Legislative reports: Senate.

• Author: Mussell, Mary

The effects of September 11 continued to dominate proceedings of the Senate throughout the fall up to the adjournment on December 18 with Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Official Secrets Act, the Canada Evidence Act, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act and other Acts, and to enact measures respecting the registration of charities, in order to combat terrorism, maintaining a prominent position on the Senate's legislative agenda. The Senate had already made a useful contribution to the legislative process earlier in the fall when it appointed a special committee to conduct a pre-study of the bill. The work of that committee had a considerable impact on the debate on Bill C-36 itself and, although not all the committee's recommendations were accepted, it's concerns were taken seriously.

Legislation and Motions

When Bill C-36 reached the Senate on November 29, there was no objection to sending the bill expeditiously to committee. The Senate was already well acquainted with the principle of the bill with the adoption of the report of the Special Senate Committee studying its subject-matter. On December 10, the committee reported the bill without amendment but with observations. Debate on third reading was intense and exhaustive over the next few days. On December 18, a motion for time allocation, moved in accordance with Rule 39 when agreement could not be reached between the party leaders for the disposal of the bill, was adopted and Bill C-36 passed, without amendment the same day.

In addition to Bill C-36, time allocation motions were also adopted to conclude proceedings on Bill C-6, An Act to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act, Bill C-7, An Act in respect of criminal justice for young persons and to amend and repeal other Acts and Bill C-45, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 2002. Subsequently, Bill C-6 and Bill C-45 received third reading on December 18. Bill C-7 was passed with an amendment and had to be returned to the House of Commons. Time allocation motions and an unusual number of recorded votes reflected the degree of pressure and tension in the Senate right before the Christmas adjournment. On December 18, the last sitting day of the year, there were an unprecedented thirteen recorded divisions.

A total of 14 bills were given Royal Assent by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, on December 18.

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