Conservatives finally shut down the Liberal abuse of the rules on Bill C-304
A vote on Bill C-304 is imminent! Time to scrap Section 13!
Below is an excerpt of Hansard from yesterdays Senate debate on Bill C-304. (See more on Bill C-304 here)
For the past year, the Liberals have done everything in their power to stall Bill C-304 (An Act to Repeal Section 13).
The Liberals have accomplished this by adjourning debate on it at
every instance, and keeping it in their name for the maximum amount of
time (15 sitting days). Because it is a private members bill, and not a
government bill, it hardly gets any time for debate in the Senate.
The Liberals generally say just a few words, and then re-adjourn the
debate in their name. This is why the Bill has been at Second reading
for over a year. It is clearly the Liberals using and abusing the
rules of the Senate to try and stall the passage of Bill C-304.
It
now looks like the Conservatives are finally pushing forward and
refusing to allow the Liberals to adjourn Bill C-304 in their names,
and hopefully will have Bill C-304 moved past Second reading, and even
have third reading done this week.
When
the Liberals try their usual scam of adjourning debate, the
Conservatives continually vote them down and are forcing a vote.
-Marc
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Canadian Human Rights Act
Bill to Amend—Second Reading—Debate
On the Order:Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Finley, seconded by the Honourable Senator Frum, for the second reading of Bill C-304, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting freedom).
Hon. Vernon White: Honourable senators, I rise this evening to ask each of you to make yourselves aware of Bill C-304 and that the honourable senator holding the adjournment consider moving this legislation through the Senate for a vote of members in this place. This bill has been sitting at second reading with Senator Cowan. I believe that allowing honourable senators to vote on this bill is important for this institution and the work that we do.
As stated, I believe the Honourable Senator Cowan has the adjournment of the matter, and I ask that he speak to it and that we vote on this bill at this time.
Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, there has been a lot going on these last few weeks. I am preparing my notes to speak on this bill. I intend to do so, but I am not ready to speak now, and I ask that the adjournment be continued in my name.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Some Hon. Senators: Yes.
Some Hon. Senators: No.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: All in favour of the motion will signify by saying "yea."
Some Hon. Senators: Yea.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: All opposed to the motion will signify by saying "nay."
Some Hon. Senators: Nay.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: In my opinion, the "nays" have it.
And two honourable senators having risen:
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Call in the senators.
Senator Marshall, is there agreement as to the length of the bell?
Senator Marshall: One hour.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: It shall be a one-hour bell. The vote will be at five minutes after nine o'clock.
Do I have permission to leave the chair?
Some Hon. Senators: Yes.
(2100)
Motion negatived on the following division:
YEAS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Chaput
|
Joyal
|
Cordy
|
Kenny
|
Cowan
|
Lovelace Nicholas
|
Dallaire
|
Mercer
|
Dawson
|
Mitchell
|
Day
|
Moore
|
Downe
|
Munson
|
Dyck
|
Ringuette
|
Eggleton
|
Rivest
|
Fraser
|
Robichaud
|
Hervieux-Payette
|
Smith (Cobourg)
|
Hubley
|
Tardif
|
Jaffer
|
Watt—26
|
NAYS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Andreychuk
|
McInnis
|
Batters
|
McIntyre
|
Bellemare
|
Meredith
|
Beyak
|
Mockler
|
Black
|
Nancy Ruth
|
Boisvenu
|
Neufeld
|
Braley
|
Ngo
|
Buth
|
Oh
|
Carignan
|
Oliver
|
Champagne
|
Patterson
|
Comeau
|
Plett
|
Dagenais
|
Poirier
|
Demers
|
Raine
|
Doyle
|
Rivard
|
Eaton
|
Runciman
|
Enverga
|
Segal
|
Fortin-Duplessis
|
Seidman
|
Frum Oliver
|
Seth
|
Gerstein
|
Smith (Saurel)
|
Greene
|
Stewart Olsen
|
Housakos
|
Tannas
|
LeBreton
|
Unger
|
MacDonald
|
Verner
|
Maltais
|
Wallace
|
Manning
|
Wells
|
Marshall
|
White—52
|
ABSTENTIONS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Nil
|
On debate.
Hon. Claudette Tardif (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I am deeply disappointed that Senator Cowan's request to move the adjournment of the debate was denied. I am so disappointed that I therefore move the adjournment of the Senate.
Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
The Hon. the Speaker: It is moved by Senator Tardif, seconded by Senator Munson, that the Senate do now adjourn.
Those honourable senators in favour of the motion will signify by saying "yea."
Some Hon. Senators: Yea.
The Hon. the Speaker: Those honourable senators opposed to the motion will signify by saying "nay."
Some Hon. Senators: Nay.
The Hon. the Speaker: In my opinion the "nays" have it.
And two honourable senators having risen:
The Hon. the Speaker: The vote will take place at 10 minutes after 10 p.m.
Do I have permission to leave the chair?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Hon. the Speaker: Call in the senators.
(2210)
Motion negatived on the following division:
YEAS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Campbell
|
Jaffer
|
Chaput
|
Joyal
|
Cordy
|
Lovelace Nicholas
|
Cowan
|
Mercer
|
Dallaire
|
Mitchell
|
Dawson
|
Moore
|
Day
|
Munson
|
De Bané
|
Ringuette
|
Downe
|
Rivest
|
Dyck
|
Robichaud
|
Eggleton
|
Smith (Cobourg)
|
Fraser
|
Tardif
|
Hervieux-Payette
|
Watt—27
|
Hubley
|
NAYS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Andreychuk
|
McInnis
|
Batters
|
McIntyre
|
Bellemare
|
Mockler
|
Beyak
|
Nancy Ruth
|
Black
|
Neufeld
|
Boisvenu
|
Ngo
|
Braley
|
Oh
|
Buth
|
Oliver
|
Carignan
|
Patterson
|
Comeau
|
Plett
|
Dagenais
|
Poirier
|
Demers
|
Raine
|
Doyle
|
Rivard
|
Eaton
|
Runciman
|
Enverga
|
Segal
|
Fortin-Duplessis
|
Seidman
|
Frum
|
Seth
|
Gerstein
|
Smith (Saurel)
|
Greene
|
Stewart Olsen
|
Housakos
|
Tannas
|
LeBreton
|
Unger
|
MacDonald
|
Verner
|
Maltais
|
Wallace
|
Manning
|
Wells
|
Marshall
|
White—50
|
ABSTENTIONS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Nil
|
Hon. Grant Mitchell: Honourable senators, I move that this bill stand adjourned in my name. There is a great irony in the fact that these votes are all about limiting the freedom of speech of Senator Cowan on a bill that is all about extending freedom of speech. It is quite a captivating irony. I am preparing notes and would like to think about that.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Some Hon. Senators: Yes.
Some Hon. Senators: No.
The Hon. the Speaker: Those in favour of the motion will say "yea."
Some Hon. Senators: Yea.
The Hon. the Speaker: Those opposed will say "nay."
Some Hon. Senators: Nay.
The Hon. the Speaker: In my opinion the nays have it.
And two honourable senators having risen:
The Hon. the Speaker: Call in the senators.
The vote will be at 11:15 p.m.
Do I have permission to leave the chair?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
(2310)
Motion negatived on the following division:
YEAS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Campbell
|
Jaffer
|
Chaput
|
Joyal
|
Cordy
|
Lovelace Nicholas
|
Cowan
|
Mercer
|
Dallaire
|
Mitchell
|
Dawson
|
Moore
|
Day
|
Munson
|
Downe
|
Ringuette
|
Dyck
|
Rivest
|
Eggleton
|
Robichaud
|
Fraser
|
Tardif
|
Hubley
|
Watt—24
|
NAYS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Andreychuk
|
McInnis
|
Batters
|
McIntyre
|
Bellemare
|
Mockler
|
Beyak
|
Nancy Ruth
|
Black
|
Neufeld
|
Boisvenu
|
Ngo
|
Braley
|
Oh
|
Buth
|
Oliver
|
Carignan
|
Patterson
|
Comeau
|
Plett
|
Dagenais
|
Poirier
|
Demers
|
Raine
|
Doyle
|
Rivard
|
Eaton
|
Runciman
|
Enverga
|
Segal
|
Fortin-Duplessis
|
Seidman
|
Frum
|
Seth
|
Gerstein
|
Smith (Saurel)
|
Greene
|
Stewart Olsen
|
Housakos
|
Tannas
|
Johnson
|
Unger
|
LeBreton
|
Verner
|
MacDonald
|
Wallace
|
Maltais
|
Wells
|
Manning
|
White—51
|
Marshall
|
ABSTENTIONS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
THE HONOURABLE SENATORS
Nil
|
On debate.
Senator Carignan: Question.
(2320)
Hon. Elizabeth Hubley: I move adjournment of the Senate.
The Hon. the Speaker: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mercer, that the Senate do now adjourn.
All those in favour of the motion will signify by saying "yea.'
Some Hon. Senators: Yea.
The Hon. the Speaker: All those opposed to the motion will please say "nay."
Some Hon. Senators: Nay.
The Hon. the Speaker: In my opinion, the nays have it.
And two honourable senators having risen:
The Hon. the Speaker: Is there advice from the whips as to the length of the bell?
[Translation]
Hon. Claude Carignan (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, should His Honour wish to re-put the question, we could adjourn today's sitting of the Senate and resume debate on the bill tomorrow.
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I think the only way I can do this is if there is unanimous consent of the house.
I will re-put the question. Is it agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Hon. the Speaker: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mercer, that the Senate do now adjourn.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
(The Senate adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)
