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44 th Parliament, 1 st Session

(November 22, 2021 - January 6, 2025)

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THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 2, 2022

(8) [ English ]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of November 25, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference, at 4:11 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dasko, Kutcher, McPhedran, Moodie, Omidvar and Patterson (6).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Bovey, Gold, P.C., Lankin, P.C., McCallum, Mégie, Poirier and Verner, P.C. (8).

Participating in the meeting: Andrea Mugny, Procedural Clerk, Marc-André Lanthier and Lori Meldrum, administrative assistants, Committees Directorate; Laura Blackmore and Laura Munn-Rivard, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, December 9, 2021, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-209,

An Act respecting Pandemic Observance Day.

WITNESSES (by videoconference) :

Réseau FADOQ:

Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, President.

Kitatipithitamak Mithwayawin: Indigenous-Led Countermeasures to Coronavirus (COVID-19):

Stéphane McLachlan, Professor, University of Manitoba.

Canadian Alliance of Student Associations:

Hannah Ehler, Interim Board Chair.

Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, Stéphane McLachlan and Hannah Ehler each made a statement and answered questions.

It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-209.

It was agreed that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed that the

preamble stand postponed.

It was agreed that clause 1 carry.

It was agreed that clause 2 carry.

The chair asked whether the

preamble shall carry.

The Honourable Senator Mégie moved:

That Bill S-209 be amended in the

preamble, on page 1,

(

a) by replacing line 4 with the following:

“Whereas March 11, 2021, was designated — by”;

(

b) by adding the following after line 10:

“Whereas it is important to acknowledge the multidimensional effects of the pandemic on every person in Canada;

Whereas this pandemic has worsened the various forms of inequality in Canada and has had a disproportionate impact on the vulnerable people within society and members of historically disadvantaged groups;

And

whereas it is fitting that March 11 of each year be officially designated as “Pandemic Observance Day” in order to give the Canadian public an opportunity to commemorate the efforts to get through the pandemic, to remember its effects and to reflect on ways to prepare for any future pandemics;”.

After debate, the Honourable Senator Bernard moved that the motion in amendment be amended by replacing the words “its effect” with the following:

“the many losses, to engage in diverse ways of healing”.

At 5:30 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:49 p.m., the committee resumed.

Resuming debate on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Mégie:

That Bill S-209 be amended in the

preamble, on page 1,

(

a) by replacing line 4 with the following:

“Whereas March 11, 2021, was designated — by”;

(

b) by adding the following after line 10:

“Whereas it is important to acknowledge the multidimensional effects of the pandemic on every person in Canada;

Whereas this pandemic has worsened the various forms of inequality in Canada and has had a disproportionate impact on the vulnerable people within society and members of historically disadvantaged groups;

And

whereas it is fitting that March 11 of each year be officially designated as “Pandemic Observance Day” in order to give the Canadian public an opportunity to commemorate the efforts to get through the pandemic, to remember its effects and to reflect on ways to prepare for any future pandemics;”.

And on the subamendment of the Honourable Senator Bernard:

That the motion in amendment be amended by replacing the words “its effects” with the following:

“the many losses, to engage in diverse ways of healing”.

After debate, it was agreed that the motion in amendment and the subamendment stand postponed.

At 5:59 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:11 p.m., the Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., replaced the Honourable Senator Mégie as a member of the committee.

At 6:23 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-10,

An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID‑19.

APPEARING (by videoconference):

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Health Canada:

Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister;

Serena Francis, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer;

Cameron MacDonald, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy, Integration and Data, COVID-19 Testing Secretariat.

The minister made a statement and, together with Stephen Lucas, Cameron MacDonald and Serena Francis, answered questions.

It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-10, on division.

It was agreed that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed that clause 1 carry, on division.

It was agreed that clause 2 carry, on division.

It was agreed that the title carry.

It was agreed that the bill carry, on division.

At 7:40 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:41 p.m., pursuant to rule 12 16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera, to discuss a draft report.

It was agreed that observations be appended to the committee's report on the bill and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to approve the final version of the observations, taking into consideration the discussions in committee.

At 7:55 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:56 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

It was agreed that the chair report Bill C-10, without amendment and with observations, to the Senate.

At 7:56 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee

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