On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Clement, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petitclerc, for the second reading of Bill S-11, A fourth Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law.

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-13(2), I move:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

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

Senator Gold: Senator Wallin, as I said in this chamber, the government is considering how to best address the important question of learning the lessons from the pandemic. With all due respect, I think you are making assumptions that are not warranted in terms of what the government’s deliberations are.

I have every confidence that when the details are announced, they will be an appropriate response to the important need for us to learn the lessons and take account of what we did well — and we did many things well during the pandemic — and what we could do better the next time we are faced with a similar crisis.

Senator Wallin: Your government has said “no” to a credible and independent inquiry into pandemic spending and management. As you told us in this chamber this week, the government will conduct its own inquiry into itself.

We actually need an arm’s-length transparent assessment of the true cost of vaccines, supplies and the billions of dollars spent. Will you reconsider this absurd approach of passing judgment on yourself and have an independent inquiry?

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022.

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: If no other senator wishes to speak, this order is considered debated.

(Debate concluded.)

[Translation]

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(a), I move:

That, for the purpose of studying Bill S-11, A fourth Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law, the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs have the power to meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, and that rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) be suspended in relation thereto.

Senator Plett: You are right, Senator Gold; I received the same information about 12 minutes ago. That does not preclude the fact that this was done. They have now suspended it because of, clearly, pressure being put on them by people who are doing due diligence — which clearly is not the government.

Senator Gold, there is absolutely no excuse for this gross negligence when it comes to protecting our national security. The government has — and had — a responsibility to use the tools at its disposal to screen and vet its bidders. Why did your government choose not to do this?

Senator Carignan: That’ll put us over the 11-minute mark, but yes.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Hon. Amina Gerba: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada‑Africa Parliamentary Association concerning the Bilateral Visit to Ghana, held in Accra, Ghana, from May 21 to 27, 2022.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of a group of students from the University of Ottawa. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator McPhedran.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of a delegation from the National Association of Friendship Centres. They are the guests of the Honourable Senators Anderson and Audette.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Fabian Manning: Honourable senators, today I am pleased to present Chapter 69 of “Telling Our Story.”

Senator Ataullahjan: The Prime Minister acknowledged the existence of systemic Islamophobia in the Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA, and referred the review to the Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson. The ombudsperson has testified before the Human Rights Committee and admitted that he’s working with one arm tied behind his back. The much-publicized National Summit on Islamophobia in 2021 didn’t achieve anything. Once again, this government is all talk and no action. Leader, what are this government’s real plans to finally tackling systemic Islamophobia?

Senator Bovey: Thank you for that. I’m pleased to know that the search is really moving forward.

Can you assure the community across the country, Senator Gold, that the search community includes an art historian and/or a museologist, as has been the case for a number of appointments in previous directors, in order to ensure that the important discipline of this national flagship will be properly recognized throughout the process? This is critical for the gallery’s credibility at home and abroad.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): First of all, the government is grateful for the Senate’s study to shine a light on the issues that are affecting the communities in Canada. The government takes these issues very seriously, and is pursuing its investigation diligently.

Senator Carignan: Yes, we are in favour of the act, although we wish it could be done a lot faster. We realize that this is a complex situation and that it takes a very long time to review the entirety of federal legislation. We are in favour of any harmonization act, but we would like it to be done a lot faster so that people do not have to spend their entire career without the benefit of bijuralism and bilingualism rules.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Manning, we will have to wait for another time to hear the rest of your statement. Thank you.