Hon. Claude Carignan introduced Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Languages Skills Act (Governor General).

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Senate:

1.recall that, despite the commitment found in section 55 of the Constitution Act, 1982 to have a fully bilingual Constitution, as of today, of the 31 enactments that make up the Canadian Constitution, 22 are official only in their English version, including almost all of the Constitution Act, 1867; and

2.call upon the government to consider, in the context of the review of the Official Languages Act, the addition of a requirement to submit, every five years, a report detailing the efforts made to comply with section 55 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

[English]

Hon. Paula Simons: Honourable senators, I give notice that, two days hence:

I will call the attention of the Senate to the challenges and opportunities that Canadian municipalities face, and to the importance of understanding and redefining the relationships between Canada’s municipalities and the federal government.

Hon. Yvonne Boyer: Honourable senators, I give notice that, two days hence:

I will call the attention of the Senate to the positive contributions and impacts that Métis, Inuit, and First Nations have made to Canada, and the world.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Let me begin by expressing my condolences to our colleague Senator Seidman and her family as well.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you. I’m pleased to answer this in my capacity as Government Representative in the Senate. I appreciate, Senator Omidvar, your advance notice of this question.

I’ve made inquiries to the government, but have not heard back. When I do, I will report in a timely fashion.

I would like to add that, to date, the government has approved 9,800 people under the special immigration program, and of this number, more than 3,600 Afghan refugees have already arrived in Canada. Regrettably, the absence of stable conditions and the ever-changing circumstances abroad — regarding what exit documentation is required at checkpoints and international crossings with third countries — make it exceedingly difficult to get Afghan refugees out safely. The government remains committed to welcoming 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada on the strength of our humanitarian resettlement policy.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

[English]

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Hon. Yuen Pau Woo: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(j), I move:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or previous order, for today’s sitting, tributes to the Honourable Judith Keating, who passed away on July 15, 2021, be 45 minutes, after which the Senate proceed to Routine Proceedings.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I ask that you now rise and join me in a minute of silence for our former colleague the Honourable Senator Judith Keating.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Hon. Leo Housakos introduced Bill S-204, An Act to amend the Customs Tariff (goods from Xinjiang).

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) introduced Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Leo Housakos introduced Bill S-203, An Act respecting a federal framework on autism spectrum disorder.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at 2 p.m.

[Translation]

Hon. Patricia Bovey introduced Bill S-208, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Kim Pate introduced Bill S-212, An Act to amend the Criminal Records Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Diane F. Griffin: Senator Gold, will you take a question?