The Hon. the Speaker: I saw two senators rising.

The vote will take place at 5:12. Call in the senators.

Motion agreed to on the following division:

The Hon. the Speaker: I said the “yeas” have it.

The Hon. the Speaker: The vote will take place at 5:11.

An Hon. Senator: One hour.

The Hon. the Speaker: I see two senators rising. Is there an agreement on the bell?

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

And two honourable senators having risen:

Some Hon. Senators: Nay.

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

Some Hon. Senators: Yea.

The Hon. the Speaker: All those in favour of the motion will please say “yea.”

Some Hon. Senators: No.

Some Hon. Senators: Yes.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Martin has moved the adjournment. I will read the motion.

It is moved by the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that further debate be adjourned until the next sitting of the Senate. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

An Hon. Senator: — the question?

The Hon. the Speaker: I’m sorry?

An Hon. Senator: No.

The Hon. the Speaker: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Seidman, that further debate be adjourned until the —

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): I would like to take the adjournment of the debate.

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: Thank you for the question, Senator Cardozo.

I think even a quick scan of major media today answers your question. For those of you who noticed, there was more coverage about Grassy Narrows and the mercury poisoning — which we had been assured a number of times was being dealt with — and we now have a current media report on the fact that that is not true and that the Indigenous community of Grassy Narrows continues, on a daily basis, to suffer terrible health consequences. By no means are we talking about history. We are talking about the combination of history that has not stopped and is the current reality as well.

Hon. Andrew Cardozo: Thank you, Senator McPhedran, for your speech and passion, and certainly to Senator McCallum for having introduced this. As you mentioned, this has passed the House of Commons. This is a piece of legislation we should be taking seriously.

These problems of environmental racism go back a long time in history. Indeed, Indigenous peoples have borne the brunt of most of it. We certainly know about Africville in Nova Scotia. I note May 8 there was a spill just up the river. I will read one sentence:

A month ago, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), the company that operates the Chalk River nuclear research facility, notified Kebaowek First Nation that there was an issue with toxic effluent, but they were assured it was being taken care of . . . .

Of course, as you read through the story, it wasn’t.

I want to ask you to highlight whether this is a historical question which is over with or whether we still have issues of environmental racism that are current in Canadian society today?