Senator Gold: I will make inquiries and report back in due course.

Senator Gold: I will certainly do so. Thank you.

Senator Gold: Thank you, colleague, for the question. I have made inquiries with the government, but I have not yet received an answer. When I hear back from the government, I will report in a timely fashion.

Senator Gold: I will ask the government what is available and appropriate to share, but that is all I can say right now without asking the government.

Senator Gold: Thank you. I will certainly pass that on to the government.

Senator Gold: Yes.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, senator, for the question. The government has made significant progress in advancing biodiversity and protecting our natural heritage. Indeed, the government has committed to protecting 25% of the land by 2025 and 30% by 2030 and, as you have noted, has committed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, with full nature recovery by 2050.

With regard to, specifically, the Migratory Birds Regulations, I’m confident the minister will make a decision in a timely manner — one that both protects our environment and supports Canadian jobs.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for his question and for highlighting the importance of our procurement program to better protect Canada and Canadians.

I will make inquiries with the government about a specific date and get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.

Senator Gold: Again, thank you for your question. The government is doing everything it can to save lives, and there is no attempt to put obstacles in the way. Circumstances were and remain difficult and challenging. The government is committed to doing everything it can, alone and with its allies, to address this significant, important challenge.

Senator Gold: As I said, as the Government Representative, I would like this to be debated and voted on efficiently and appropriately. However, as I said before and will say again, I respect the Senate’s and senators’ desire to take as much time as necessary to fully understand the matter before us. In light of the clarifications I provided today, I’m eagerly awaiting the speech by our colleague, Senator Cotter, who has a stake and expertise in this area. I hope you’ll join me in looking forward to an efficient vote.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for the question.

LGBTQ2+ organizations are essential in Canada’s communities and are a lifeline for Canadians. They need our support to keep their doors open and to continue to develop. That is why the funding for the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund is being extended for another year. This funding will enable organizations to build stronger infrastructure to advance LGBTQ2+ equality across Canada.

I’m sorry to say I don’t have any details on how the eligibility criteria for the fund are assessed. I will find out from the government and get back to you as soon as possible.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question, senator.

The government recognizes that organizations across the country urgently need support to provide vital community resources. The government intends to uphold its commitments.

I would add that, in the past, I have had a great deal of experience and involvement with not-for-profit organizations. I saw that stable and predictable funding is important. That said, I must point out that the government invested $7.1 million in the 2021 budget to support the work of the LGBTQ2+ Secretariat and $15 million for projects in these communities.

As for the funding, I will endeavour to follow up on the previous question.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government values the advice of the Privacy Commissioner, advice that is always well received and taken into consideration. The government also values the privacy of Canadians and their right to control their data. In that regard, it will continue to do so.

I do not have information, senator, with regard to whom the government has consulted to the extent that information would be publicly available and disseminated. I’ll make inquiries and will be happy to report to the chamber.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for the question. Canada and the Government of Canada are proud of the measures taken since the beginning of the pandemic to protect Canadians. We are proud of the ability of the government to procure vaccines and for Canada to be a world leader in its degree of vaccination. This pandemic is causing enormous frustration and difficulty for individuals and for the sectors and companies to which you refer. The government is very much aware of that. It is constantly evaluating the appropriate policy adjustments to make in light of the evolution not only of scientific understanding but the evolution of the pandemic and the wave or waves that may still come. This chamber should rest assured that the government is constantly evaluating and reassessing what its policy positions will be going forward, and announcements, when appropriate, will be made.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I’m sorry that my answers are not satisfactory to you.

The fact remains that the government is in ongoing consultations and discussions with its scientific advisers and others. Science is not a monolithic answer. This is not Grade 3 arithmetic. There is a diversity of views within the scientific community. Science, one might say, is more of an art than a science.

That said, the government remains committed to making the appropriate policy choices based upon the best scientific advice that it receives and will announce whatever changes, if any, in due course when appropriate.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you. I will add those questions to the others.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, senator, for raising this important issue.

The government continues to shift resources in this area to focus on priorities, to increase digitization of applications, to streamline its processes and resume in-person operations while, of course, respecting public health and safety guidelines.

Furthermore, I’m advised that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has already hired approximately 500 new processing staff, are digitizing applications and reallocating work amongst their offices around the world.

With regard to your question on spending of the allocated funds under the Fall Economic Statement, I have been advised that an outline for the funds has been released. Unfortunately, I don’t have an itemized list of the expenditures. I shall, however, inquire with the government and report back to the chamber with an answer.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I have made inquiries, Senator Cordy, and I have not yet received a specific response. However, the government remains committed to continuing to review and evaluate the structures in its areas of jurisdiction to take into account the rapidly changing realities of families in this country. As soon as I have an answer, I’ll be happy to report back.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for underlining the situation in Myanmar.

Canada, as you know, condemns the convictions and other abuses, and the coup d’état particularly, in Myanmar. With regard to the specific question, I’m not aware of a decision that has been made with regard to a resolution at the United Nations. I will certainly make inquiries, and if an answer is forthcoming, I will be glad to share it in the chamber.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Well, senator, thank you for your question and for underlining the ongoing challenges and problems that are facing those in Afghanistan.

With respect, the government is not playing political games. It is dealing with it as best it can. The government has been monitoring the situation closely. Canadian Armed Forces personnel were present in Afghanistan from early 2021 to monitor the situation on the ground. Canada was part of an air bridge with allies that saved as many people as it could throughout the difficult circumstances. The Armed Forces worked around the clock to evacuate as many people as possible for so long as conditions permitted, saving thousands of people under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

We did not evacuate as many people as we would have liked to in August. The government is committed to exercising all of its available options to evacuate Canadians and our Afghan allies via land or air. I have finally been advised that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with our allies and other countries in the region to help get as many people out as possible.