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 Poirier: It has been about four months since thousands of fishers began receiving letters from the Trudeau government demanding this repayment, yet we’re no closer to the resolution on their behalf. Leader, we’ve seen many structural and qualification changes take place in the various relief programs offered by your government since the pandemic began. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada are all involved in this program.

Will you please ask these departments to sit down together and come to an agreement on how to treat the fishers fairly under this program?

Hon. Donna Dasko: Honourable senators, on October 8, 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau rose in the House of Commons to proclaim that Canada would adopt a policy of multiculturalism. This year we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of a multicultural policy for Canada, which in my view is one of this country’s greatest achievements.

Canada was always ethnically and racially diverse, but for most of our history this diversity was not valued or embraced. We don’t have to go very far back to find a vast architecture of ethnic and racial stereotypes, discrimination and exclusion. It was a “vertical mosaic,” in the words of sociologist John Porter. And yet, the post-war world was changing and so was Canada. Education levels in Canada were rising rapidly in the 1960s, and deference to authority was in decline. And just about every disadvantaged group — women, ethnic and race minorities, francophones, Indigenous people and others — was rejecting the exclusion of the past and demanding equality and respect.

Still, the announcement of the new policy in 1971 of “. . . multiculturalism within a bilingual framework” was not entirely expected and was not universally welcomed. But the concerns expressed at the time did not impede the progress of the idea, and from its inception in 1971 multiculturalism marched forward.

In 1982, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognized “. . . the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians,” while also guaranteeing equality and fairness to all without discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, sex and other criteria.

The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was passed by Brian Mulroney’s government in 1988, further entrenching its principles and again emphasizing the two elements of multiculturalism: the preservation of the multicultural heritage of Canadians while working to achieve equality in the institutions of Canada. Both the 1971 policy and the 1988 act marked Canada as the first country in the world to adopt these measures.

And most importantly, Canadians themselves have embraced the concept enthusiastically over time. Multiculturalism is viewed in a positive light by Canadians, and just this year an Environics Institute survey shows that multiculturalism is seen by far as the most important thing that makes Canada unique.

The twin goals of multiculturalism — that is, respect for diversity and for our differing backgrounds and experiences, along with the right to equality and fairness — are still worth pursuing today, 50 years later, and also into the future. Thank you.

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?