Senator Downe: That’s a wonderful answer. Thank you very much.

[Translation]

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. I looked at the Table of Precedence for Canada and I noticed that the Speaker of the Senate is listed immediately after the Governor General, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Chief Justice of Canada. Was the Speaker of the Senate invited to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II?

Hon. Denise Batters: Regina’s own Hitesh Sharma — Tesher — became a TikTok star with his smash hit “Jalebi Baby.” Megastar Jason Derulo then collaborated with Tesher on “Jalebi Baby,” and the hundreds of millions of YouTube views for “Jalebi Baby” multiplied.

Tesher’s op-ed was published yesterday in the Regina Leader‑Post, sounding the alarm on Bill C-11. The headline is “TikTok gave my music a global audience; Bill C-11 threatens that path.”

Senator Carignan: I heard through the grapevine that he was not invited. I would appreciate it if you could check on why the Speaker of the Senate was not invited and others who are quite far down in the order of protocol, despite their musical talent, were.

Senator Martin: Leader, the time has long passed for this government to get inflation under control and to provide relief to Canadians. The price of housing has doubled, interest rates continue to rise and families are forced to spend less at the grocery store. This government’s solution to the crisis is to reduce Canadians’ paycheques with higher payroll taxes, to raise gas and home heating taxes and, indirectly, the cost of food by tripling the carbon tax. Leader, will the government stand with Conservatives and Canadians and axe the carbon tax and cancel payroll tax hikes so families can feed their families and heat their homes?

Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain: As you’re making inquiries to follow up on Senator Carignan’s question, could you ask specifically if there is any obligation for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — who is third in the Table of Precedence — and the Speaker of the Senate — who is fourth — to remain in the country so they can respond to any eventuality while the Governor General and the Prime Minister, our country’s leaders, are abroad?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question for the government leader concerns the escalating cost of living for Canadians. Yesterday’s Consumer Price Index numbers clearly show that the price for food has risen at the fastest pace in the last four decades. Conservatives have spent the last 24 months warning the government about inflation and the consequences of out‑of‑control spending. Yet the Prime Minister continues to spend and costs continue to rise. Now Canadians face a 10.8% increase in the cost to feed their families. Leader, when will the government finally realize they were wrong all along and cap government spending?

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: My question is for Senator Gold, who no doubt listened to the senators who made statements about the terrible attacks in Saskatchewan.

These attacks stir up a lot of emotion, but, more importantly, they raise a lot of questions. The man who killed those people in Saskatchewan was granted parole because the Parole Board of Canada did not consider him to be an undue risk to society.

It came to the same conclusion in its assessment of Eustachio Gallese, who murdered Marylène Levesque in Quebec City just a few weeks after his release. Obviously, the Parole Board and correctional services are failing across the board when it comes to assessing risk.

My question is quite simple. What has the government done since Marylène Levesque’s death in 2020 to strengthen Canada’s correctional system, particularly when it comes to decisions on supervision of offenders in the community?

Hon. Scott Tannas: Senator Dawson, I hope you will take a question. You mentioned that 61% of Quebecers use a streaming service for music in addition to the radio. But only 8% of the music that they choose is Canadian content.

Senator Plett: Thank you, Senator Gold. I look forward to you getting back to us on that.

Senator Gold, I’m puzzled — indeed, outraged — about this situation, as are Canadians. Why does the board not automatically — and I believe you served on the Parole Board — post every decision with reasons on its website?

One could easily black out information to protect victims, so why isn’t there full transparency in every other respect? Why isn’t every Parole Board decision automatically made public? Will the government commit to making them so? Court proceedings, as well as nearly every other tribunal, are public.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your answer in the form of a question. I will add it to my answers.

[English]

Senator Gold: I’ll certainly speak to the minister, whom I will be seeing later today in committee, and I will pass on that message.

Hon. Jane Cordy: Senator Gold, as we return to the Senate this week, there are many university students across the country who are returning to their campuses. However, thousands of international students who have applied to attend university here in Canada are all no doubt under a tremendous amount of stress and face uncertainties as they continue to wait for study permits.

It was reported that, as of August 18, the government was still processing 163,000 applications from international students. With those numbers, and with only two weeks before the start of the semester, I would think that many of those students would have missed the start of this fall term.

Senator Gold, would you be able to provide an update to this chamber on the backlog of international student study permit applications?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Batters, I’m sorry, but I tried to make it possible for everyone to have a question and an answer. Maybe you can go to Senator Dawson and have your question answered.

(At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate earlier this day, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.)

Senator Cotter: I note, Senator Gold, that the United States has recently announced its net-zero strategy in agriculture that highlights dramatically the potential for carbon sequestration as a significant tool in the net-zero strategy. Indeed, the estimate is that they will reduce carbon emissions at a level of 50 million metric tonnes in five years. That is actually one quarter of Canada’s total goal to be achieved by 2030 and exceeds the goal with respect to agriculture by a factor of 10.

It feels to me, Senator Gold, that we are not on the same page in this country with respect to carbon sequestration despite the enormous opportunities. Could you respond to that?

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

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

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. As you know, senator, it is the right of parliamentarians and legislators to travel internationally. We know that that issue has been in the news. Canada remains committed to its “one China” policy. With regard to your specific question, I’ll have to make inquiries.

Senator Housakos: My supplementary question, Senator Gold, is equally simple. Can you please share with us what the Trudeau government’s position is on cabinet ministers’ right to travel to Taiwan, particularly as representatives of the Canadian government?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

[Translation]