Senator Gold: Thank you for your question.

The government took and does take those allegations seriously. They are being properly investigated, as appropriate in a responsible, democratic government.

With regard to your question about the standard, as I have explained in this chamber on many occasions, the government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act was taken based upon a host of considerations and input from a host of sources. All of that is a matter that is being openly dealt with by the process headed by Justice Rouleau.

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

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Do you have a question?

Senator Black: The 739 smaller fairs and exhibitions aren’t eligible for the grants you speak of. Can you tell us to where they should be directed so that they, too, can get support?

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 4-13(3), I would like to inform the Senate that as we proceed with Government Business, the Senate will address the items in the following order: third reading of Bill C-31, followed by third reading of Bill C-5, followed by consideration of Motion No. 68, followed by all remaining items in the order that they appear on the Order Paper.

[English]

Hon. Yuen Pau Woo: Senator Yussuff, would you take a question?

Senator Yussuff: With honour.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Yussuff, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kutcher, for the third reading of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing.

Senator Gold: The government is committed to building a world-class marine industry through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. To achieve that, and to meet the evolving needs of the Canadian Coast Guard, the government, I’m advised, is moving forward with the construction of two polar icebreakers at Canadian shipyards — at Davie shipyard in Lévis, and Seaspan in Vancouver. It will be done under the auspices of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to support communities, the High Arctic, science and Canadian sovereignty in the North.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Supplementary Estimates (B), 2022-23.

[Translation]

Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise today to highlight epilepsy awareness efforts, and more specifically, SLC13A5 epilepsy. As many of you may not be familiar with this condition, I would like to take this opportunity to share my family’s recent epilepsy story.

On June 4, 2021, we welcomed our third grandson, Rowan Cameron Black, into our family. While Rowan’s birth was a week earlier than expected, he arrived into the world a beautiful baby boy. However, we soon discovered he was dealing with frequent and serious seizures while still at Guelph General Hospital. We would later learn this was one of the first signs of SLC13A5 epilepsy.

At that time, we had no idea what was going to happen. Fortunately, the doctors at both Guelph General and McMaster Children’s Hospital provided the best possible care to Rowan and his parents during that stressful and uncertain time.

This was the first time our family had ever dealt with complications during the birth of a child or epilepsy itself, and, as I am sure many of you know, neither is an easy feat to handle. According to the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, almost 260,000 Canadians have epilepsy. In fact, including Rowan, currently there are fewer than five officially diagnosed individuals in Canada with the relatively new disease SLC13A5.

While Rowan has had countless seizures, he has also received excellent care from the many wonderful medical professionals who have attended to him and from epilepsy support services, such as the TESS Research Foundation, which was founded to improve the lives of those affected by SLC13A5 epilepsy.

The TESS Research Foundation, while based out of the United States, works globally to support those diagnosed with SLC13A5 and their families. Some of you may have noticed the bracelet I wear, acknowledging Rowan as a TESS Superhero. I am proud to support our grandson and the foundation’s efforts in increasing awareness about this severe neurological disorder.

Honourable colleagues, epilepsy awareness efforts take place throughout the year around the world. For example, International Epilepsy Day takes place in February. We in Canada mark Epilepsy Awareness Month in March with Purple Day, the U.S. raises awareness in November, and the U.K. recognizes the condition in May.

With that being said, I chose to highlight epilepsy and SLC13A5 this week after Rowan was taken by air ambulance to Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, following his most recent 45-minute-long seizure earlier this week. I hope when the time comes in March, many of you will choose to wear purple with me on Purple Day as we mark Epilepsy Awareness Month in Canada.

At this time, I would like to give a shout-out and thank the teams at Guelph General Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Groves Memorial Community Hospital, Victoria Hospital, the TESS Research Foundation and Ronald McDonald House for continuing to serve and support families in communities across Canada and beyond. I know it is appreciated by countless families, including my own.

Thank you, meegwetch.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to 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, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).

An Hon. Senator: Hear, hear.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Raphaël Grenier‑Benoit and Aldéa Landry. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Cormier.

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

Senator Pate: Thank you for those very important questions. This will not repeal any mandatory minimum penalties that are not already repealed by the bill. They will stay intact. It merely allows for a judge, after weighing all of the circumstances, to apply the sentencing principles and determine if, in exceptional circumstances, it is appropriate to impose something other than the mandatory minimum penalty. So, no, it does not remove any that are not already repealed by the bill. It leaves them in place. As Minister Lametti said, and as Senator Gold said — my view is similar — you will likely still see judges imposing penalties more severe when the circumstances call for it. Thank you.

Senator Patterson: Thank you.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question, and I will endeavour to get an answer to that and provide it to the chamber as soon as I can.

Some Hon. Senators: Yea.

The Hon. the Speaker: All those opposed will please say “nay.”

Senator Dalphond: Yes.