Journals of the Senate
69 Elizabeth II , A.D. 2020, Canada
2nd Session, 43rd Parliament
Issue 16 (Unrevised)
Thursday, December 3, 2020
2 p.m.
The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithStewart OlsenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo
The Members in attendance to business were:
The Honourable Senators
AndersonAtaullahjanBattersBellemareBernardBeyakBlack (Alberta)Black (Ontario)BoehmBoisvenuBonifaceBoveyBrazeauBussonCampbellCarignanCordyCormierCotterCoyleDagenaisDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForestForest-NiesingFrancisFrumFureyGagnéGalvezGoldGreeneGriffinHarderHartlingHousakosJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMarwahMassicotteMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMercerMiville-DechêneMocklerMoncionMoodieMunsonNgoOhOmidvarPatePattersonPetitclercPlettPoirierRavaliaRichardsRinguetteSaint-GermainSeidmanSimonsSmithStewart OlsenTannasVernerWallinWellsWetstonWhiteWoo
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
Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees
The Honourable Senator Boniface tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 2/43-478S):
Thursday, December 3, 2020
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to present 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 First Session of the Forty-second Parliament:
| 1. | Witness Expenses | $ | 89,363 |
2.With respect to its special study on Canada’s national security and defence policies, practices, circumstances and capabilities, authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, January 26, 2016:
| Travel Expenses | $ | 13,074 |
3.With respect to its special study on the services and benefits provided to members of the Canadian Forces; to veterans; to members and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their families, authorized by the Senate on Thursday, January 28, 2016, which was delegated to the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs on Monday, February 1, 2016:
| Witness Expenses | $ | 10,389 |
During this study, the subcommittee held 21 meetings (19 hours) and heard 44 witnesses.
During the session, your committee held 86 meetings (234 hours 48 minutes), heard 471 witnesses and submitted 25 reports in relation to its work. Your committee examined ten bills, the subject matter of five bills, and received a total of 27 orders of reference.
During the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament the committee was not created and therefore did not incur any expenses.
Respectfully submitted,
Gwen Boniface
Chair
The Honourable Senator Cormier tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 2/43-479S):
Thursday, December 3, 2020
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages 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 First Session of the Forty-second Parliament:
| 1. | Witness Expenses | $ | 28,548 |
2.With respect to its special study on the challenges associated with access to French-language schools and French immersion programs in British Columbia, authorized by the Senate on April 20, 2016 (final report tabled May 2017):
| Travel Expenses | $ | 68,590 |
3.With respect to its special study on Canadians’ views about modernizing the Official Languages Act, authorized by the Senate on April 6, 2017 (final report tabled June 2019):
| Travel Expenses | $ | 110,632 |
During the session, your committee held 80 meetings (143 hours 36 minutes), heard 299 witnesses and submitted 13 reports in relation to its work. Your Committee examined one bill (S-209) and received a total of six orders of reference.
During the First Session of the Forty-third Parliament the committee was not created and therefore did not incur any expenses.
Respectfully submitted,
RENÉ CORMIER
Chair
Government Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That, notwithstanding rules 12-3(2)(f) and 12-27(1) and subsections 35(2), (4), (5) and (8) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the Honourable Senators Busson, Cotter, Harder, P.C., Patterson, Seidman and Tannas be appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, until such time as a motion pursuant to rule 12-27(1) is adopted by the Senate or the Senate otherwise replaces the membership of the committee;
That, notwithstanding rule 12-27(2) and subsection 35(2) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the quorum of the committee be four members; and
That, notwithstanding rule 12-27(1), for the duration of the membership of the committee pursuant to this order, when a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee, the replacement member be appointed by order of the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Gagné moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C.:
That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 2 p.m.
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
Second reading of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Offshore Health and Safety Act.
The Honourable Senator Ravalia moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Wells moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Second reading of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code.
The Honourable Senator Dalphond moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Galvez, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
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 adopted.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gagné, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc:
That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, 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 McPhedran, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 19 was withdrawn pursuant to rule 5-10(2).
Other Business
Senate Public Bills – Second Reading
Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McPhedran, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda, for the second reading of Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum (voting age).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Galvez moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., 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 Moodie, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill S-210, An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Order No. 11 was called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dagenais, for the second reading of Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (disclosure of information by jurors).
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, 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 McPhedran, for the second reading of Bill S-213, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Pate moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Orders No. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Second reading of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims).
The Honourable Senator Boisvenu moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that the bill be read the second time.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Pate moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, 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
Consideration of the first report (interim) of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, entitled Nomination of two external members for the committee, presented in the Senate on December 1, 2020.
The Honourable Senator Wells moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Motions
Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to examine and report on Turkey’s increased aggression and acts against international law, including but not limited to the Exclusive Economic Zone of Greece and other nations in the Mediterranean, under the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than March 28, 2021.
Debate.
Pursuant to rule 3-3(1) and the order adopted by the Senate on October 27, 2020, the Speaker left the Chair to resume the same at 7 p.m.
The sitting resumed.
Motions
The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to examine and report on Turkey’s increased aggression and acts against international law, including but not limited to the Exclusive Economic Zone of Greece and other nations in the Mediterranean, under the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than March 28, 2021.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Dasko moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ringuette, 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 and 13 were called and postponed until the next sitting.
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to examine and report on the Government of Canada’s decision to award a contract for a student grant program to WE Charity, a third party without the capacity to do so in both official languages, in apparent contravention of Canada’s Official Languages Act, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than February 28, 2021.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Duncan moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Woo, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
A point of order was raised concerning to unparliamentary language.
After debate,
The Speaker reserved his decision.
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on the cumulative impacts of resource extraction and development, and their effects on environmental, economic and social considerations, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2021.
The Honourable Senator Plett moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
AtaullahjanBattersBeyakBoisvenuCarignanMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMercerMocklerPlettPoirierRichardsSeidmanStewart Olsen—16
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
BellemareBlack (Alberta)BoehmBonifaceBoveyBrazeauBussonCampbellCordyCormierCotterCoyleDalphondDaskoDawsonDeacon (Nova Scotia)Deacon (Ontario)DeanDowneDuffyDuncanDupuisForest-NiesingFrancisGagnéGoldHartlingJafferKeatingKlyneKutcherLaBoucane-BensonLankinLoffredaMarwahMcCallumMcPhedranMégieMiville-DechêneMoncionMunsonOmidvarPateRavaliaRinguetteSimonsVernerWetstonWoo—49
ABSTENTION
The Honourable Senator
Housakos—1
The Senate resumed debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Loffreda:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on the cumulative impacts of resource extraction and development, and their effects on environmental, economic and social considerations, when and if the committee is formed; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2021.
After debate,
The Honourable Senator Downe moved, for the Honourable Senator Tannas, seconded by the Honourable Senator Pate, that further debate on the motion 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 Gold, P.C.:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
(Accordingly, at 8:59 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 2 p.m.)
DECLARATIONS OF PRIVATE INTERESTS
Pursuant to rule 15-7(1) and subsection 12(1) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, a declaration of private interest was made as follows:
The Honourable Senator Cotter, respecting Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code, by written declaration.
DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)
Report of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, together with the Auditors’ Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, pursuant to the British Columbia Treaty Commission Act, S.C. 1995, c. 45, sbs. 21(3).—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-472.
WRITTEN REPLIES TO ORAL QUESTIONS AND TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO THE ORDER ADOPTED OCTOBER 27, 2020
Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on September 30, 2020, by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, concerning the Inter-Parliamentary Union presidency.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-473S.
Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 2, 2020, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning AgriInvest.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-474S.
Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 27, 2020, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-475S.
Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 28, 2020, by the Honourable Senator Moodie, concerning support for children and families.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-476S.
Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 28, 2020, by the Honourable Senator Black (Ontario), concerning support for farmers and producers.—Sessional Paper No. 2/43-477S.
Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5
Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples
The Honourable Senator Martin replaced the Honourable Senator Poirier (December 3, 2020).
The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator MacDonald (December 3, 2020).
Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Honourable Senator Boniface replaced the Honourable Senator Petitclerc (December 3, 2020).
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Smith (December 3, 2020).