Senator Seidman: Thank you, Senator Patterson, for your question. I am afraid I cannot tell you what the committee timeline is. I am not certain of that. I do know that as soon as this bill is referred to committee, which hopefully is today, the committee will be seized with it; they will, of course, determine the witnesses they want to hear from and the role they feel they need to play.

Hon. Renée Dupuis: Would Senator Seidman agree to answer another question?

Senator Seidman: Certainly.

Senator Dupuis: I have a supplementary question, if Senator Seidman agrees to answer it.

Senator Seidman: Of course.

Hon. Rosa Galvez: Would Senator Seidman take a question?

Senator Seidman: Yes, of course.

[English]

Senator Seidman: I’ll be quick. As far as the finance part of it, I’ll leave that to my colleagues who are much better skilled at understanding those numbers and have that expertise.

I would suggest that we can’t forget the importance of rapid antigen tests. I do think that’s the key thing here going into the future. We need them.

What was your second question? I’m sorry.

Senator Wallin: About data collection and its —

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Tannas, we have a few senators that are in line to ask you some questions. Will you accept questions?

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

Hon. Scott Tannas moved:

That, pursuant to rule 5-7(b), the question under debate be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for examination and report; and

That the committee submit its final report no later than March 31, 2022.

Senator Tannas: I will, any and all.

Hon. Jim Quinn: I move the adjournment of the debate.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Quinn, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, that further debate be adjourned until the next sitting of the Senate.

If you oppose adjourning the debate, please say “no.”

Senator Dalphond: Thank you, Senator Woo, for the question.

We are going a bit beyond the scope of this bill. I know that in the U.S. there are some special powers given to the President to seize and freeze assets and also to make specific orders. This is as far as I know about the American situation. I will avoid commenting further.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: We’ll have a vote at 6:01. Call in the senators.

Motion negatived on the following division:

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: I believe the nays have it.

And two honourable senators having risen:

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

On February 18, 2022, to justify the use of the Emergencies Act, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, and I quote:

 . . . we know that foreign interference is a reality, which is why we decided to go ahead.

That said, on the subject of funding, she also said, and I quote, “. . . where is this information campaign coming from? Where is its funding coming from?”

These were the grounds used to justify the seizure of bank accounts belonging to individuals who participated in the various demonstrations. In your opinion, did these grounds justify the violation of section 8? Were there sufficiently urgent, real and serious grounds to seize bank accounts without a warrant?