An Hon. Senator: Oh, oh!

Senator Loffreda:  — it has been an honour to sponsor this bill in the Senate. Is the bill perfect?

An Hon. Senator: No.

Senator Loffreda: Of course not. No bill is ever perfect, perhaps with the exception of the one I’m sponsoring, Bill S-259, the bill on the Hellenic heritage month. That might be perfect — just kidding.

But I do feel the government has put forward a series of amendments and new measures that will benefit Canadians as well as many different sectors of our economy, and they send a strong signal that we are on the right path towards more growth and greater economic outcomes and positive social changes.

I would humbly urge all senators to vote in favour of sending Bill C-47 to the National Finance Committee today, so we can undertake the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Thank you.

An Hon. Senator: Now.

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

An Hon. Senator: Hear, hear.

An Hon. Senator: On division.

(Motion agreed to and bill read second time, on division.)

(Pursuant to the order adopted earlier this day, the bill was deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, and the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance is authorized to examine and report on the subject matter of the bill.)