Hon. Hassan Yussuff: Honourable senators, I rise to speak in support of Bill S-205. We all want a world without domestic violence, where supports and systems are in place to prevent men from committing abuse and to assist women in leaving relationships easily if they feel threatened with abuse.

This will be the world we aspire to. In the meantime, we must try to deal with the imperfect world we have, a world where 4 out of 10 women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime; where roughly every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner; where every night almost 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters because it’s not safe for them to sleep at home; and where thousands are not able to access shelter because space is not available.

I speak as the father of a young daughter, as a husband and as a legislator who has the power to make a difference not only in my daughter’s future but in the lives of thousands of women and girls who are experiencing domestic violence right now.

This discussion is not about whether a person supports measures to help reduce the chances of domestic violence, such as the measures proposed by Bill S-205. It does not mean that other measures to address the root problems of domestic violence cannot be developed as well. We must keep the focus on the victims of domestic violence who are living it right now, and give them every tool available to help stop or reduce the chances of continued abuse or death.

According to the 2017 Department of Justice report, gender‑based violence against women is identified worldwide as one of the most pressing social human rights challenges. The root causes of domestic violence include coercive control, defined as a pattern of controlling behaviour used to instill fear or intimidation; the underfunding of shelters and housing, or the lack of resources for prevention; and the role of police in investigating domestic violence.

The problem of domestic violence has been exacerbated during COVID. The United Nations calls the pandemic’s impact of violence against women a shadow pandemic in which the isolation and financial precarity resulting from the lockdown tether mainly at-risk, female-identifying people to abusive situations. If gender-based violence against women is one of the world’s most pressing social human rights challenges, should we not use every tool possible to combat it?

Many protections and supports are needed for victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence can carry over into the workplace, threatening women’s ability to maintain economic independence. During my time at the Canadian Labour Congress, I was part of a campaign to create paid leave for the domestically abused, culminating in the federal legislation in 2017 that provided 10 days off, 5 paid, per year for victims of domestic violence. I have to say, today, right across this country, in every jurisdiction across Canada, including the three territories, legislation now exists to provide for paid leave for victims of domestic violence — except Alberta, which is the only place where they are yet to get paid leave. We’re continuing to work on that.

As part of the campaign, the Canadian Labour Congress partnered with researchers at the University of Western Ontario and conducted the first ever Canadian survey on domestic violence and the workplace. Some 8,429 workers were asked if they experienced domestic violence. One third said yes. Of those, 82% said the violence negatively affected work performance. Almost 40% said it kept them from getting to work. For almost 10%, it meant losing their jobs. More than half said the violence continued at their workplace in the form of harassing emails, calls and texts, stalking or physical violence.

Paid domestic violence leave is one support, one tool, just like the measures in Bill S-205 are different supports for victims of domestic violence. What is Bill S-205 trying to achieve? It attempts to put the victims first. What does it not do? It will not address the root problem of domestic violence. It will not stop the initial abuse. It is not 100% effective in stopping every abuser from hurting their victim.

Bill S-205 is intended to give victims some space to make a safety plan, to reassess their relationship and their options for the future, to increase the safety and freedom of victims by reducing the levels of harassment and stalking, to make the victims more visible in the justice system by requiring them to receive more information on the release of the accused, to provide judges more ability to require the accused to get treatment and to help mitigate victims’ feelings of fear.

One woman who took part in a U.S. study on the use of electronic monitoring devices said:

I always felt he was going to come out from nowhere and cut my throat or shoot me.

Before he was put on [electronic monitoring], I went down to 96 pounds . . . . I couldn’t eat from nerves, worrying if he was just going to break into my home, (or) where he’s going to show up. He would stalk me, he would drive down (to) my home, he would show up in places—if I would go out he would show up.

Violations and presumptions of innocence apply to those accused of a crime under a peace bond. So there are some criticisms of the bill, and I want to address that, also.

Electronic monitoring neither deals directly with the most common root cause of domestic violence nor does it provide, of course, preventive solutions for women not to have to deal with domestic violence in the first place. For example, economic, racial and gender inequalities must be addressed. These play a part in violence and a person’s ability to escape it.

For the victims, the electronic monitoring system, EMS, can provide a false sense of security. It is not 100% foolproof, neither in the technology, the response time by police nor in remote areas where technology may not be effective or reliable.

I don’t necessarily disagree with any of these criticisms or concerns. We do not live in a world where we can have a perfect policy solution. This legislation isn’t perfect; none is. It is our job to provide a proper balance — a balance between the safety and security of victims and the rights of the accused.

There are a number of countries that have implemented GPS tracking devices to address domestic violence, including Australia, England, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. I believe we need to be guided by the evidence of electronic monitoring from those countries.

There is not a lot of quantitative research on the effectiveness of electronic monitoring for accused perpetrators of domestic violence who are on bail or under a peace bond. However, there are many reliable quantitative studies that have suggested that the use of EMS is victim-centric; it improves the victim’s perception of safety and allows victims to feel better informed and better engaged in the justice system. Evidence of breaches is more easily shown by electronic-monitoring technologies. Victims may feel more supported to report breaches.

A national survey of practitioners from the U.S. provided that 75% of criminal justice professionals working with electronic-monitoring methods felt the victims were more empowered by such systems. It can restore a victim’s faith in the justice system. The same survey found that the majority of electronic-monitoring practitioners were positive about its use in domestic cases, stating that it improved the quality and efficiency of monitoring perpetrators and holding them accountable. The majority believed that electronic monitoring effectively deterred perpetrators from initiating in-person contact with the victims.

Interviews in a 2012 research study showed that, prior to the use of electronic monitoring, perpetrators were able to continue to abuse victims more or less undetected, with impunity. Once perpetrators were subjected to electronic monitoring, victims reported feelings of increased safety and freedom and reduction in the levels of harassment and stalking.

Other U.S. research notes that domestic violence cases have higher levels of dismissal than other crime types due to the unique dynamics of domestic violence abuse and pressures on the victim. Empirical research from the U.S. has shown an increased level of victims’ attendance at court and a decreased likelihood of dismissal of cases that were continued over a long period of time, as compared to the cases where the perpetrators were released on bail without electronic monitoring.

Finally, Spain, which pioneered electronic monitoring, has been mentioned already in this debate. They have used electronic monitoring there in domestic violence cases since 2009. One researcher who studied Spain’s system extensively has determined that, after a decade of growing use of EM in Spain, restraining orders appear to be more successful.

Colleagues, I want to conclude. I agree that more should be done to address the root cause of domestic violence. By putting the victim first, we should use every tool possible to tackle the problem from every single angle. Electronic monitoring should not be considered a silver bullet to prevent domestic violence. The positive impact of electronic monitoring is enhanced in this bill with complementary intervention, such as mandatory treatment strategies, but must also make sure that electronic monitoring includes rigorous surveillance and case management through probation or correctional services. Electronic monitoring provides a structure and can be ritual-breaking by keeping offenders away from the place, people and activities that lead to offending.

I believe this strikes a balance between the rights of the accused and the protection of victims. It also provides for treatment should a judge feel it would be of help.

I will support this bill to get to committee so that more fulsome study can be done to make sure its measures are best to make a difference in the protection of victims. Thank you so much.

[Translation]

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Senator Yussuff, thank you so much for your speech. I can tell you’ve done some very in-depth research that will really help us define the scope of this measure.

You talked about more support for women who are victims of intimate partner violence. You are correct. A woman in hiding is a woman in poverty, because she will likely have to leave her job, her family and her home. Those are economically unacceptable conditions.

In 2013, I succeeded in passing Bill C-44 to give the parents of missing or murdered children up to 35 weeks of benefits in addition to 16 weeks of EI, which is a total of 52 weeks.

Senator, would you want to work with me to modify the program so that women who are victims of violence and have to go into hiding can get benefits for six or eight months, so they don’t succumb to poverty after reporting their abuser?

[English]

Senator Yussuff: Thank you for your question, Senator Boisvenu. The reality of domestic violence is a societal issue, and society has to bear the full cost of domestic violence. It can’t be women in this country and throughout the world who have been at the forefront of this struggle — it’s fundamental that the state take responsibility to address domestic violence. Senator Boisvenu’s point of using the EI system to ensure women can access income during this period of difficulty is fundamental to bringing quality to the suffering of domestic violence.

(On motion of Senator Duncan, debate adjourned.)

[Translation]

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Bovey, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, for the second reading of Bill S-208, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada.

Hon. René Cormier: Honourable colleagues, today I rise at second reading of Bill S-208, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada.

I want to acknowledge that the land on which I am speaking to you today is part of the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin nation. I strongly agree with the Canada Council for the Arts that the arts contribute to the healing and decolonization process, a process in which we must all engage together.

[English]

I would like to congratulate Senator Bovey for introducing this ambitious bill on November 24. With the Minister of Canadian Heritage preparing to hold a national summit on the recovery of the arts, culture and heritage sectors, now is the time for an important and long-awaited discussion on the place and role of the arts and culture in Canadian society.

I would also like to thank Senator Ataullahjan for shedding light on the precarious working conditions of artists and cultural workers in her speech at second reading, which is a subject matter that also concerns me a lot.

Bill S-208 creates a declaration on the essential role of artists and creative expression and provides a framework for its implementation in the form of an action plan. The action plan is to be developed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage following consultations with other federal ministers and stakeholders, including but not limited to those listed in the bill.

Although I applaud the bill’s overarching objectives, I want to share with you, colleagues, my thoughts and concerns about the following aspects, which could be addressed in committee.

These aspects are the lack of attention in the bill to the collective dimension of Canadian culture and the importance of protecting and promoting the diversity of Canadian cultural expressions; the place of this bill within federal jurisdiction; the link that this bill could make between culture and sustainable development; the challenges of developing the proposed action plan and holding consultation to ensure its implementation; and the merits of this bill at a time when artists are facing great uncertainty.

[Translation]

Let me say at the outset that I think it is vital to recognize that a declaration on the essential role of artists and creative expression across Canada must take into account the cultural ecosystems in which artists practise their art, and the social groups to which they belong. In other words, taking into account the collective dimension of Canadian culture and its plurality is essential to understanding the issues affecting artists in Canada. However, I believe the current version of the bill does not properly take this dimension into account.

Allow me to remind the chamber of UNESCO’s definition of this dimension of culture, and I quote:

 . . . in its widest sense, culture may now be said to be the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only the arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs . . . .

Beyond that definition, by ratifying UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Canada has committed to creating an environment that encourages individuals and social groups “to create, produce, disseminate, distribute and have access to their own cultural expressions.” To this end, Canada is committed, and I really want to emphasize this, to paying due consideration to the various social groups, including persons belonging to minorities and Indigenous peoples.

[English]

As you know, colleagues, the Canadian identity is anything but homogeneous. It is the product of culturally different social groups, majorities and minorities, all coexisting in this country. It stems from our historical context, the evolution of Canadian society, the cultural development of our vast territory and the choices we make.

In that sense, I am pleased that Bill S-208 pays special attention to Indigenous peoples in its preamble and consultation provisions. The preamble specifically states that:

. . . any measures to implement the Declaration in Canada must take into account the diversity of Indigenous peoples and, in particular, the diversity of the identities, cultures, languages, customs and practices of First Nations, the Inuit and the Métis and of their relationships to the land and their Indigenous knowledge, all of which find expression in rich artistic traditions . . . .

Yet, I wonder whether this clause in the preamble and the consultation provisions with Indigenous artists and organizations prior to developing the action plan are enough. We ought to hear the views of our Indigenous colleagues in the Senate, especially as we work to advance Indigenous self-determination, which is recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

[Translation]

With respect to the declaration itself, I see the intention to include the individual cultural diversities and backgrounds of all Canadians, which is very positive on the face of it. All the same, when this bill is implemented, I wonder how it will be able to address each of us and especially how it will embody our collective cultural dimension in all of its plurality and complexity. For example, how will the action plan simultaneously respond to the needs of the Indigenous peoples, the Acadian people, the Quebec people, official language minority communities and ethnocultural minorities? Each of these cultural entities that embody the Canadian identity has its own cultural expression and must be promoted and protected.

What is more, each of these entities within which artists create and meet their audiences comes with its own interconnected and inseparable set of cultural infrastructure, organizations and businesses, which have to be taken into account if we want to meaningfully improve the status of artists and access to their works. In my opinion, this bill should do more to recognize the collective and plural dimension of Canadian culture, as complex as it is, reiterate the importance of protecting and promoting the cultural expressions of the different social groups that make up our country, and set out a clear obligation to work on that.

[English]

Bill S-208 must also be examined through the lens of jurisdiction within the Canadian federation. Cultural matters — including access, participation and learning — generally fall under the legislative authority of the provinces and territories, with some exceptions.

With that in mind, and given that the bill affects rights that fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction — for example, the right to learn any art form or the right to access creation spaces — I wonder how this bill will be received by the provinces and territories.

Although clause 4 of Bill S-208 provides for consultations with provincial representatives, what will be the true nature of this collaboration? How will the federal government improve on what these legislatures have already put in place in terms of policies, while considering the specific cultural development of each province and territory? These questions need further assessment.

[Translation]

Colleagues, I am not suggesting that the federal government has less of a responsibility towards culture than the provinces and territories do. It is clear that broadcasting, copyright, intellectual property, support for our major national cultural institutions and several other sectors fall under its jurisdiction. However, I believe that the federal government’s efforts with respect to culture within these areas could be better targeted in terms of sustainable development, in order to respect the commitment it made in ratifying the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

In its current form, Bill S-208 does not clearly establish this link between culture and sustainable development. If it were to do so, it could provide real value added to our Canadian cultural policy, which would help promote culture more widely within the federal government.

I remind senators that Article 13 of the UNESCO convention states, and I quote:

Parties shall endeavour to integrate culture in their development policies at all levels for the creation of conditions conducive to sustainable development and, within this framework, foster aspects relating to the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.

Esteemed colleagues, as you know, the term “sustainable development” refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Under this approach, any decision about growth should take the economic, environmental and social pillars into account. The UNESCO convention adds that although culture is not a pillar of sustainable development, it is a vector for it, and we must try to better integrate it into our policies to improve sustainability. I also want to point out that this is a mutual relationship, in that culture without a doubt contributes to sustainable development, but sustainable development also allows culture to flourish.

Canada has so far introduced a wide range of laws, regulations, programs, subsidies and other financial incentives for the arts and culture sector. In 2017, the government even introduced a cultural policy was designed to stimulate economic growth in the digital age. However, it is difficult to find any sort of umbrella framework in Canada that covers all of these initiatives and provides a clear cross-cutting view of Canada’s arts and culture sector as a vector for sustainable development that benefits artists and Canadians.

[English]

In that sense, I agree with Senator Bovey’s remarks in her speech at second reading that Canada should better integrate arts and culture into all its policies, programs and investments, and that it is time for us to refocus on various international conventions, including the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

How will Bill S-208 contribute to the realignment of Canadian cultural policy with the UNESCO convention in terms of protecting the diversity of cultural expressions and integrating culture into sustainable development? That is less clear to me right now.

Bill S-208 contains many promising and inclusive clauses, which I applaud, but it does not clearly identify strategic areas of sustainable development to which culture could contribute and benefit. In my view, the bill could be strengthened by explicitly adding these considerations in its text.

[Translation]

I would now like to talk about the challenges associated with developing the proposed action plan and consultation process, for which the Minister of Canadian Heritage has central responsibility. While I appreciate the laudable intentions mentioned in Senator Bovey’s speech at second reading, when she said that the declaration would be the foundation for ongoing policy development in multiple ministries, I have to wonder about the feasibility of such an objective at this point.

I am concerned that the mechanism of Bill S-208, which centralizes responsibility solely in the hands of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, will simply perpetuate the process already in place. Since we know that that department has no authority to impose actions on other departments, it seems to me that we need to think outside the box in this particular instance.

[English]

The arts and culture sectors are interwoven areas and cannot be considered in complete isolation from one another. In this sense, and from a sustainable development perspective, is it not time for a paradigm shift where a shared cultural responsibility could be given to several strategic federal departments in collaboration with major cultural institutions, such as the Canada Council for the Arts?

Instead of a consultation process as set out in the bill, should we not take a more innovative approach of co-creation and proactive partnerships? There is a lot to think about here.

[Translation]

I would like to close, colleagues, by reiterating the basic principle that the vitality of the arts and culture sector relies on the artists and workers who make it tick. To state the obvious, there is no art without artists. The precariousness of their working conditions is very real. Calls for the creation of a better social safety net for artists and cultural workers are growing and speak to the urgent need to take action.

Unfortunately, this reality is not new. In a 1980 recommendation concerning the status of the artist, UNESCO was already acknowledging the troubling situation of artists and prescribing a series of measures to its member states to improve their professional, social and economic status. That recommendation shares many similarities with the rights of the artist listed in the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada created by Bill S-208. I sincerely thank Senator Bovey for reminding us of these rights.

That being said, as certain organizations and individuals I consulted pointed out, the question is whether a new declaratory tool like the one Bill S-208 proposes is what artists actually need at this time to reiterate their right to employment equity and economic security. The question is whether implementing Bill S-208 and its action plan will genuinely provide better social protection to artists. That is another question to explore further in committee.

[English]

All that said, colleagues, despite my concerns and thoughts about some aspects of the bill today, I strongly believe that Bill S-208 should be thoroughly studied in committee, and I am really looking forward to it. We could hear from important witnesses — such as the Minister of Canadian Heritage, provincial representatives, Crown corporations and organizations representing artists — so that we can get their insights and expertise.

Senator Bovey has done a tremendous —

[Translation]

Senator Cormier: This gives me the occasion to thank Senator Bovey, who has done a tremendous amount of work in identifying the measures that need to be taken to make sure the essential role of artists and creative expression is fully recognized and taken into account in our country. I would like to conclude by thanking her again for her dedication, passion and courage in introducing this ambitious bill. I appreciate her sincere intentions, which reflect her deep commitment to the arts, culture and heritage in Canada.

[Translation]

I want to thank her for drawing our attention to the place that arts and culture occupy in Canada.

With this bill, Senator Bovey is initiating a passionate and necessary debate that is worthy of the upper chamber’s interest and assiduous efforts. We should send it to committee promptly.

Thank you, meegwetch.

Senator Cormier: Thank you very much for the question, Senator Richards. Actually, what I am speaking about is not at all ideology and politics. What I’m speaking about here is a consideration of the ecosystems in which the artists are working, no matter where they are on the Canadian territory. I think it’s important in that context that we keep that in mind.

In terms of policies and strategies from the federal government, in terms of taking into account what type of ecosystems the artists are working in — and there are different ecosystems depending on where you live in Canada; it’s not ideology, it’s more the context in which they are working — I think it’s important that we take that into account.

I have been working in the cultural sector for 40 years, and I think that although the federal government can be generous to artists, sometimes our policies don’t take enough into account the different realities in this country.

I applaud the content of the bill that speaks about the rights of the artist to express themselves, do the work they want to do and express themselves as they wish to do, but in this type of bill I think it would be great to take into consideration the context and help the Minister of Canadian Heritage to be aware of that. Although I can trust the minister, I think that in terms of federal policies — especially in culture because, as you know, culture is from provincial and territorial jurisdictions. That is where culture is in Canada. I think that’s what I mean by that. But I want to reassure you, Senator Richards, I would be the first person to rise and say, “No ideology for the artists.” The artists have to be free to create, and they have to receive the right tools. To receive the right tools, we have to make sure that —

Hon. Diane Bellemare: I want to add, equally, my voice in favour of Bill S-208 because I believe the arts are necessary in our individual and collective lives.

[Translation]

Dear colleagues,

Artists . . . are indispensable for the survival of humanity in this electronic age, which, through technology, overloads the senses, creating a maelstrom. Art serves as radar, penetrating the indiscernible.

Unfortunately, this quote, which was reported by journalist Marie-Ève Charron in Le Devoir, does not come from me, but from Baruch Gottlieb, the guest curator of an exhibit being held at Montreal’s Fonderie Darling, which brings artists and thinkers together on the subject of media theorist Marshall McLuhan.

This idea of art being vital to the survival of humanity gives us something to think about today, in the era of climate threats and international conflict.

It touches on the essence of the concerns expressed by our colleague, Senator Bovey, who has presented a very important bill to foster the artistic expression of Canadians in all forms.

I would like to thank Senator Bovey for all the work she has done on Bill S-208. The depth of the bill attests to the extensive consultations she undertook and her reflections over a professional lifetime dedicated to artistic expression.

I encourage you to carefully read her bill and the extraordinary speech that she gave in this place on December 9.

This bill deserves our full attention.

Art, in all its forms, is essential to humanity, and Senator Bovey’s remarks addressed many different aspects of this truth, which some people tend to forget or overlook in favour of pragmatic concerns about effectiveness and efficiency.

I will not repeat her remarks, which were so beautifully presented. I invite you to go back and read her speech.

I rise today in support of this bill and urge you to pass it at second reading so that it can be studied in committee.

My speech will be brief. I simply want to share some reflections for consideration at second reading.

I encourage the committee to study this bill seriously and to invite witnesses from a variety of backgrounds. To use a theatre expression, this bill needs to have a spotlight shone on it. I am on the fence at the moment as to whether it needs to be amended. I am certain of one thing, however: The effectiveness of this bill depends in part on the light it receives in the public sphere.

Allow me to explain.

While many are aware of the importance of art in our lives on a personal, psychological, social, economic and political level, there is certainly no consensus on how to encourage artistic expression and give artists an economic status that allows them to devote themselves to their art.

At a time when our economy is much more focused on the individual, many people believe that art must have commercial value to exist. That was not true in the past and cannot be true today or tomorrow. If commercial transactions were behind all the forms of artistic expression around us, we would not be able to appreciate the many sculptures and works of art adorning our parks and cities. We would not be able to appreciate the songs, poems or even films and live shows that move us. Philanthropists have played a major role everywhere and at all times in helping art flourish. However, the sector cannot rely solely on philanthropy or on commercial transactions. Art is more than just a thing to be bought or sold. Art is also at the heart of our cultural identity. This is one more reason to support this bill, which explicitly recognizes that the status of art and artists must be a collective concern and that governments have a role to play.

Bill S-208 is very ingenious. It has three parts: a preamble, a declaration on the essential role of artists and creative expression in Canada, and an action plan for the Government of Canada’s implementation of the declaration.

What is novel about this bill is the fact that adopting the action plan will help confer legal status on the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this report be taken into consideration?

(On motion of Senator Omidvar, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

Hon. Peter Harder, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, presented the following report:

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade has the honour to present its

SECOND REPORT

Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-217, An Act respecting the repurposing of certain seized, frozen or sequestrated assets, has, in obedience to the order of reference of Tuesday, March 1, 2022, examined the said bill and now reports the same with the following amendments:

1.Clause 2, page 2: Replace line 14 with the following:

2.Clause 6, page 3: Add the following after line 25:

Respectfully submitted,

V. PETER HARDER

Deputy Chair

The Hon. the Speaker: I am sorry, senator, but your time is up. Are you asking for five more minutes?

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Cormier is asking for five more minutes. If you are opposed, please say “no.”

The Hon. the Speaker: I’m sorry, Senator Cormier. Your time has expired.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator, would you entertain questions?

The Hon. the Speaker: I apologize, senator, but I will have to interrupt you at six o’clock.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: I hear a “suspend.” The sitting is suspended for one hour.

(The sitting of the Senate was suspended.)

(The sitting of the Senate was resumed.)

[Translation]

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Bovey, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, for the second reading of Bill S-208, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 3-3(1) and the order adopted November 25, 2021, I am obliged to leave the chair unless there is leave that the sitting continue. To avoid the double negative about the clock, I will ask one simple question: If you wish the sitting to be suspended for one hour, please say “suspend.”