Hon. Marilou McPhedran: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(j), I move:

That, given that:

(a)there is clear and ample evidence of systematic and massive war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed against the people of Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, directed by President Vladimir Putin and others within the Russian Parliament; and

(b)the crimes committed by the armed forces of the Russian Federation include:

(i)mass atrocities in the invaded and occupied Ukrainian territories;

(ii)systematic instances of wilful killing of Ukrainian civilians and the desecration of corpses;

(iii)forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian territory;

(iv)torture and the imposition of life conditions causing grave suffering; and

(v)widespread instances of physical harm, mental harm and rape;

the Senate recognize that the Russian Federation is committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people.

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: Honourable senators, this is a question to Senator Gold. I want to revisit a previous question with some additional information. The question before was about whether Canada would form an observer delegation — as both Norway and Germany have indicated that they will — to observe, on behalf of Canada, the first meeting of the state parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which, as you know, was activated last January.

We have been treated to the horror of clear statements by Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation that there will be lightning-fast responses if countries like Canada continue to support Ukrainian people in resisting the aggression by Russia. That has included threats of the use of nuclear weapons.

Increasingly, we are seeing commentary from all sides, including NATO, taking the threat of nuclear war as something that is a very real threat.

So, Senator Gold, may I ask again whether, by chance, you’ve had any response to the previous question? If you haven’t, would you please give assurances that you will follow up with this?