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.

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. 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).

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.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question.

The government is committed to using that $20 billion for the long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services and, with Jordan’s Principle, continues to work with the Assembly of First Nations and other partners to that end.

The government is disappointed in the decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Although it recognizes the importance and significance of the historic $20-billion agreement, it is disappointing — primarily and fundamentally for First Nations individuals and partners who are eagerly seeking compensation to which they’re entitled. The government is working with them to make that happen.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, Senator Francis, for raising that troubling issue. I’m going to have to look into it, and I will provide a response as soon as I can get one.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. This is an important initiative that the government has been working on with its partners for a long time. I don’t think it is back to square one. The government is continuing to work with the AFN, Moushoom and Trout counsel — and is grateful for the work they have all done to date — and will continue to work with those partners to find a solution.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question.

With regard to the invocation of the Emergencies Act, that is a matter that is being studied and reviewed, and properly so, in a process led by Justice Rouleau. I have every confidence in Justice Rouleau to come to a proper decision, based upon all the testimony he has been provided with.

With regard to the question of Chinese and other state interference into our democratic institutions and our elections, the government remains of the view that this is a serious and unacceptable matter. It is taking steps to investigate in all areas, and it will continue to do so in the best interests of Canadians.

Senator Gold: I know this is Question Period, and I do my best to answer, but it’s very hard to find an appropriate answer to a question that assumes bad faith on the part of a minister of the Crown. I think that will be sufficient for my answer.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Given that the proceedings involving Mr. Wang are under way, it would be inappropriate for me to comment. All I can say, Senator Housakos, is that the government takes very seriously the interference of any country, including China, in our institutions and democratic process. We will continue to defend the interests of Canadians in that regard.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. First, the government thanks the Office of the Auditor General for their report on the surveillance of Arctic waters. The government accepts the findings and the recommendations of the report and will continue to work with partners to address the gaps in Arctic maritime domain awareness.

For Canada, our maritime domain awareness in the Arctic is critical to ensuring we can manage the risks and respond to incidents that would have an impact on our security, environment and economy. I have, on a number of occasions, cited the investments the government has made, both to modernize NORAD, our space capabilities, our remotely piloted aircraft systems, our offshore patrol ships and the enhancement of our surveillance. I’ll not repeat those; they are on the record. It will continue to make investments and do what it needs to do to defend our North.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. The government has been working with the provinces and territories for quite some time, not only by providing funding, but also by implementing a national health care vision that meets Canadians’ needs. The government has made significant investments to support health care systems, including $72 billion during the pandemic, and those investments will go up by 10% in March 2023 in addition to the 5% supplementary increase announced a few months ago. The government is committed to working with its provincial and territorial counterparts, regulatory bodies, health care workers and Canadians to create and implement strategies to improve health care in Canada. I am told that a collaborative process is under way to find concrete solutions.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the supplementary question. The government continues to prioritize investments in science, research and collaboration across multiple sectors to generate innovative solutions for priorities such as health. The government recently announced investments in the National Research Council of Canada to advance over 60 innovative research projects, including in the field of health.

Of the projects that are receiving funding, I would like to note the BC Cancer Agency and the Centre for Commercialisation of Cancer Immunotherapy, which are being granted $2 million and $1 million respectively to better equip hospitals with specialized infrastructure. Similarly, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is receiving $198,000 for the use of artificial intelligence and for the university. As Minister Champagne said, and I quote:

Supporting researchers and businesses across Canada who are working to innovate and build new knowledge is so important . . . . Together, we will achieve more and create real changes in critical areas such as health care, sustainability and technology.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for recognizing the historic initiative — the first ever — Intellectual Property Strategy introduced in 2018, with investments of over $250 million. Budget 2021 invested $90 million to create ElevateIP, a program to help accelerators and incubators provide startups with access to intellectual property expertise. The government is finalizing the structuring of this program with leading business accelerators across the country so as to provide maximum effectiveness for this program.

Moreover, Budget 2021 also invested $75 million to the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program to provide high-growth client firms with access to expert intellectual property services through IP assist; indeed, many companies are already benefiting from that assistance.

On the issue of the timelines, senator, I’ll make inquiries with the government and report back to the chamber as soon as I have an answer.

Senator C. Deacon: Thank you, Senator Gold. A further question perhaps that you could give to the government. They recently announced that Nokia will receive $40 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund. However, the IP generated from that investment will flow to Nokia’s head office in Finland. While there are no restrictions on the transfer of IP for foreign companies, this is not the case for Canadian companies.

Senator Gold, why are the Strategic Innovation Fund funding terms for IP transfer different for Canadian companies versus foreign companies? Is there not a concern that these restrictions will strategically disadvantage Canadian companies?

Senator Gold: Thank you. I’ll certainly add that to the questions I pursue with the government.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator. The government recognizes the importance that fairs and exhibitions have and the contribution they make in communities across the country. I understand the challenges that have been brought about in recent years especially by the pandemic. The government remains committed to ensuring that such fairs, tourism events, cultural and community sectors have the support they need and recover from the impacts they suffered because of the pandemic. That’s why the government launched the Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative to help major Canadian festivals survive and adapt to the pandemic.

I understand that the government — notably Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada — continues to engage with some of the largest fairs and exhibitions through the AgriCompetitiveness and AgriCommunication programs. The government — notably Agriculture and Heritage — is always open to further discussions on how it can improve its services and be of assistance.

Senator Gold: Again, thank you. I don’t have the answer to that. I’m not punting it to Agriculture and Heritage, although that is the primary place to go. I will certainly make inquiries, and, when I get an answer, I’ll communicate it to you directly as well as to the chamber.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I certainly cannot answer your question directly based simply on the assertions and assumptions you’re making about what was known or not known at the time of the minister’s appearance.

I have every confidence in the minister’s integrity and transparency, as he demonstrated here before the chamber. I’ll certainly make inquiries based upon your question, as I always do when I don’t have the answer, but I’m simply not in a position to comment on the assumptions and assertions that informed your question.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, Senator Housakos. I am not doing anything to block the bill. Every bill introduced in the Senate must be properly examined, step by step, and your bill will be treated the same as every other bill.