Senator Gold: The government has no plans to “cancel their planned tax hikes.” The measures in place are responsible and prudent.

The government is also investing in Canadians, both in people and in our infrastructure, and in the future of our economy in a responsible and sustainable way.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question.

The fact is that the benefits the government has announced — and that the minister has defended, ably and publicly, in recent weeks — is money that will go to the Canadians who need it the most: low-income, working Canadians. Indeed, the current benefits will benefit over 4.2 million low-income, working Canadians, which is up from previous numbers of about 3 million.

Again, in times of rising costs — an issue which has been, as I said, properly underlined and which we all should be preoccupied with — this is one example out of many of the responsible initiatives the government is taking to help Canadians get through this difficult period.

Senator Gold: The government is serious about inflation, and it is taking measures necessary to address it while helping Canadians weather the storm at the same time.

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

The government respects the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer and its views, but the government, as Minister Freeland has stated publicly, doesn’t agree with that assessment. The government, through prudent management of the economy and the resources available to it, has made a responsible decision to invest some — although not all — in helping Canadians through the difficult times, properly underlined by you and others in this chamber, in the face of cost of living challenges for all Canadians.

This government is responsible. It takes its responsibility seriously. That means having to do many things at once, such as managing the economy in a fiscally prudent way — especially coming out of the extraordinary expenditures that we in this chamber authorized to help Canadians through the pandemic — while at the same time helping Canadians as they struggle with the inevitably higher cost of living that worldwide inflation, inflation in Canada and other measures impose.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you. The problems that Canadians are feeling, whether it’s expressed in insolvency, regrettable as it is, or in increased costs of living and housing, are a serious preoccupation of this government. Indeed, all governments — provincial, territorial and municipal — are addressing them to the fullest extent possible.

Canada has put in place a fiscal policy which includes both tax measures, incentive measures and benefits. It is a balanced and prudent one, and it is helping Canadians each and every day, and it’s helping our economy generally progress forward.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. As the government continues to develop Canada’s strategy for Africa, it also continues to work with key partners to advance our shared priorities, including peace, security and prosperity.

That is why the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal and Nigeria this year to strengthen those ties. That is also why the government announced the opening of a new Office of the High Commission in Kigali and the establishment of a dedicated mission and permanent observer to the African Union. I’m told that the government will soon have more to say about the next steps in the Africa strategy.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. As I said, the government is currently developing the strategy and will announce details soon.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. This is very much still something that the government is committed to, and I’m told that the government is working on it in an ongoing fashion, and it looks forward to announcing further details in due course.

Senator Plett: Senator Gold, I don’t need to remind you that we currently find ourselves with the worst inflation in decades, and there is a recession on the horizon.

Many Canadians are struggling under the skyrocketing cost of living. Students are going to school hungry, Senator Gold. People are turning to food banks in record numbers — in Canada. Your government’s plan is clearly not working, Senator Gold. If ever there was a time for sage, economic counsel, now would be the time.

How much longer do Canadians have to wait for the government to fulfill its promise to take the economy seriously?