Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I will have to make inquiries with regard to when we might expect those, and I will be happy to report back.

Senator Gold: Thank you. I will certainly make inquiries, and I will respond back to the Senate with the answer that I can provide as quickly as I can provide it.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: The government’s suite of measures that it has introduced to reform the criminal justice system — to crack down on the illegal importation and sale of drugs, and the illegal use of assault weapons — are designed to make Canadians feel safer. They are designed to be responsible responses to a serious social problem. The government will continue to act responsibly to that end.

Senator Gold: I have to admit that I don’t have a direct answer to your question. The reason why the government asked the provinces to share their data is clearly because what we had was inadequate to best serve Canadians. That said, I’ll inquire with the government and try to obtain a more direct answer to your question. Thank you.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, and for the confidence that you have in me to have the answers at hand. Regrettably, I don’t, but I will certainly make inquiries and report back.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government, first of all, shares the pride of our P.E.I. potato producers’ long history of producing the best, highest quality potatoes in the world for Canadians and international consumers. We know the issue to which you refer has touched the lives of many Islanders, from multi-generational family farms to packers, shippers and many others.

I understand that, while additional potato wart detections are possible, the risk of spread is heavily mitigated by science-based measures, including those in the Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan and the potato wart Ministerial Order. This is an important industry for all of Canada’s economy, and the government has provided significant support to help farmers through this difficult period, including about $28 million for the Surplus Potato Management Response plan to support potato producers during these trade disruptions. The government will continue to work with potato farmers to alleviate the burden that they still face.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): This is a serious problem, and thank you for raising it. One in five kids go to school hungry. Those of you who watch “Les coulisses du pouvoir” would have seen Minister Gould just this past Sunday explain the work she has begun with her counterparts across the country to see if a proper national policy and framework for food security for students can be implemented. It will not be an easy task, given exclusive provincial jurisdiction over education and health. Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of all Canadians to make sure that our kids are properly supported when they go to school.

This government is taking the lead in initiating that with provinces and territories, and I hope, as I’m sure we all do, that they succeed.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): It must be great to be the opposition because you can say whatever you want with no accountability.

No, the government does not accept this characterization of its approach to addressing crime — nor is it appropriate, in my humble opinion, to use the tragic rise of gun violence, and the impacts that has on communities, including my own, to score political points.

This government is serious about controlling illegal firearms. It has put into place serious gun legislation and measures, over the objection of some members in this chamber and in the other place, in order to address gun violence in this country. It will continue to do so in the best interests of Canadians.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. As the Minister of Finance reported, and as many economists have affirmed, this government’s position, as reflected in the Fall Economic Statement, is a balanced and responsible one. Yes, there is some targeted increased funding to help Canadians, students and others, get through this difficult time, which is still affecting them — indeed us all — because of the rising cost of living.

At the same time, the government has set clear targets and has exercised considerable restraint in spending so as to not run counter to the policy that the Bank of Canada has implemented and is implementing to fight inflation. This is a responsible, balanced approach, and it is serving Canadians well.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question, senator. The government is not ignoring what farmers are saying, or, indeed, what any other constituency in this country is saying. The government’s policies on the economy have demonstrated to help Canada through a most difficult time. The government will continue to support our economy as it goes forward, and all sectors of the economy. With regard to the issue of fertilizer and other policies, the government is committed to continuing these policies to help us transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

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

The Departmental Results Reports are a useful tool, as you quite pointed out. The last ones were tabled in February, and they informed the scrutiny of the Main Estimates in March. As the senator would know, there is actually no legal deadline for the tabling of the Departmental Results Reports, but — as I believe I reported in response to an earlier question of yours not so many weeks ago — I understand that the government is still tracking to table the next departmental results this fall, and we still have a bit of fall left in us.

Senator Gold: Thank you, senator. I will certainly make the government aware.

We are all aware of the burden that the pandemic imposed — not only on the hospitality industry but on many businesses. I will repeat that the automatic tax will raise the tax on a can of beer by less than one fifth of one cent. I would hope that responsible bar and restaurant owners will not pass on a disproportionate amount of that increase to their customers.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I don’t know, and I will have to make inquiries. I know that this is a bill that we in the Senate sent — at least a bill dealing with the P.E.I. situation — to committee, and I’m hopeful that the answers may be elicited and provided there, but, in any event, I will make inquiries.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I’ll answer briefly, but it raises some complex issues. Life would be very simple if every time the provinces asked for more money, no matter how it was used, the federal government said yes. That’s not how responsible government works.

Unfortunately, discussions between Minister Duclos and his counterparts were unsuccessful because of the premiers’ influence over their health ministers. They insisted that the money should be transferred without conditions and that they wanted a meeting with the Prime Minister as soon as possible. This is not how the Government of Canada should respond on an issue as important as health care funding.

With respect to your question, I think it’s appropriate for the federal government to ask the provincial and territorial governments to share their data in order to give Canadians, no matter where they live, access to the most appropriate health care system possible for a developed country.

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

Like other taxes and benefits, senator, the alcohol excise duty rate is automatically adjusted each year to account for inflation. The government is of the view that this is the right approach, and that it provides certainty to this sector while ensuring that our tax system is fair for all Canadians.

My understanding is that the increase to which you refer is less than one fifth of one cent per can of beer, and there were specific measures implemented to take into consideration the needs of craft brewers. The government is committed to continuing to work to make life more affordable for Canadians — while working to promote healthy competition, thereby building the economy of the future.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I will certainly have to look into the details of the specific aircraft that require additional maintenance. I am sure that all senators would agree that, until those airplanes are properly reviewed and properly maintained, they should not fly. I will certainly make inquiries and report back when I can.

Senator Gold: I will make inquiries and report back.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government’s Fall Economic Statement and its management of the economy are proving to be sound and responsible. Federal spending dropped 21.6% between 2020-21 and 2021-22. I understand the most recent job numbers released by Statistics Canada show that our labour market gained over 100,000 jobs in October, with an unemployment rate of 5.2% below pre-pandemic levels. Our rate of real GDP growth remains at 2.3% — above its pre-pandemic level back in the fourth quarter of 2019. Our growth remains strong. S&P recently reaffirmed our AAA rating with a stable outlook, and this further highlights Canada’s responsible fiscal framework.

In addition, I note that in the recent update of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or PBO, it states:

For the current fiscal year 2022-23, PBO projects the deficit to decline to $25.8 billion (0.9 per cent of GDP) under status quo policy.

It goes on, “. . . the budgetary deficit is projected to decline further, reaching $3.1 billion (0.1 per cent of GDP) in 2027-28 . . . .”

Canada came into the pandemic with the lowest net debt‑to‑GDP ratio in the G7, and we’ve increased our relative advantage throughout this period.