Legislative reports: Senate.

Contrary to normal expectations in a new Parliament, the Senate has been quite busy from the outset with much time devoted to dealing with legislation that had not been completed when the general election was called in October 2000. Thirty-five bills have been introduced in the Senate including 9 Senate Government bills, 10 Commons Government bills, 15 Senate Public bills and 1 Senate Private bill. One bill that generated considerable debate over several sittings was Bill S-4, an Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of the Province of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law. While the content of the bill was not controversial and was readily supported, the inclusion of a preamble with a reference to Quebec society resulted in intense debate at third reading. Three amendments were proposed, one of which was adopted on division. The two other amendments were defeated with votes crossing party lines. In the end, however, the final vote on the bill at third reading was 55 to 0 with six senators abstaining.

On Thursday, March 29 the Speaker informed the Senate that the Royal Assent Ceremony would take place at the end of the afternoon. Two supply bills were scheduled for Royal Assent: one on supplementary estimates for the year 2000-2001 and the other, an interim supply bill for the year 2001-2002. However, when the Usher of the Black Rod went to summon the Members of the House of Commons, she returned with a message that the Commons had adjourned early. This had come about because of an insufficient quorum. Since it was the end of the fiscal year and without these bills, the government would not have funds, the Senate accepted the proposal of Leader of the Government to convene on Friday in order to hold the Royal Assent ceremony.

Speaker's Rulings

The last issue of the Canadian Parliamentary Review printed the Speaker's Ruling on February 21 regarding the designation of the Leader of the Opposition. Subsequent to this ruling, at the request of Senator Gerry St. Germain (British Columbia), the Senate asked its Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders to examine the Rules of the Senate to see how procedures might be changed to take into account the reality of a third party in the Senate.

The Speaker made two other rulings. As it happened, both were on March 28. The ruling dealt with two issues: who can present a report of a committee...