Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I will have to make inquiries and report back to the chamber. I don’t have the answer that you are seeking.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to meet on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., even though the Senate may then be sitting and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Mr. Ben Foster. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator McPhedran.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I have enormous respect for our committees and their ability to propose studies to the chamber. If and when such a study is proposed, I’m sure all of us in the chamber will consider it with dispatch.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Again, thank you for the additional information in your question. I will add that to the inquiries that I plan to make.

Senator Coyle: Senator Gold, there were many reports tabled two days ago. The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s Report 7 on protecting aquatic species at risk found that delays, knowledge gaps and a bureaucratic approach undermined the government’s ability to protect aquatic species at risk. The report found that Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s approach to protecting aquatic species assessed as being at risk under the Species at Risk Act contributed to significant listing delays and decisions to not list species with commercial value. Furthermore, the audit found that the department did not have enough staff to enforce compliance with legislation aimed at conserving and protecting biodiversity.

Senator Gold, how will the government rectify Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s approach in order to ensure that the biodiversity crisis is taken seriously and aquatic species at risk are protected?

Senator Dalphond: Why do you propose sending it back to the Agriculture Committee when what is at stake is a financial issue? Perhaps we should send it to the National Finance Committee.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of October 19, 2022, moved:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 2 p.m.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion in amendment?

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by adding the words “to hear from any Minister of the Crown” between the words “the committee be authorized to meet” and “even though the Senate may then be sitting” in the last paragraph.

Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Speaker, the amendment is not an adjournment in my name; the main motion is. I believe that you called the question on the amendment. It does not affect my adjournment motion.

Senator Tannas: Yes, that is what I thought was maybe the case and consulted and did not get quite a clear answer; otherwise I would have asked for the adjournment of the debate when I was standing. I did not know whether or not I was allowed to finish my questions or just the one that was asked when we ran out of the 26 seconds, because I have a number of other questions.

Hon. Diane Bellemare: I would ask to adjourn the debate on the amendment. I think that it will go to senator —

Senator Ringuette: Yes, of course.

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Will you accept a question, Senator Ringuette?

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Senator Dalphond, do you have a question?