Hon. Leo Housakos (Acting Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader in the Senate. Senator Gold, on Monday the U.S. announced the diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games in response to the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity being committed by China’s communist regime in the Xinjiang region. The Australian and Lithuanian governments have followed suit, and this afternoon finally, after delay and hesitation, the Trudeau government also announced that it will be following the diplomatic boycott. This is better late than never, and certainly better at least a diplomatic boycott than no action at all.

I would like to know, government leader, why is it that when it comes to the Beijing regime and the constant infringement of human rights that this regime carries out against people, and very often its own people, the Trudeau government is hesitant in taking clear, concrete actions? Why, once again, are we following rather than leading in defending human rights and taking action against the regime in China?

Senator Housakos: Senator Gold, our colleague Senator Richards recently asked you an excellent question in light of the Women’s Tennis Association’s suspension of all tournaments in China out of fear for player safety following the disappearance of player Peng Shuai. It’s one that bears repeating, especially given the lack of clarity in response to similar questions from reporters at today’s press conference. What are the Government of Canada’s contingency plans if Canadian athletes are detained by Chinese authorities? We’ve seen the belligerent behaviour by this regime when it comes to detaining Canadians, as we experienced with the two Michaels. What are we going to do to ensure the safety of our athletes in these upcoming Olympics?

And the question that Minister Joly seemed to be fumbling all over the place on today is a very simple one: What are we doing to provide security for our athletes with regard to the inherent risk by going to Beijing and these Olympic Games? Are we going to have more RCMP officers dispatched to protect Team Canada and our Olympic athletes?

Hon. Leo Housakos (Acting Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader in the Senate.

Senator Gold, my question is in regards arriveCAN. It can be a very beneficial tool for Canadians as they arrive at the border, but unfortunately this tool has proven to be discriminatory because it discriminates against people that don’t have smartphones, like our more senior citizens. What happens to Canadians who are travelling and the app crashes, for example? It is these kinds of inconsistencies that have been creating havoc at the border.

Now it seems that Canadians appear to have the option to bring information to Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, officers in person, but again the policy seems to be a little discombobulated and unclear. I’m looking for some clarity from you that is indeed the case: Can you assure us that Canadians will no longer be forced into quarantine at the border for failure to use that app, and that airlines will stop refusing those looking to board as a result of it?

What happens now to Canadians, many of whom are seniors, who are already forced into quarantine prior to your government’s reversal — or seemed reversal — on this issue? Are they required to remain under quarantine? Can we have some clarity from the government on that?

Senator Housakos: Government leader, COVID-19 was discovered more than two years ago, although that sometimes feels far longer. There were two things that the Trudeau government was known for during the pandemic: inconsistent messaging and poor communications. Both of these issues are evident in this fiasco.

Canadians deserve better. Leader, when the quarantine is lifted, will your government communicate with everyone who has been caught up in this mess to inform them that their quarantine is over?

As I said, many of these people are seniors. Some of them don’t have smart phones or mobile data. How will you communicate with these people to let them know that the policies have changed yet again and that they can now stop quarantining?