Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. Regrettably, colleague, I don’t have the answer to that question.

Happily, though, pre-study on the bill in the Senate has begun. I have every confidence that question, and the answer to that question, will be clear as the committee continues its work.

Senator Gold: Again, colleague, I cannot answer that question with any precision.

Again, I invite you and any interested colleagues to participate in the pre-study and certainly when we get the bill, which we will this week, and when the bill is referred to committee at such time as it is when we return in the fall, then I expect that those answers will become clear.

Hon. David Richards: Senator Gold, I know that Bill C-11 hasn’t come forward yet, but I wonder if I could ask two quick questions about it, if you would indulge me.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill, as amended, be read the third time?

(On motion of Senator Boniface, bill, as amended, placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting of the Senate.)

Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Hon. the Speaker: Are senators ready for the question?

Hon. Peter Harder moved third reading of Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, as amended.

Some Hon. Senators: On division.

(Motion agreed to, on division, and report adopted.)

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (electoral representation).

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Stan Kutcher introduced Bill S-251, An Act to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to action number 6).

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Kutcher, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, the sitting of Wednesday, June 22, 2022, continue beyond 4 p.m., and the Senate adjourn at the earlier of the end of Government Business or midnight, unless earlier adjourned by motion.

[Translation]

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 4-13(3), I would like to inform the Senate that as we proceed with Government Business, the Senate will address the items in the following order: third reading of Bill S-4, Bill S-6, Bill C-24, Bill C-25, followed by the consideration of the third report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, followed by all remaining items in the order that they appear on the Order Paper.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu on February 8, 2022)

The government has launched an appointment process for a new Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime and the work to fill the position is ongoing. In the meantime, the office remains operational and accessible to victims of crime across Canada requesting their services.

On March 29, 2022 the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights began their study of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.

Victims’ rights remain a priority for the government. Significant policy and programmatic investments and various law reforms have been introduced since 2015 to address the needs and concerns of victims and survivors of crime.

Key examples include:

•Investing over $48 million to support the development and enhancement of independent legal advice and independent legal representation programs for victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

•Committing $37.68 million in support of victim services for families of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls.

•Legislative measures bills to support victims of gender-based violence (i.e. former Bills C-51, C-75, C-3 and C-4).

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Donald Neil Plett on April 5, 2022)

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) works with all orders of government and private partners, including Indigenous investment partners, to help transform how infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered to Canadians.

The CIB is involved in more than 30 infrastructure partnerships and has committed over $7.2 billion in capital, attracting over $7.6 billion in private and institutional investment.

Budget 2022 announced measures to increase the CIB’s impact by broadening the types of private sector-led projects it can support. Further, under the Emissions Reductions Plan, it is expected to invest $500 million in large-scale zero-emission vehicle charging and refueling infrastructure.

The CIB is supporting key projects like High Frequency Rail, helping to transition Atlantic Canada off coal through clean power transmission and supporting Manitoba Fibre’s plan to provide broadband access to households and businesses.

On compensation

The CIB’s compensation framework is disclosed via the annual report in compliance with the Financial Administration Act and applicable Treasury Board policies. Compensation expenses for each fiscal year are also reported in its annual audited financial statements.

The government and the Crown corporation abide by the Privacy Act and Access to Information Act provisions concerning employee compensation. Any information concerning individuals and their compensation is personal and therefore protected.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Brian Francis on May 5, 2022)

Over the past 23 years, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has invested over $630 million in fishing licences, vessels, gear and training to help increase and diversify participation in commercial fisheries, and to advance the implementation of the right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood for the 35 Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey and Peskotomuhkati communities (Treaty Nations). These investments resulted in meaningful economic benefits which increase year over year. For example, annual landed value among these Treaty Nations has increased from $3 million in 1999 to nearly $170 million in 2019. Additionally, approximately $100 million of annual revenue is being generated through fisheries-related businesses (e.g., processing, aquaculture) owned and operated by Treaty Nations.

DFO works with Treaty Nations through numerous tools to implement and recognize their treaty right, and ensure a stable and predictable fishery for the benefit of all Canadians.

I am pleased to report that an interim understanding was reached with Lennox Island First Nation. Community members will conduct moderate livelihood fishing (with up to 300 traps) in Lobster Fishing Area 24 off PEI during the remainder of the spring 2022 commercial lobster season, and an additional 700 traps in Lobster Fishing Area 25 once the season opens.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Donald Neil Plett on May 19, 2022)

Financial close occurred in August 2021 and construction has commenced, along with CIB funding. The project is expected to cost approximately $328 million and be completed by the end of 2024 with a target of approximately 48,500 underserviced households in 53 rural municipalities.

The CIB has been working closely in an advisory capacity with the Kivalliq Inuit Association and their subsidiaries on advancing the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link. The work includes providing advice on selection of a private sector partner(s), commercial arrangements with suppliers and customers, completion of the project business case and advancing the routing, permitting, environmental work, design and engineering of the project. Once these development activities and due diligence are completed, the CIB will determine if an investment will be made.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(b), I move that the bill be read the third time now.

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, I also rise today to speak on World Refugee Day and to thank Canadians for opening your doors and your hearts to my refugee family and many other South Asians who fled Uganda 50 years ago.

In June 1972 — 50 years ago — I was a student living in London, England, with my three siblings. My mother was visiting and was with us when we received the worst phone call of our lives, informing us that my father, a Ugandan member of Parliament, had been killed by President Idi Amin’s soldiers.

Our world came crashing down, but my mother did not give up hope. The next day, we heard a knock on the door. It was my father, Sherali Bandali Jaffer, who had fled Uganda to come to England. We could not believe our eyes. My father never shared the details of how he escaped with us, but we know that he had help from his friends in the military. Many of his colleagues were not so fortunate.

My husband and I went back to Uganda and were there on August 3, 1972, when the president declared that he would be expelling all Ugandan Asians. My husband and I were in the process of leaving Uganda when the army showed up at my in-laws’ home. I will never forget that day.

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Young military men had four guns pointing towards my husband — two facing his head and two poking his stomach, forcing him into a jeep. Luckily for us, the police arrived and insisted that my husband be taken to the police station and not army barracks. Luckily, my husband, Nuralla, was released later that day and we left Uganda as soon as we could.

His Highness the Aga Khan and his uncle Prince Sadruddin, who was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at the time, intervened. They convinced former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and several other global leaders to help us. We were fortunate to be rescued so quickly and are forever grateful to Canadian immigration officials like Mike Molloy, who came to Uganda and quite literally saved our lives.

My story is not unique. Hundreds of refugees before me and after me have had similar experiences.

Honourable senators, on this World Refugee Day let us not forget the women, men and children languishing in refugee camps all over the world. They have lost everything, and we are in a privileged position to provide them with something that they long for: hope. Hope for a brighter future for themselves and for their families.

I will forever remain indebted to Canadians for opening their doors to me and my family when we needed you. I hope that we can keep our hearts and our doors open to refugees around the world and give them hope for a better tomorrow. Thank you, senators.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the third time?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today, during the month of June, to celebrate Deafblind Awareness Month across Canada. This important month was established in 2015 when the Senate of Canada unanimously adopted a motion to designate June as Deafblind Awareness Month.

This would not have been possible without the support, dedication and tireless efforts of our former colleagues the Honourable Jim Munson, the Honourable Joan Fraser and the Honourable Asha Seth.

Throughout June, Canadians will join together to celebrate the achievements of Canada’s individuals who live with deaf-blindness, while also increasing our understanding of the unique barriers they face from being treated as equal members of society.

June is also the birth month of Helen Keller, a heroic woman who lived with deaf-blindness, whose determination and trailblazing leadership made a difference in the entire world. We celebrate the strength, spirit and heart of the more than 65,000 Canadians who are living with and those caring for someone with deaf-blindness. We recognize the challenges they face every day and the perseverance they show every day in living life to the fullest. They are an inspiration to all of us.

New technologies, products and services and rights are helping Canadians with deaf-blindness in their everyday lives. While progress has been made, there is still much work to do to ensure that they feel safe and have the opportunity to enjoy life to the greatest extent possible.

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Over the years I have had the opportunity to become aware of the amazing organizations that support the deaf-blind community, namely the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, the National Deafblind Awareness Month Working Group, CNIB Deafblind Community Services and the DeafBlind Ontario Foundation. To each of these noteworthy organizations, thank you for your outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to serving the deaf-blind community and advocating to ensure these consumers have equal rights and opportunities.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge our former colleague and dear friend the Honourable Vim Kochhar, who inspired me to become part of the deaf-blind awareness community. He is the true champion, a tireless advocate who had dedicated decades of his life to helping others. Vim is the co-founder of Rotary Cheshire Homes, which provides housing to persons who live with deaf-blindness and founded the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons, which provides support to persons with disabilities.

Honourable senators, please join me in recognizing June as Deafblind Awareness Month.

Senator Dalphond: With pleasure.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question is also for the government leader in the Senate.

On December 15, 2020, the Trudeau government announced $724.1 million to launch a comprehensive violence-prevention strategy. More than half of this funding was to support at least 38 new shelters and 50 transitional housing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across the country, including on-reserve, in the North and in urban areas.

On Tuesday, The Globe and Mail reported that, as of May 31, none of this funding had been allocated. As well, out of the more than $700 million promised through the strategy, just $12.6 million had been spent on violence prevention, or less than 2% of the total amount announced a year and a half ago.

Leader, could you tell us why this program to support Indigenous women and girls has been such a failure?