Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 41, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the firearms buyback program.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Would the honourable senator take a question?

Senator Bovey: Absolutely.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, in last week’s ministerial Question Period with Minister Marc Miller, I asked a question regarding the inherent problems with Canada’s revolving-door justice system, which too often lets violent offenders roam free, as was the case of Myles Sanderson, who prior to committing the horrific attacks in Saskatchewan had 59 former convictions.

Your colleague’s answer was:

There are systemic natures to the violence and the response needs to be a systemic one that cannot be limited to policing our way out of the problem or locking people in jail and throwing away the key.

Leader, I found this answer troubling. While I can appreciate that not every case is the same, it is certainly up to our justice system to exercise good judgment to determine which cases put the safety of Canadians at risk. We sadly saw what the consequences are of failing to properly do so earlier this month in Saskatchewan.

Leader, unlike your colleague, do you believe that there are any circumstances in which an individual should be incarcerated for a certain period of time? Aren’t 59 convictions enough?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, Canadian farmers are anticipating significant harvests of grain across the Prairies this fall, if it ever stops raining. That is an encouraging sign, given last year’s devastating drought, and it is something that could help ease sky-high food inflation. But Canada’s top grain companies are concerned that they will not be able to get their shipments to port on time due to what they are hearing from major rail companies. In the annual CN Grain Plan, the railway company warned that it expects total demand for rail services between Edmonton and the West Coast ports to exceed network capacity during some weeks.

Leader, Canadian farmers have dealt with the same issue year after year thanks to your government’s inaction in addressing our critical supply-chain issues. To help with this, I note that your government put together yet another task force in March, but you will forgive us and me on this side if we’re not all that encouraged.

When will your government finally act on this? When will you finally give Canadian farmers the break they deserve?

Senator Plett: Thank you, Senator Bovey, for your speech and for your work on this bill, and indeed on an issue that you are very passionate about.

Senator Bovey, in your bill you referenced that the proposed declaration on the essential role of artists and creative expression in Canada emphasizes the need to respect and promote the role of artists and the arts in order to ensure that all Canadians and residents of Canada have equal opportunity to access and enjoy the fruits of artistic expressions.

In that context, Senator Bovey, I would appreciate your views about the concerns raised by the content creators of the government’s Bill C-11.

For instance, as you likely know, Nettwerk Music Group has stated that Bill C-11 would hurt Canadian artists and Canadian music companies, not help them. Independent filmmaker Justin Tomchuk told the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications this week that, if passed, Bill C-11 would have an unintended negative impact on Canadian streamers attempting to market their content to a global audience.

Senator Bovey, are you concerned about the criticisms that have been raised? What is your opinion about whether Bill C-11 should be substantively amended to address these concerns?

Senator Bovey: To my Manitoba colleague, I want to say thank you. You have proven my point that the arts tie all elements of society together. I have to also say that, like you, I’m receiving lots of correspondence on Bill C-11.

Your Honour, I will be speaking about Bill C-11 in due course. I’m keeping up with the testimony given in the meetings of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications and I’m looking forward to reading more of it. Obviously, I have heard from many artists. Some of the 600 people I spoke with as we were developing this declaration underlined how important Bill C-11 was for their means of receiving revenue for the work they do.

I’m sure my honourable colleagues are well aware that a report came out recently that said that during COVID, Canada’s musicians who streamlined their work earned, on average, $67 a year. If I may, Bill C-11 has to go a long way to address that from the companies and from the payments made to it. I hope it will go to support the creators who are creating the content that goes on those streaming platforms.

If I may, Senator Plett, I will be talking to Bill C-11 directly.

Senator Plett: One brief follow-up, if the senator will indulge me.

First, I am looking forward to hearing her speech on Bill C-11, although I want to absolutely tell you that we, on this side, are not going to rush you in any way to make that speech. Take your time. Take whatever you need — a month, two or three. Make sure that you have a great speech for us whenever you get to it.

Senator Bovey, witnesses have told our committee that online streaming has led to unprecedented access by creators in rural and northern communities to a global marketplace. Again, I know that you will speak to it, but are you concerned, based upon what creators have told our committee, that Bill C-11 could undermine this global access?

Senator Bovey: I’m just back from the North, as you know. I was up in Gjoa Haven about a week or 10 days ago. To get to Gjoa Haven from Winnipeg, Senator Plett, as I’m sure that you are aware, you have to spend a day in Yellowknife. I had a nice route travelling there and then had an opportunity to meet with artists of all disciplines and arts organizations in Yellowknife. I subsequently spoke in Edmonton with many people who work in the arts sector in the rural communities of Alberta.

My concern for the rural communities is that they do not have the kind of access that the South has for a lot of this kind of creative work. If we can find a way — through Bill C-11, Bill S-208 and other initiatives that I hope will be taken — it is my hope that all Canadians in every corner of our country, of all languages and of all cultures will have the opportunity not only to engage in their own creative expression, but also to enjoy the creative expression of others.

(On motion of Senator Ataullahjan, debate adjourned.)

(At 3:15 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)