Senator Dawson: You also know that a foreign-owned hedge fund is the largest shareholder of Canadian National Railway Company, or CN’s, direct competitor, Canadian Pacific, or CP Rail. Are there any plans for the government to refer this highly troubling matter to Competition Bureau Canada for examination? Transport is an important issue in Canada — we’re in a room built for rail transportation. I hope the government will intervene to ensure that Canadian interests are best served, Mr. Leader.

Hon. Dennis Dawson: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie concerning the Parliamentary Seminar on Parliamentary Oversight and Public Policy Evaluation, held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from November 14 to 15, 2019.

Hon. Dennis Dawson: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie concerning the Parliamentary Conference on the Sahel, held in New York, New York, United States, from November 14 to 15, 2019.

Hon. Dennis Dawson: My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

As all senators know, climate change has disrupted our rail-based supply chain, and now, a foreign hedge fund has launched a bid to take over our largest railway company, Canadian National. It is fitting that the first bill introduced here has to do with railways, because they are essential to Canada. These Canadian companies were created because our railways are so important.

What does the government plan to do in the coming months and weeks to protect the interests of these companies? The threat is real. I remind senators about Donald Gordon, who declared that French Canadians were not good enough to work for Canadian railways. The last four presidents of CN were francophone, however. What are we going to do to make sure that Canada retains control over this institution and protects jobs in Montreal and the railway interests of not only Quebecers, but all Canadians?