Senate Passes Major Bills With 52 to 70 Senators Present Over 76 Sitting Days

Cbc reported that the Senate convened for 76 sitting days in the 12 months after the last federal election, yet only eight senators recorded perfect attendance. Days absent for others ranged from one to 54, with some members marked present before departing early, especially on Thursdays. Votes on several major bills reflected the pattern.

Sixty senators were present for the vote on C-4, which covered a middle-class tax cut, GST housing relief and elimination of the consumer carbon tax. The same number voted on the government's anti-hate crime legislation C-9. A final vote on C-12, which strengthens border measures and tightens asylum claims, drew 52 senators.

The budget bill C-15 attracted 70 votes, while legislation granting the government $86 billion in spending authority passed with 60 senators present. An implementing bill for the spring economic update reached third reading with 68 senators in attendance. Some trade legislation authorizing deals with the U.K.

And Indonesia passed on voice vote, so exact attendance was not recorded. At times more than 80 senators were present for larger votes. Roughly 90 to 95 senators were active during the session, with about 10 vacancies in the 105-member body.

Conservative Sen. Dawn Anderson attended 44 of the 76 sitting days and reported 27 days absent for other public business. Independent Sen. Rosa Galvez missed 20 days, citing conference appearances on climate change and sustainable finance.

Canadian Senators Group Sen. Rob Black missed 15 days for agriculture-related speaking events. Senators receive 21 days of leave per session without pay deduction. After that threshold the Senate deducts $250 per missed day.