Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, the Liberal government, in a very sneaky manner, tabled amendments to Bill C-21 that would ban firearms that have been used for decades by Canadian hunters, including members of Indigenous communities. For example, the Liberals would ban the SKS, a very popular rifle widely used by Indigenous hunters. Minister Mendicino confirmed yesterday on CBC that it is the intent of the government to ban the SKS because it is a rifle that was used — now pay attention to this — during a war in 1945.

Senator Gold, did your government consult any Indigenous hunters before deciding to take away their SKS rifles?

Senator Plett: Senator Gold, the report in question also claims that the vast majority of the newly documented stations found around the world were set up starting back in 2016. Does the government have any knowledge of how early these stations began operations in Canada, or was this under the government’s radar for six years? Again, why are they still operating in Canada?

Senator Plett: Senator Gold, I asked about this issue 40 days ago. Canadians expect that the minister would have made decisions by now on how to remedy this outrageous situation.

For the minister to say that this period has stress tested the system and that it has exposed some areas of vulnerability is simply not good enough. Leadership is not about blaming others and giving excuses; it is about having a plan forward and ensuring that Canadians get the services and the assistance they deserve — services that they, frankly, pay for.

Senator Gold, I will repeat my question: What is the Minister of Transportation doing? What is your government doing to address this backlog? What is the plan to address the growing number of complaints at the Canadian Transportation Agency?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, on October 27, I asked your colleague Minister Alghabra a question on the backlog of complaints due to flight delays and cancellations at the Canadian Transportation Agency.

At the time your colleague said:

I have met with the chair of the CTA just recently, first, wanting to get briefed by her on the situation, the volume of complaints and the resources that are needed. Our government is now working with the CTA on making sure they have the resources they need.

And yet we are reading in Blacklock’s this morning that the number of complaints has now reached 30,000, and the minister is now saying that cabinet is “figuring out how we can improve the system.”

Senator Gold, your government is constantly working at a snail’s pace when it comes to providing services to Canadians. Can you please share with us what your government is doing in “figuring out how” to improve the system?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): I guess we will have to wait another 40 days, I will ask the question again and hopefully not get the same answer.

In a new report entitled Patrol and Persuade, Safeguard Defenders, a human rights organization based in Spain, found dozens of additional overseas Chinese police service centres around the world, including at least two right here in Canada.

Senator Gold, your government has told us that it is taking the matter seriously and investigating. Why then do we have to find out what is happening in our own country from an organization operating overseas? Had the government identified these additional stations prior to this report? If so, why was this information not shared with the public? Most importantly, why are these illegal police stations still operating on Canadian soil?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, in his November 15 report, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux identified $14.2 billion in new measures announced in the Fall Economic Statement for which no specific details were provided.

This spending represents 17% of all new measures in the Fall Economic Statement. As Mr. Giroux testified at the House of Commons Finance Committee, “This lack of transparency presents challenges for parliamentarians and the public in scrutinizing the Government’s spending plans.” He also said that “The government knows quite well the measures that are going to be funded, but is not disclosing them.”

Again, let me repeat: “The government knows quite well the measures that are going to be funded, but is not disclosing them.”

Senator Gold, why won’t your government come clean and tell Canadians what this $14.2 billion of new spending is for?

Senator Plett: It’s surprising how many things the government believes in but does not carry through with, and this would be another one.

At the core of the role of parliamentarians are the review and the approval of spending. Senator Gold, senators and members of Parliament cannot properly scrutinize the government’s spending plan if 17% of it remains secret.

Senator Gold, when will the government stop treating Parliament like a rubber stamp and provide parliamentarians with the information that they need to do their jobs?

Senator Plett: Well, of course, Senator Gold, I was simply repeating what Minister Mendicino stated. This isn’t something the Conservatives made up; this was Minister Mendicino on CBC yesterday.

Senator Gold, we have seen this over and over, be it for Bill C-11, the expansion of assisted suicide provisions and now taking away hunting tools that the Indigenous community use for survival. Your government refuses or neglects to truly consult Indigenous communities.

Senator Gold, why is your government only paying lip service to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP? Why aren’t they taking their responsibilities more seriously?