Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator. As we all know, the federal government has made changes to the vaccine mandates through the course of this pandemic. It has been evaluating the state of the science and the advice that it gets, and it will continue to do so. When and if further changes are to be announced, they will be announced in due course.

Hon. Denise Batters: Senator Gold, a month ago, I asked you when your government would lift the federal vaccine mandates. The only change that has been made is testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers returning to Canada. All the provinces have dropped or have plans to drop their mandates. This federal Trudeau government still doesn’t even have a plan or, seemingly, a clue.

With Canada’s vaccination rate as high as it is, over 80%, the time for freedom is now. When will the federal government drop the vaccine mandates and give Canadians their freedom back?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you. The Government of Canada has always supported the victims of that terrible tragedy. With regard to specific steps the government may be taking, I’ll have to make inquiries and report back.

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

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

Hon. Frances Lankin: Thank you, Senator Patterson. Will you take one more question?

Senator Patterson: Yes.

Hon. David Richards: I’ll just get the question out and he doesn’t have to answer it. I was going to ask him if he thinks that all zoos must be permanently closed within the next few years. What does he think of that? That was one of my questions.

(On motion of Senator Wells, debate adjourned.)

Senator Gold: Thank you, honourable senator, for the question.

Canada is working with international partners to address all barriers to equitable access of vaccines, in part by improving global capacity to manufacture them.

I’m also advised that the government has announced an investment of up to $15 million to COVAX Manufacturing Taskforce partners in support of establishing the South African technology transfer hub. This initiative will help build capacity to enable the development and production of mRNA vaccines and technologies in the region.

With regard to the rest of your question, I’ll have to make inquiries and will be happy to report back.

Senator Lankin: Thank you. Let me also express my complete support for what you’re attempting to do. I have seen this measure come forward over the years, and wonder sometimes why things take so long.

I’m also very cognizant of the need for us to study proposals in-depth and ensure that there aren’t unforeseen implications. However, I wonder, given that this has been before this chamber before, if this is a case where we should move this to committee and get the study started. I am aware, reviewing the scroll notes, that there’s agreement that there would probably be an adjournment taken, but I ask you to consider whether that’s a necessary step. Are you ready with a referral to the question, should that be something that the chamber wishes? I certainly would like to see this get to committee to get us moving on this. Thank you.

Senator Patterson: Senator Lankin, your question is music to my ears. No doubt it’s an important bill that should be studied, probably by our Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. I’d love to see them delve into it, but you’re right; timing is everything. I have limited time myself in the Senate, and I would love to see this bill make progress while I’m still with you.

So I would be most open to allowing our committee to do their important work on this bill and other bills before us in this chamber. I thank you for that suggestion and would welcome the question being called at the earliest opportunity, since it has been extant for decades in the Senate. Thank you.

(On motion of Senator Wells, debate adjourned.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Patterson, there are more senators who have questions. Are you willing to answer more questions?

Senator Patterson: I am willing, subject to the willingness of the house. Thank you.

Senator Dalphond: Thank you. Will you agree to take another question?

Senator Patterson: Yes.

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

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

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-15, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

(At 7:19 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at 2 p.m.)

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-16, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you very much for your question. Distress centres are a vital part of our community, providing mental health support and resources for those in need. We know that across our country, these centres are seeing a real surge in demand for their services.

While none of the 57 organizations that received funding through last year’s announcement were located in Prince Edward Island, I’m advised that the Public Health Agency of Canada is currently working with an organization that services P.E.I.’s mental distress support needs regarding their funding request. The Public Health Agency of Canada is also providing over $14.8 million over 36 months to Kids Help Phone to provide crisis supports for children and youth across Canada during the pandemic, including for young people in your province.

All Canadians, including those who are at risk and those living in rural and remote areas, need access to critical health and mental health resources and services. The government is working with provinces and territories on expanding virtual services, and the government is making sure that Canadians can use emergency supports and have access to them when they need them.

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Thank you. Honourable senators, I would like to thank my colleague for raising interesting issues for Quebec senators.

As you pointed out, and as the Supreme Court has indicated in the Reference re Senate Reform case, this will require the consent of the National Assembly of Quebec. Do you think that one of the first amendments to the Constitution of Canada, especially for Quebec senators, will have any likelihood of success in the National Assembly?

Senator Patterson: Thank you for the question, Senator Dalphond. I would certainly not opine on political matters in Quebec. I would not dare to do that. My thinking about this is that I should first seek the support of the Senate for this modernizing amendment to the Constitution, and then let the Government of Quebec deal with that as they see fit.

I have, as you may know, met with I believe all Quebec senators, and I have also spoken to the Quebec government’s office here in Ottawa — they call it la maison du Québec — but that’s as far as I have gone. I would not venture to make an opinion on how that will be dealt with. One would hope that the Province of Quebec would be open to broadening the qualifications to include all of the regions of Quebec and to include every citizen of Quebec who is 30 years of age and otherwise qualified. Thank you.

Senator Dalphond: Thank you. First, I’m impressed by the interest you have for that issue, which is an important issue, I must say. Today you have spoken to a bill that you have introduced, and that bill will amend the federal Constitution, in the sense of the Constitution of Canada limited to federal institutions. That can be done only by the federal Parliament amending its internal Constitution by an act of Parliament, which means three readings in the Senate and three readings in the House of Commons. It’s kind of a long process. What you are proposing, however, for Quebec is a motion that will require the consent of the Senate, a motion in the House of Commons, and a motion in the National Assembly, which is a slightly different process.

Would you agree that, in order to make sure that all senators are equal and remain equals in this chamber, that we should first move your motion to amend the Constitution, and if adopted by the other house and adopted by the National Assembly, then we should proceed to adopt your bill concerning the other senators of Canada?

Senator Patterson: That’s a very good question, Senator Dalphond, as ministers sometimes say when they are not sure how to answer a question. I agree with you that it would be desirable to have this provision applied to every province and territory in Canada. It would not be preferable to have Bill S-228 proceed in both chambers and have reform for every part of Canada but Quebec.

What you propose does appeal to me in that it’s logical. But what would like to suggest is that this chamber consider these two bills as companions and consider them together, which is why I am speaking to both the bill and the motion today. That’s my answer: Let’s proceed with the support of this chamber. Let’s proceed and treat them both together as interrelated and for the benefit of all of Canada. Thank you.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question.

Again, I’ll make inquiries and will be happy to report back when I get the answer.

Senator Gold: Thank you, senator, for your question and for your long-standing work in support of the charitable sector, which is well known to all of us, certainly in Quebec.

I’m advised that most charities, in fact, meet or exceed their disbursement quotas but that there is a gap of at least $1 billion in charitable expenditures in our communities that exists today.

With regard to the specifics of your remaining questions, I will make inquiries with the government and report back to the chamber as soon as I receive an answer.