Senator Gold: I’m not aware of — nor am I in a position to report on — what discussions may have taken place, which is the first part of your question. I am not in a position to make any commitments on the part of the government with regard to the second part of your question. The government will make its announcements when it is ready to do so.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for the question. As for the reason the position has not been filled and when it will be filled, I will ask the government the question and come back with an answer.

Senator Gold: I thank the honourable senator for his question. As you know, at the beginning of this Parliament, the government and the new cabinet made fundamental changes with respect to victims of sexual assault in the Armed Forces.

With regard to your question, I will ask the government about its intentions, and I will get back to you as soon as I receive an answer.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senator, thank you for the question and for your leadership on health issues in this chamber. Thank you also for giving me some advance notice of this question, as I’ve made inquiries. It’s an important question, as you and many others have pointed out in this chamber. I’ve not yet received a response. When I do, I shall report back to the chamber in a timely fashion.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The Government of Canada continues to work closely with its partners in the provinces and territories and with health care professionals and advisers to find and promote the best ways to encourage Canadians to be vaccinated and to encourage Canadians, whether vaccinated or not, to take public health measures to minimize the risk of exposure. It will continue to do so.

Senator Gold: I will look into it further, even though, to my knowledge, the request has not been formally received. However, I apologize in advance if I am wrong. I will do more research with the information I was provided.

[English]

Senator Gold: I will make inquiries and report back. Thank you.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you, I most certainly will make those inquiries.

Senator Gold: Although I’m aware of many things, Senator Griffin, this was one of the many of which I was not. I look forward to receiving my bag of potatoes.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the follow-up question. I will add that to the inquiries I make to the government and will attempt to report back in a timely manner.

Senator Gold: Yes. Thank you for your question, and for the opportunity to clarify.

That is exactly our understanding. It is the understanding, and shared with COPO, that ministers will sit in the aisle. As the motion indicates, neither the ministers nor senators questioning will be obliged to stand when asking or answering a question. That is the understanding.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator, thank you for your question. As I’ve explained in this chamber in recent weeks, the decision to impose a temporary ban on the export of P.E.I. potatoes was a difficult one. The decision was taken by the government as — if I may use the expression — the “least bad” alternative that it faced in the context of this ongoing trade relationship.

With regard to your specific question, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Government of Canada take the detection of quarantine pests seriously. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan is an important one. It remains and should remain in place. It’s being applied to any new finds, as are other regulatory measures, to ensure that potato wart does not spread. However, with regard to the situation — and it’s a difficult situation for potato farmers in Prince Edward Island — the government has intentions to put into place a strategy to deal with this situation to not only provide reassurance but to restore markets and to support farmers.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for underlining the very troubling and unacceptable situation. I don’t have the specific answer as to why the Government of Canada has not proceeded publicly and unilaterally as you’ve suggested.

However, I do know that the Government of Canada, working with its allies on this and on many other issues dealing with our very difficult relationship with a difficult country, China, continues to work hard — often behind the scenes but hard nonetheless — to make sure that China and our allies understand how unacceptable the Chinese behaviour, in too many respects, is to the Canadian government.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I was raised to always give gifts back when I’m offered one, so let me congratulate you on being consistent for the last five years in attempting to delegitimize the new and less partisan independent Senate. With all due respect, the fact is that your characterization of the reasons for which the parliamentary secretary was named — and it is indeed an innovation — have it completely backwards.

This is an indication of the importance that this government attaches to its relationship with the Senate. It’s a recognition that there is still work to be done — and this is not at all to visit this upon the honourable senator opposite — for all members of Parliament, whether in the Senate and certainly in the House of Commons, to recognize that the Senate has changed and that the Senate needs to be thought of in a different, more consistent and coherent way in the other place.

The parliamentary secretary, who I will have the pleasure to work with is part of a growing team of ministers who understand the value that the Senate brings and the work that it does and will continue to do. I’m proud to represent this government in this chamber and to be part of the process of modernization and growing independence of this chamber. It serves Canadians well.

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 provisions of the Rules, previous or usual practice:

1.the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021, to consider the subject matter of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts, with any proceedings then before the Senate being interrupted until the end of Committee of the Whole;

2.if the bells are ringing for a vote at the time the committee is to meet, they be interrupted for the Committee of the Whole at that time, and resume once the committee has completed its work for the balance of any time remaining;

3.the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill S-2 receive the Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P., Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, accompanied by no more than three officials;

4. the Committee of the Whole on the subject matter of Bill S-2 rise no later than 65 minutes after it begins;

5.the witness’ introductory remarks last a maximum total of five minutes; and

6.if a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-32(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): The government remains committed to making sure that our infrastructure and networks are kept safe and secure and do not compromise our national security. The examination of the existing technologies, 5G technologies and the associated security considerations remain ongoing. The Government of Canada is working with Public Safety Canada; the Communications Security Establishment; the Department of National Defence; the Canadian Security Intelligence Service; Global Affairs; and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada together on this important issue. It also includes the important advice we receive from our allies.

I note and am advised that the Prime Minister has indicated a decision on Huawei is expected within the coming weeks.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senator, thank you for your question. The largest and the most difficult hurdle in getting people out of Afghanistan remains, regrettably, the lack of safe, secure and reliable routes out of the country — a country controlled by the Taliban. Furthermore, countries in the surrounding region have established their own entry and exit requirements, and these have frequently changed since the end of the evacuation. Despite these difficulties, the government continues to work closely with international and regional partners to expand these operations. It has been expanding its partnership with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation in an effort to resettle those hundreds of persecuted Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. With regard to Sikh resettlement efforts in particular, I will have to report back to the chamber when I have more specific details.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for his question and for pointing out just how important these companies are to Canadian society.

With respect to the specific issue you mentioned, the Government of Canada and authorities connected to the government are responsible for assessing the offers and opportunities to change ownership. They are doing their job and will continue to do it to protect Canadians and Canadian companies as best they can.

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you, honourable senator, for your question. The Government of Canada, as we all do in this room, understands how important transportation is for Canada generally, not only to our history but also to our well-being and economy. This chamber should rest assured that the Government of Canada will continue to keep the best interests of Canadians at heart when it reviews these matters.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government was pleased to provide the funding to the organizations, and I’m happy that it has been received in your area.

With regard to your question, though, I don’t have an answer. I will make inquiries and be happy to report back.