The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Before we move to adjourning debate, Senator Patterson, do you have a question?

Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: Would Senator Deacon take a question?

Senator C. Deacon: Yes.

Senator Patterson: Senator Deacon, since there are apparently concerns in the other place, according to Senator Plett, would you agree that, rather than trying to deal with those concerns in this chamber, the best way to deal with any concerns that may be extant in the other place would be to give the bill third reading now and let the House of Commons deal with any concerns they might have when the bill is referred to the other place?

Senator C. Deacon: I don’t know how to answer the question because I couldn’t have said it better myself. The reality is we can only deal with what we have control over. The issue raised by Senator Ringuette is one we feel we addressed in committee. It’s one that doesn’t actually affect our chamber. If there are disagreements in the House of Commons — and I gather they occur from time to time, even within given parties, even within the Conservative Party and within the Liberal Party — that happens. That’s not our job to fix, and I still encourage my colleagues to call the question on this today. Thank you very much.

(On motion of Senator Plett, debate adjourned.)

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act.

(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)