Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, under the Trudeau government, Canadian streets are less safe, and that is a fact. We see this reflected in a recent report from Statistics Canada which shows the national homicide rate has increased for a third consecutive year. Moreover, nearly one quarter of killings in 2021 were connected to gangs. Without a doubt, this displays your government’s utter failure to address the gang problem that has been steadily growing over the last four years.

Senator Gold, does your government acknowledge that its soft approach on crime has facilitated this increase, and does it take any responsibility for all of the harm inflicted on innocent Canadians?

Senator Plett: If the government acts responsibly, that would mean they would start to act responsibly, not continue to. We have seen no evidence of any of that in the last seven years.

Senator Plett: It sure is difficult to defend the indefensible, isn’t it?

Leader, you will appreciate that this is undoubtedly a source of great confusion and concern for Canadians. On the one hand, they hear economists sounding the alarm about a recession and cautioning against increased spending during an inflationary period. On the other hand, they see their government carrying on with its spending in direct opposition to the advice of economists.

Leader, does your government use different economics textbooks than Canadian economists, and, if so, can you please share them with Canadians?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Leader, Canadians are bracing for a recession in 2023 and are adjusting their budgets to prepare for the economic uncertainty that will come with it. Your government, however, is not doing the same. Rather, in typical Trudeau fashion, the NDP-Liberal government is continuing to do more of the same, which is to spend like the good times will never end.

The Minister of Finance keeps assuring us that the government is being prudent, yet her recent fiscal update projected spending to be $472.5 billion this year. That is $20 billion more than her budget forecasted back in April, which already contained $90 billion in extra spending compared to pre-pandemic. Leader, is this what you and your government call fiscal prudence?

Senator Plett: Sure, so let’s buy some more airplanes that are not operational. We would also support that they not fly.

Leader, in 2015, the Prime Minister loudly proclaimed that he would not buy F-35 fighter aircraft. Here we are, seven years later, and the government has apparently changed its tune, though we still don’t have any confirmed purchase of any new aircraft. Instead, we bought 40-year-old F-18s from Australia, and we have been forced to extend Canada’s equally old CF-18s in service.

Leader, will you table a report in this chamber on what the total cost has been to buy and then bring these 18 used aircraft to operational condition? Will you also table a report on the additional costs involved in keeping our equally old CF-18s operational until new aircraft finally arrive?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, potato farmers in Prince Edward Island are still reeling from the impacts of the export ban on P.E.I. potatoes, which forced them to destroy some 250 million pounds of potatoes and is estimated to have cost the industry more than $50 million. While shipments to our southern neighbour have resumed as of April, farmers in P.E.I. are concerned that the damage is done, with the loss of long-term customers in the United States. Andrew Smith, a farmer in Newton, is quoted in a recent CTV article saying:

We lost that business and it’s gone, and I would expect it’s gone to an American grower who doesn’t have to deal with protectionism at the border.

As it currently stands, there is still a ban on seed potatoes, which comprises roughly 10% of the Island’s annual output, pending the outcome of a more thorough review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that could take years to complete, Senator Gold.

Leader, I think our farmers have been patient enough. When will you finally give the farmers in Prince Edward Island an immediate plan with actionable steps to ensure the restoration of full market access?

Senator Plett: Senator Gold, it is clear that your government’s policies are directly working against farmers on various fronts. As if the import ban wasn’t enough to worry about, they also have to deal with inflated costs brought on by this government’s failed economic policies. P.E.I. has stated that this year’s potato crop was the most expensive crop on record due to the rising costs of fertilizer and diesel fuel. In many cases, producers find their fertilizer bills have more than doubled, and it goes without saying that if costs for farmers are rising, it will surely be felt by Canadians at the grocery store. It already is.

Senator Gold, is your government prepared to acknowledge that its policies are driving up costs at the farm gate? Or does the Prime Minister insist on continuing to ignore what farmers across the country are telling him?

Senator Plett: The utter lack of respect the government has for Canadians is shameful. To accuse the opposition of not having the proper questions — questions that you do not like, Senator Gold — is also reflective of that. You may not like our questions, Senator Gold, but you are obliged to answer them honestly.

Leader, even in the face of growing evidence that suggests that your plan is not working, your government continues to double down on its soft-on-crime approach that leaves Canadians vulnerable. We saw that last week, Senator Gold.

The Prime Minister continues to proudly proclaim that he took action on gun violence, but he didn’t. What he did was take action against people who aren’t hurting anyone, and never will. That same Prime Minister has also reduced penalties for dangerous people who use illegally acquired guns in the commission of gang-related crimes. These are facts, Senator Gold.

When will your government stop making it easier to be a criminal in Canada and start working to keep victims and Canadians safe?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): My next question, Senator Gold, relates to an answer I received to an Order Paper question I posed some time ago related to the operational ability of the used fighter planes that the government purchased from Australia in 2018. The answer indicated that out of 18 used aircraft purchased, only 6 are operational. There are no opposition points to be made here. Each aircraft apparently requires a month of extensive inspections and modifications prior to being made operational.

All of this means that the used aircraft we have bought will not be in full operational service until at least the middle of next year, assuming that even that deadline can be met.

Leader, how does your government justify the fact that it argued that these aircraft were supposed to fill a gap and yet here we are, Senator Gold, four years later with only six operational aircraft from that purchase?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition) rose pursuant to notice of May 18, 2022:

That he will call the attention of the Senate to the impact on Canada’s public finances of the NDP-Liberal agreement entitled Delivering for Canadians Now, A Supply and Confidence Agreement.

He said: Thank you, Your Honour. I see that this is at day 15, so I would like to move the adjournment for the balance of my time.

(On motion of Senator Plett, debate adjourned.)