The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I received a notice from the Government Representative in the Senate who requests, pursuant to rule 4-3(1), that the time provided for the consideration of Senators’ Statements be extended today for the purpose of paying tribute to the Honourable Landon Pearson whose death occurred on January 28, 2023.

Is it agreed to continue tributes in Senators’ Statements?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Michael Pearson, son of the late Honourable Senator Pearson; Hilary Pearson, her daughter; Kerry Buck, her daughter-in-law; Maija Buckley-Pearson, her granddaughter and her two-month-old son; and Euan Pearson, her grandson. They are accompanied by the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of Canada.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Do we have agreement on a bell?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2023 Spring 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(5).

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Craig Smith, President, and Sean McCarthy, Treasurer, of the St. John’s Fire Fighters Association. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Wells.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I would ask you to rise and join me in observing a minute of silence.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Martin, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: The vote will take place at 4:28.

Call in the senators.

(1620)

Motion agreed to and bill read second time on the following division:

The Hon. the Speaker: Are honourable senators ready for the question?

The Hon. the Speaker: All those opposed please say “nay.”

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: In my opinion, the yeas have it.

And two honourable senators having risen:

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Darius Skusevičius, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada; His Excellency Kaspars Ozoliņš, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Canada; and His Excellency Margus Rava, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Canada.

I know I speak on behalf of all honourable senators when I say that Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with its partners in the Baltic region, as friends and as allies.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Michael Spavor, Yejin Kim, Simon David Cockerell, Linda Tung Yu, and baby Cyrus Rongxi Cockerell-Yu. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Woo.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons returning Bill S-203, An Act respecting a federal framework on autism spectrum disorder, and acquainting the Senate that they had passed this bill without amendment.

[English]

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Klyne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals).

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?