Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Acting Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of April 6, 2022, moved:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 2 p.m.

Hon. Yuen Pau Woo moved the adoption of the report.

Hon. Peter M. Boehm moved the adoption of the report.

He said: Honourable senators, I rise today as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade to explain amendments to Bill S-217, as adopted by the committee.

Bill S-217, An Act respecting the repurposing of certain seized, frozen or sequestrated assets, otherwise known as the frozen assets repurposing act, or FARA, was referred to the committee on March 1 after being introduced in the Senate on November 24, 2021, by Senator Omidvar.

The committee began its study on March 24 and welcomed three panels of officials and experts over two meetings. We completed clause-by-clause consideration on March 31.

I wish to thank all the witnesses, especially the bill’s sponsor, and all committee members and staff for their work in ensuring the committee discharged its duties effectively and in a timely manner. This was very important, honourable senators, given the grave geopolitical conflicts, wars and refugee and humanitarian crises we see all around the world.

Honourable senators, as stated in the summary of Bill S-217, it:

. . . provides for the reporting and disposition of assets seized, frozen or sequestrated under the Special Economic Measures Act, the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law).

The committee adopted two amendments based on recommendations of expert witnesses. Both were moved by Senator Coyle and fully supported by the bill’s sponsor, Senator Omidvar. The first amendment is to clause 2 and the second amendment to clause 6.

Ultimately, colleagues, both amendments have the effect of strengthening the bill by harmonizing its language and conditions for repurposing assets with that found in its enabling legislation, the Special Economic Measures Act, also known as SEMA.

These amendments, if approved by the Senate, will help to ensure that courts tasked with repurposing assets frozen in Canada are able to do so fully and in the fundamental spirit of Bill S-217. Therefore, I move the adoption of the report.

Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Ratna Omidvar moved the adoption of the report.

She said: Honourable senators, Bill S-209, An Act respecting Pandemic Observance Day, would designate March 11 of every year as an annual pandemic observance day. Bill S-209 was referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology on December 9, 2021. Over the course of two meetings, the committee heard from the sponsor of Bill S-209, our colleague the Honourable Senator Mégie, in addition to eight witnesses representing six different organizations. On behalf of the committee, I wish to thank the sponsor and all witnesses who assisted the committee in our study of the bill.

Based on the testimony received, the committee is recommending one amendment to strengthen the preamble of the bill, explicitly acknowledging the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on certain populations, and adding language around the intent of pandemic observance day. Many witnesses discussed the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, elderly people and members of the LGBTQ2+ communities. The committee also heard the importance of validating diverse lived experiences by including more specific language in the bill.

As amended, the preamble now acknowledges the multi‑dimensional effects of the pandemic on every person in Canada in addition to stating that this pandemic has worsened the various forms of inequality in Canada and has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable people within society and members of historically disadvantaged groups.

The committee heard from the bill’s sponsor, the Honourable Senator Mégie, that pandemic observance day would have three purposes: recovery, remembrance and preparation for the future. The committee heard from witnesses that they appreciated this intent and found that it could be stated more explicitly in the bill.

The preamble, as amended, emphasizes that the pandemic observance day would give the Canadian public an opportunity to commemorate the efforts to get through the pandemic, to remember its effect and to reflect on ways to prepare for any future pandemics.

Thank you.

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan moved the adoption of the report.

She said: Honourable senators, the committee presented its report, which contains three amendments. I am providing you with the effects of these amendments. Bill S-211 will contribute to the fight against forced labour and child labour by imposing reporting obligations on certain private entities and government institutions. Similar supply chain transparency legislation has been adopted in other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and Australia.

The transparency approach encourages the adoption of good practices by giving consumers, shareholders and other stakeholders the information that they need to make informed choices. Clauses 6 and 11 of Bill S-211 set out the specific information that must be contained in annual reports. The required information is similar for private entities and government institutions. It includes but is not limited to any information on any relevant policies, due diligence processes, employee training or measures taken to remediate forced and child labour. The committee heard from several witnesses that forced labour and child labour arise from complex socio‑economic issues. Indeed, child labour often occurs where children need to work to help their families survive. While this bill alone cannot solve these complex issues, it is a starting point that seeks to encourage better practices by both private entities and government institutions.

The first two amendments expand upon the requirements already contained in clauses 6 and 11 to provide information on remediation measures. The effect of these amendments will be to require annual reporting by both private entities and government institutions on any measures specifically taken to remediate lost income for the most vulnerable families affected by measures to address forced labour and child labour.

The purpose of these amendments is to encourage companies and government institutions to think about the impacts of their supply chains on vulnerable families and to ideally go beyond merely avoiding use of forced labour and child labour.

By requiring transparency about good practices relating to remediation, stakeholders will have the information necessary to support good actors, and other actors will be encouraged to adopt better practices.

Finally, for private entities subject to this bill, clause 11 requires that each member of the entity’s governing body sign off on each annual report. The committee’s third amendment is simply a technical amendment to remove the requirement that such signatures be completed manually. The effect of this will be to allow electronic signatures, thereby simplifying the reporting processes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the witnesses who testified.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Senator Miville-Dechêne on drafting this bill. This marks the first step toward putting an end to forced labour and child labour in our supply chains. Thank you.