Senator Pate: I do. When the Crown discovers there’s a history of abuse, they most often will then suggest a guilty plea. In those situations where it’s a woman responding to violence, would you have the same view that she should not have the benefit of that exceptional circumstance being considered by a judge?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: I believe the nays have it.

And two honourable senators having risen:

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: All those opposed to the motion will please say, “nay.”

Some Hon. Senators: Yea.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: The million-dollar question.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: The vote will take place at 3:38. Call in the senators.

(1540)

Motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Pate negatived on the following division:

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, for the third reading of Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Clement, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That Bill C-5 be not now read a third time, but that it be amended on page 3 by adding the following after line 10:

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.

An Hon. Senator: Fifteen minutes.

Senator Pate: Would you take a question, Senator Plett?

Hon. Senators: Question.

Hon. René Cormier: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, which deals with the subject matter of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, and I move that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

(On motion of Senator Cormier, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

[English]

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.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, a few weeks ago, the Minister of Transport appeared before the Senate during Question Period and answered a number of questions related to his portfolio. When asked whether he had approved the Georgina Aerodrome in Ontario, the minister responded:

The minister him or herself needs to wait for officials — independent, non-partisan officials — to do the assessment and submit a recommendation to the minister, which I have not yet seen.

Those were his words.

However, it has come to my attention that, in fact, Transport Canada has already completed their regulatory review of the proposal, meaning the minister had already approved the aerodrome as for the CAR-307 regulations.

Senator Gold, will Minister Alghabra correct his statement and apologize to the residents of Georgina, and the Senate, for his lack of transparency on and attentiveness to the issues surrounding the Georgina aerodrome?

Senator Mégie: Thank you for that information. However, I also wanted to remind you that the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology conducted a study on artificial intelligence a few years ago. Representatives of the Canadian Association of Radiologists spoke about the need for artificial intelligence for both operations and diagnostics to help radiologists triage urgent cases and identify common results by automating the standard measures and reporting models.

Does the federal government plan to increase the percentage of health care funding allocated to the innovative project that links artificial intelligence and health research through investments in the Canadian institutes of health research specific to artificial intelligence?

Hon. Robert Black: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. As you may know, the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, also known as CAFE, held their Fair Day on the Hill yesterday. I had the pleasure of meeting with their representatives yesterday afternoon to discuss the challenges facing the 743 fairs and exhibitions and their organizations that they represent across Canada. They highlighted that the organization continues to be bounced from department to department at the federal level as they seek a home base for support and services. This is an ongoing issue that I had previously raised with many federal ministers since being appointed in 2018. Every response I received pointed me in a different direction and to a different department.

In July 2021, I wrote again to the Ministers of Heritage, Finance, Rural Economic Development and Agriculture and Agri-Food urging them to work together to determine which department CAFE should be primarily working with. To date, I’ve only received one response from Minister Bibeau.

Honourable colleagues, fairs and exhibitions and the volunteers involved are community builders. The fairs have existed for over a century, and play an integral role in connecting rural, urban and agricultural communities. It’s unthinkable that no federal department will claim the portfolio to help these heritage-billed events that strengthen the economies of countless rural and agriculture communities.

Senator Gold, can you tell me which department CAFE should be working with to ensure these fairs and exhibitions will be around for generations to come?

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 Dalphond: Yes.