Wednesday, June 10, 2015

C-51 passed on Tuesday

As of 5:30 PM Tuesday, Ottawa time, bill C-51 passed the Senate. All of the Liberals who were present voted against, along with the two independent senators who were present. All of the Conservatives who were present voted for it.

The breakdown is as follows:

Voted for C-51:
  • 44 Conservative senators
Voted against C-51:
  • 26 Liberal senators
  • 2 independent senators
    • Anne C. Cools
    • Elaine McCoy
Were not present to vote:
  • 6 Conservatives
    • A. Raynell Andreychuk
    • Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu (the seconder of C-51, currently under investigation by the Auditor General for expenses violations)
    • Jacques Demers
    •  
  • 2 Liberals
  • 3 "Independents"
    • Patrick Brazeau (formerly Conservative, currently suspended due to sexual assault allegations)
    •  Michael Duffy (formerly Conservative, currently suspended due to issues with senate expense claims)
    • Pamela Wallin (formerly Conservative, currently suspended due to issues with senate expense claims)
Further details to follow (I'll update this post - I just have to stop for tonight because it's late) but if you want to know who voted which way, go here for the vote breakdown, and here for full name, party affiliation, geographic constituency and contact information for each senator.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Final vote on C-51 scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 Ottawa time

I was expecting that the final Senate vote on C-51 would take place yesterday. But looking at the Senate debates, it appears to have been delayed until Tuesday at 5:30. So that's how long you have to express your views to your senators.

The Hon. the Speaker: Pursuant to rule 7-4(5)(c), the standing vote is deferred to 5:30 p.m. at the next sitting, with the bells to be rung at 5:15 p.m.
...
Hon. Elizabeth (Beth) Marshall, pursuant to notice of June 3, 2015, moved:
That when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 2 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.

I've only had time to skim the recent debates in the Senate, but it appears that Senators have each been receiving hundreds to thousands of e-mails opposing C-51. I sent e-mails to all of the Conservative Senators from New Brunswick. No response yet.