The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada.

(Bill read first time.)

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

Hon. Senators: Question.

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

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

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament entitled Reappointment of Heather Powell Lank as Parliamentary Librarian.

Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the ninth report (interim) of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight entitled Annual Report of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight: Activities and Observations for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

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

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

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

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

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

[Translation]

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(j), I move:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, in relation to Bill C-51, An Act to give effect to the self-government treaty recognizing the Whitecap Dakota Nation/Wapaha Ska Dakota Oyate and to make consequential amendments to other Acts:

1.if the Senate receives a message from the House of Commons with the bill after the adoption of this order, the bill, once read a first time, be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading later that day, or, if the Senate has already passed second reading of government bills, second reading be dealt with forthwith;

2.if, before this order is adopted, the bill had been placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at a sitting after the one on which this order is adopted, second reading be brought forward, upon the adoption of this order, to later on the day this order is adopted, or, if the Senate has already passed second reading of government bills, second reading be dealt with forthwith;

3.on the first day the bill is considered at second reading after the adoption of this order, debate on the bill not be adjourned, no vote relating to the bill be deferred, and, if the bill has not been disposed of at second reading by the time provided for the adjournment of the Senate, the Speaker interrupt proceedings at that time in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at second reading;

4.if the bill is adopted at second reading, it be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, and, for the purposes of its study of the bill, that committee have power to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto;

5.when the committee reports the bill:

(a)if the report is without amendment, the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading later that day; and

(b)if the report is with amendment or recommends against proceeding with the bill, the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later that day, and, after the report has been disposed of, the bill, if still before the Senate, be taken into consideration at third reading forthwith;

6.if the committee has not reported the bill by Routine Proceedings on the second sitting of the Senate after the bill was referred to the committee, the committee be deemed to have reported the bill without amendment, with the bill then being placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading later that day;

7.when the Senate considers a report of the committee on the bill or deals with the bill at third reading, debate not be adjourned, no vote relating to the bill be deferred, and if the bill has not been disposed of by the time provided for the adjournment of the Senate, the Speaker interrupt proceedings at that time in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill; and

8.for greater certainty, if, under the terms of this order, the Speaker is at any time required to interrupt proceedings then before the Senate in order to put all questions necessary to dispose of the bill at a particular stage, no further debate or amendment be permitted except, if required, to move third reading of the bill, and, if a standing vote is requested after proceedings have been interrupted, the vote not be deferred and the bells ring once, and for only 15 minutes, without being rung again for subsequent votes necessary to dispose of the bill at that stage, with, on that day, any rules and orders relating to the time of adjournment being suspended until the Senate has concluded proceedings as required under this order.

Hon. Brent Cotter: Honourable senators, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, which deals with Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act.

(For text of report, see today’s Journals of the Senate, p. 1853.)

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(At 9:11 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the document entitled Proposals to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies, out-dated terminology and errors and to deal with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes and Regulations of Canada and to repeal certain provisions that have expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect, tabled in the Senate on June 20, 2023, be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Hon. Scott Tannas introduced Bill S-268, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Annual Summer Meeting of the National Governors Association, held in Portland, Maine, United States of America, from July 13 to 15, 2022.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Annual Legislative Summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures, held in Denver, Colorado, United States of America, from August 1 to 3, 2022.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, in 2021, the Trudeau government fought the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy in court to prevent them from obtaining information from the Parole Board of Canada and Correctional Service Canada to prepare for the parole hearings of Paul Bernardo, who tortured and killed their daughters. The Trudeau government argued in favour of protecting Paul Bernardo’s privacy rights, and they won the case.

Then, to its everlasting shame, Senator Gold, the Trudeau government asked the court to have these families pay the government’s legal costs of $19,142.27. The judge later reduced it to $4,000.

Leader, a delayed answer tabled last fall failed to answer the question you were asked in 2021. Why did your government seek court costs from these grieving families, Senator Gold?

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Council of State Governments 2022 (CSG) National Conference, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America, from December 7 to 10, 2022.