Senator Carignan: Can you also tell us how the new alliance with the NDP will help increase private investment in Canada?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, and welcome back, senator.

I have no information about the circumstances under which these incentive payments, as you describe them, were made, so I’ll have to make inquiries and report back when I can.

Senator Gold: Though I have no knowledge of plans to scrap it, I will certainly make inquiries, and I will endeavour to report back to the chamber the activities and the rationales that were the subject of your question.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this report be taken into consideration?

(On motion of Senator Omidvar, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question for the government leader also concerns the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

In April of 2021, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, PBO, released his most recent report on the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The PBO’s analysis concluded that the Canada Infrastructure Bank was losing money, unlikely to deliver on its mandate and would miss its own infrastructure spending targets by over 50%. Yet the Canada Infrastructure Bank is very good at spending taxpayer dollars on bonuses, as Senator Plett has just mentioned.

Senator Gold, does your government disagree with the findings of the independent Parliamentary Budget Officer?

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question.

Goals serve many purposes and can be aspirational and motivational. With regard to the goals that you alluded to that have been set, it’s the position of the government that these goals are realistic and achievable because there is a plan in place to achieve those goals.

As your question mentioned, plans are still being developed to address the important issue of homelessness amongst veterans. When that plan is in place, then the goals will follow.

Senator Gold: Well, senator, thank you. In addition to the information I just provided, I’ll certainly make further inquiries and report back as soon as I can.

Senator Gold: I would be happy to.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, and for underlining the important issue of providing proper supports — housing and others — to those who have served our country with distinction and with honour.

As soon as the answers to your questions are, in fact, available, I would be happy to report to the chamber.

Senator Coyle: Senator Gold, we know that a level of certainty — in fact, a high level of certainty — in carbon pricing is needed to ensure critical future investments in clean technology.

It was announced in the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan released last week that in order to enhance long-term certainty for investors, the government will be exploring measures that will help provide clarity on the future of carbon pricing. When will the government release more information on these new measures to provide certainty? And could you elaborate on the consultation process that will be undertaken if any such process is planned? Thank you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for bringing this again to the attention of the chamber. The government is aware of the issue, and work is being done to address it.

Senator Gold: Well, thank you. I’ll have to make inquiries in terms of the anticipated schedule of payments. I’ll report back.

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Last week at the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, David Dodge, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, said:

[English]

Since the great financial crisis, and particularly since 2015, we’ve had a miserable record of low levels of investment, weak productivity growth, both of which are well below most of our G7 counterparts and many of our OECD countries.

[Translation]

Can the Government Representative explain to us what has happened since 2015 that could explain why investments have declined so much?

Senator Gold: I’m afraid I don’t have the answer to that question. It’s important that all interested parties, stakeholders, Indigenous groups and levels of government work together to address this important problem.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. With regard to measures and initiatives the minister is considering and implementing, I will have to make inquiries and get back to you with that information.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I don’t have that information on investments. However, I would like to note that the Canadian economy in general is doing very well. We have returned to pre-pandemic levels with a 6.7% growth rate in the last quarter of 2021.

As far as investments are concerned, I will make some inquiries and come back with a response as soon as possible.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, Senator Plett has raised what he deemed a point of order, and obviously rule 2-5(1) permits the Speaker to hear any interventions senators wish to make with respect to a point of order, but he also said it’s not something he’s raising for any recourse, so that takes it out of the realm of a point of order. I would consider it more of a point of information.

Senator Dean has spoken on what he considered at the time a point of order, and I believe Senator Housakos right now wishes to raise a point of order.

Senator Dean: I could say more, but that is where I will end. Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

Hon. Leo Housakos: Your Honour, point of order.

Senator Moodie: Senator Gold, what I’m asking for is an update on where things are at. Is it possible for you to provide this chamber with such an update? Thank you.