGreenwoodHarderHartlingJafferKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLoffredaMacAdamMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoodieOslerPatePatterson (Nunavut)Patterson (Ontario)PetitclercPettenProsperQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRossSaint-GermainSimonsSmithVernerWhiteWooYussuff—56

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

DupuisKingstonMcCallumMcNair—4

ADJOURNMENT

At 4:10 p.m., pursuant to 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)

Summary of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2023-27 of VIA Rail Canada Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/44-2445.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Pate was added to the membership (November 29, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

The Honourable Senator Cardozo replaced the Honourable Senator Bellemare (November 29, 2023).

The Honourable Senator Clement replaced the Honourable Senator Petten (November 29, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

The Honourable Senator Audette replaced the Honourable Senator Anderson (November 29, 2023).

Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

The Honourable Senator Klyne replaced the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C. (November 29, 2023).