Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I thought it was Groundhog Day here. I believe you asked me the question yesterday.

I appreciate your acknowledging that I’m here in my capacity as representative of the government. Thank you.

I have made inquiries, and I’ve not yet received a response.

Senator Cotter: When might we see the legislation, Senator Gold?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for raising a preoccupying and, unfortunately, enduring problem in too many of our institutions.

I don’t have the answer to your question. I’ll certainly make inquiries and report back when I get an answer.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for underlining the difficult circumstances that refugees face in Canada.

I don’t have specific knowledge of what the federal government is doing with its provincial counterparts and with the not-for-profit sector to assist those in need. I’ll make inquiries and try to get back to you quickly.

Senator Gold: In matters of what is included in the budget, not only do I not know, but I want to be transparent: I’m not sure this is something that I would be in a position to disclose until such time as the budget lockdown is completed.

That said, I want to repeat something I said earlier today and underline the commitment of this government to work with the communities of people with disabilities to jointly develop programs to assist them so as to better integrate and participate in Canadian society. That remains the position and the commitment of this government.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question.

As I stated in the last Parliament — and I’m glad you have raised the question again — those programs are important. Like you, I am glad that a solution was found, albeit an interim one.

I will have to make inquiries as to whether funding for that program will continue or what other measures may be taken to assist them to make sure that those with disabilities have access to reading materials. I engage to do that.

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Senator Gold, in my question last week regarding the murder of Marylène Levesque, I mentioned a report by coroner Stéphanie Gamache, who recommended that dangerous criminals released by the Parole Board of Canada be made to wear an electronic bracelet.

Yesterday, Deputy Premier Guilbault, on behalf of the Government of Quebec, announced that the government would start requiring violent men to wear an electronic bracelet starting in the spring of 2022. The electronic bracelet has become an increasingly popular tool to protect women who are the victims of domestic violence and to save lives.

During this week of action on violence against women, I want to remind you that, over the past six years, your government has done nothing to protect women who are victims of domestic violence, and when it did act, it was only to hide them at home. I introduced Bill S-205 last week, which would require the use of these electronic bracelets. Senator Gold, since Bill S-205 would take the measure Quebec is considering to protect Quebec women and apply it to the rest of Canada, would you agree to prioritize this bill, so that it can be sent quickly to the Legal Affairs Committee, to ensure better protection for Canadian women?

Senator Gold: Thank you for raising the question. Yes, indeed, I’ll have to inquire and report back. Thank you for that.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): With respect to the issue involving the CEO of Air Canada, the Prime Minister and Minister Freeland work as a team.

As for the Governor General’s bilingualism, first, I hope that Canadians agree with me to say that the effort the Governor General made in delivering the Speech from the Throne was impressive. She clearly made a great effort, and that was a sign of respect for our official languages. We should also note the historic significance of this event, because this is the first time a female Innu member of our Indigenous peoples has become Governor General. It is a credit to the government that it made that choice, but it is also an honour for Canadians.

Hon. Marc Gold (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 or usual practice:

1.the Senate invite any minister of the Crown who is not a member of the Senate to attend the Senate at least once every second week that the Senate sits, during Question Period at a time and on a date to be determined by the Government Representative in the Senate, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the leaders and facilitators of all recognized parties and recognized parliamentary groups, and take part in proceedings by responding to questions relating to their ministerial responsibilities, subject to the rules and orders then in force, including those relating to hybrid sittings, if the Senate is then holding such sittings, except that neither senators when asking questions nor the minister when answering need stand;

2.the Government Representative in the Senate, in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, and the leaders and facilitators of all recognized parties and recognized parliamentary groups, determine the minister to appear during such Question Period;

3.at the beginning of Orders of the Day, the Government Representative in the Senate or the Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate inform the Senate, as soon as possible in advance, of the time and date for Question Period with a minister, and the designated minister, but no later than the sitting day that would precede the day on which the minister would appear;

4.senators only have up to one minute to ask a question, and ministers have up to one minute and thirty seconds to respond, with this process continuing until the time for Question Period expires; and

5.the Question Period last a maximum of 60 minutes.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Look, it’s a serious question. I cannot resist repeating what I’ve been told many times by you and others that this is called Question Period, not answer period. I have asked the question. When I get an answer, I will be happy to report it to this chamber.

[Translation]

Senator Cordy: Thank you for that, Senator Gold. In light of the work that the Human Rights Committee has done on human rights of prisoners, and in this case it’s human rights of prison employees, it would be very important for us, and particularly the Human Rights Committee, to know.

Senator Gold, I understand that in 2020 Corrections Canada launched their National Comprehensive Strategy on Workplace Wellness and Employee Wellbeing designed to identify risks and action plans with clear accountabilities and performance monitoring in order to track progress.

Sadly, the 2021 employee survey showed that there continues to be a perceived lack of action when it comes to Corrections Canada responding in a proactive and timely way and, unfortunately, also when it comes to disciplining the perpetrators. Almost 48% of respondents believe that support for victims is either absent or needs improvement, and only 42% believe that Corrections Canada provided a confidential and safe space to file complaints. What’s more discouraging is that less than half of respondents — 46% — were even aware of how to file a formal discrimination complaint.

So in light of the survey results, and in consideration of the national comprehensive strategy, what action will the government take to bridge these gaps? Again, you may have to bring that information to us at a later date. I would appreciate that. Thank you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of December 1, 2021, moved:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:

1.in accordance with rule 10-11(1), the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine the subject matter of all of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, introduced in the House of Commons on November 26, 2021, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate, when and if the committee is formed;

2.in addition, the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be separately authorized to examine the subject matter of clauses 1 to 5 contained in Bill C-3 in advance of it coming before the Senate, when and if the committee is formed;

3.for the purpose of their studies, the aforementioned committees have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto;

4.subject to the following paragraph, as the reports from the committees authorized to examine the subject matter of all or of particular elements of Bill C-3 are tabled in the Senate, they be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration later that day; and

5.each of the committees authorized to examine the subject matter of all or of particular elements of Bill C-3 be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, with the reports thus deposited being placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting after they are tabled.

He said: Honourable senators, I would like to speak briefly to government Motion No. 5, which authorizes a Senate pre-study on the subject matter of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, which was introduced in the other place on November 26, 2021.

[Translation]

This motion authorizes the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to study all of Bill C-3 and the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to specifically study clauses 1 to 5 of Bill C-3 pertaining to the provisions of the Criminal Code before receiving the bill from the other place.

[English]

As colleagues are well aware, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic. Stories are being published almost daily reporting on the strain to our health care system and the burnout affecting our health care providers. Canadians, too, are growing very weary. However, impatience and weariness do not and should not extend to the harassment and threats that are being levelled at some health care providers. Bill C-3 will make it an offence to intimidate or impede a person from obtaining health services or to intimidate or impede a health professional in the performance of their duties.

Dr. Katharine Smart, President of the Canadian Medical Association, noted in relation to this issue:

Existing legislative measures to prevent and respond to this behaviour are proving insufficient. The CMA is encouraged that protecting the safety of health care workers is a top legislative priority for the federal government and we urge them to move forward quickly on consideration of this bill. Legislative action is needed to avoid potential tragedies.

Furthermore, Bill C-3 would also amend the Canada Labour Code to provide 10 days of paid sick leave per year to workers in the federally regulated private sector.

[Translation]

Esteemed colleagues, this motion makes it possible for the committees mentioned to properly examine the subject matter of Bill C-3 before it comes before the Senate. I believe that in light of their respective expertise and mandates, these two committees are best able to give careful consideration to these important issues of public interest.

[English]

As mentioned, the provisions of Bill C-3 claim a practical level of urgency for study and reporting back to this chamber. We’ve already heard from a range of major stakeholders respecting health care professionals and workers in our country, including the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association and Unifor, all of whom have expressed support for the provisions contained in Bill C-3.

This motion allows both committees all the leeway necessary to begin work as soon as possible, and to hear from many of those important stakeholders, including the responsible ministers. It grants the power for the committees to meet while the Senate is sitting or when the Senate is adjourned. It also allows for the reports of these committees to be deposited with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not sitting.

[Translation]

Honourable senators, I believe that we all agree that the subject matter of Bill C-3 is important and urgent enough for the Senate, through its committees, to begin examining it. The two committees are authorized to establish their own schedule and to start their work as soon as they deem it appropriate.

[English]

The committees, once organized, would then have the authority to set meeting schedules and begin issuing witness invitations so that when we do receive Bill C-3, the important groundwork has been done.

Colleagues, this is what we do best — review, gather information, study and report. I ask that you pass this motion so that our committees might move forward as soon as feasible. Thank you.