Senator Brazeau: My question is with respect to the membership of this organization. Obviously, the government has decided to exclude one Indigenous organization called the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

Our Constitution gives us the definition of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada: It states that it includes — it is not limited to — the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. However, as far as I know, since 1969 and 1971, there has been close to five national, federally funded organizations. Are you aware of why this organization, when we are talking about reconciliation, is specifically and purposefully excluding one organization? I would like to know if you are aware of why that is.

Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize National Social Work Month. I am often introduced as a former social worker and a former social work educator. Well, let me tell you that I never stopped being a social worker. Now I just do it here in the Senate. Every single day, I bring my social work lens to debates and deliberations.

Social work is often divided into two silos. The first is front-line social work, and the second is developing social policy and social work research. During my time in the Senate, I have been collaborating with the Canadian Association of Social Workers with a shared agenda to empower social workers to have a presence and to use their voices in the creation of social policy and legislation.

My parliamentary research assistant Anne-Marie Hay is also a social worker who embodies the sentiment of social work in the Senate. Anne-Marie was my first student in the Senate and started in my office while completing a master’s degree in social work at Carleton University. When I was appointed to the Senate, I decided to provide social work students with an opportunity to do their practicum placements in my Senate office. Anne-Marie shares my passion for social justice and racial justice, and that is evident in all the work we do together. I see many social work students shy away from policy — and, in fact, some run away from policy — but Anne-Marie’s passion for social justice in social work is a perfect example of why it is important to have social workers in policy positions.

Anne-Marie, thank you for the essential social work that you bring to our team in all aspects of our work.

Honourable senators, please join me in thanking all social workers for the important, essential work they do every day. Asante. Thank you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I am not in a position to make such an assertion for several reasons. Besides, that is not what I said. I cited the findings of independent expert analyses that were endorsed by several colleagues, including the House leader of the official opposition, showing that the results of the election were not compromised.

As for the status of candidates, I imagine that that will be one of the things reviewed by the designated individuals, who will have the appropriate security clearance to access all relevant information on this issue.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 181, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding international aid to Russian or Belarusian organizations.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 201, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Health Canada.

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the proud Government Representative in the Senate.

Leader, on February 27, the government announced with great fanfare that TikTok, the Chinese social media platform, was being banned from government devices. We all quickly removed it from our devices because of the risks it could pose.

Again, looking through the lens of Chinese interference, imagine my surprise when I learned today that the Privy Council Office has invested millions of dollars in advertising on the Chinese social network platform.

How can the government, on the one hand, encourage Canadians to stop using TikTok and then, on the other hand, invest millions of dollars in government advertising?

Senator Gold: I will certainly make inquiries as to what resources are being dedicated to the open banking file, and I have confidence that the CRA is going to do its very best to treat all taxpayers — and all Canadians — fairly as we approach this happy time of the year when we have to face the music in our taxes. Thank you for your question.

[Translation]

Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, the Treasury Board of Canada has ruled that the Canadian Human Rights Commission has discriminated against its own Black and racialized employees. This revelation is even more disturbing considering that yesterday marked the United Nations’ seventy-fifth International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. After these brave employees have come forward with their stories, Black Canadians can no longer place their trust in the Canadian Human Rights Commission to handle complaints of anti-Black racism.

My question to you, Senator Gold, is this: What actions will the government take to address anti-Black racism in the Canadian Human Rights Commission to ensure the complaints process is equitable for Black Canadians?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Doug Deacon. He is a friend of the Honourable Senator Downe and brother of the Honourable Senator Colin Deacon.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

An Hon. Senator: Add inflation to it.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question.

According to my information, Minister Alghabra recently met with the authorities at Bathurst Regional Airport to reassure them that the government will continue working with representatives of the airport and other regional airports to help support them.

I do not know the details of that conversation, but I will reach out to the government to seek further information, if there is any.

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I would like to explain, for those who have less experience than you, honourable colleague, that just because I am a member of the Privy Council it does not mean that I have access to the information on national security that was provided to the Prime Minister or parliamentarians. I thank you for the confidence you have in my role, which I am pleased to fulfill to the best of my abilities.

However, I simply do not have access to that information. Even if I did have access to information concerning national security, I would not be allowed to share it publicly, as you are well aware.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, I see two senators rising, probably for questions. It is now four o’clock. Senator Gold has unlimited time. We will pick this up, with the questions, at the next sitting.

(Debate adjourned.)

(At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on September 21, 2022, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.)

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Public Health Agency of Canada.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Public Safety Canada.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table the answers to the following oral questions:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 24, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 17, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning credit card merchant fees.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 18, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Export Development Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Department of Finance Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Farm Credit Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Business Development Bank of Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Martin, concerning fees to small businesses — Corporations Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on October 6, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Omidvar, concerning the Special Economic Measures Act.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 22, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Marshall, concerning the Departmental Results Report.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 13, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Housakos, concerning the Embassy in Armenia.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Wells, concerning a Canadian airline crew detained abroad.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Leo Housakos on March 24, 2022)

In Budget 2017, the government committed to invest $256 million to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This represents the estimated Canadian dollar cost to purchase paid-in shares worth US$199.1 million. The government has made four payments to date, each valued at US$39.8 million.

The government remains committed to promoting strong and inclusive economic growth in Canada and around the world. As part of this, Canada is a member of several Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), including the AIIB. Canada’s investment in this MDB is made alongside many like-minded shareholders, including Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on May 17, 2022)

As announced in the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, the government is working with the payment card industry and businesses to lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses in a manner that does not adversely affect other businesses and protects existing reward points for consumers.

The government is moving quickly and has initiated discussions with payment card networks, financial institutions, acquirers, payment processors and business associations.

Concurrent with the Fall Economic Statement announcement, the government released draft legislative amendments to the Payment Card Networks Act and indicated that should the industry not come to an agreement in the coming months, it would introduce this legislation at the earliest possible opportunity in 2023 and move forward with regulating credit card transaction fees.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on May 18, 2022)

The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, which launched in 2019, allows eligible first-time home buyers to lower their borrowing costs by sharing the cost of buying a home with the government.

In response to feedback from Canadians, in 2021 the Government of Canada expanded the eligibility criteria of the program to help Canadians seeking to purchase a home in the higher priced markets of Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Budget 2022 extended the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive by three years to March 31, 2025. The Government continues to assess options noted in Budget 2022 to make the program more flexible and responsive to the needs of first-time home buyers, including single-led households.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on June 21, 2022)

Export Development Canada does not charge fees for any of our advisory services.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on June 21, 2022)

As announced in the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, the government is working with the payment card industry and businesses to lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses in a manner that does not adversely affect other businesses and protects existing reward points for consumers.

The government is moving quickly and has initiated discussions with payment card networks, financial institutions, acquirers, payment processors and business associations.

Concurrent with the Fall Economic Statement announcement, the government released draft legislative amendments to the Payment Card Networks Act and indicated that should the industry not come to an agreement in the coming months, it would introduce this legislation at the earliest possible opportunity in 2023 and move forward with regulating credit card transaction fees.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on June 21, 2022)

Farm Credit Canada does not currently charge fees for business advisory services such as mentorship and training.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on June 21, 2022)

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) offers a range of advisory services, such as mandates focusing on sales & marketing, operational efficiency, and digital technology, and charges fees for services that are delivered by consulting professionals. In addition, BDC offers tools, articles and advice free of charge on its website. BDC continues to revise its activities, including fees, to ensure alignment with current market conditions and the needs of Canadian small and medium sized businesses. More information regarding BDC’s advisory services is available at the following website: https://www.bdc.ca/en/consulting.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Yonah Martin on June 21, 2022)

Corporations Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada continue to explore ways of making it easier and more affordable to start and grow a business in order to support small and medium-sized businesses in Canada. Corporations Canada conducts a fee review every 5 years and these have led to beneficial fee reductions in the past. For example, the last fee review process in 2019 led to a reduction of 40% in Annual Returns fees in 2020. As part of the next fee review process, Corporations Canada will assess the impact of an incorporation fee reduction with stakeholders and partners and seeking new ways to reduce business start-up costs, particularly for entrepreneurs where the cost of incorporation represents a systemic barrier.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Ratna Omidvar on October 6, 2022)

Canada is horrified by the Iranian regime’s actions, which have culminated in the tragic killings of Mahsa Amini and hundreds of brave protestors.

Canada announced new measures to go even further, this includes:

•banning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials from Canada, forever;

•creating a new sanctions bureau and keep increasing sanctions on Iran;

•expanding ability to seize and freeze assets.

Canada has some of the toughest measures of any country in the world against the Iranian regime. Impunity is not an option. Canada stands with the Iranian people.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Elizabeth Marshall on November 22, 2022)

The department has prepared its Departmental Results Report (DRR) for the year ending March 31, 2022. The 2021-22 Departmental Results Reports were tabled by Minister Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, in the House of Commons on behalf of all departments, on December 2, 2022.

As required by the Financial Administration Act, the Debt Management Report must be tabled in each House of Parliament annually within 30 sitting days of the tabling of the Public Accounts in the House of Commons. The Public Accounts were tabled on October 27, 2022 and The Debt Management Report 2021-2022 was tabled in both houses of Parliament on December 14, 2022, which was within the legislative deadline.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Leo Housakos on December 13, 2022)

On June 29, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced an expansion of Canada’s diplomatic presence and capacity in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Caucacus.

Following work and a report by Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe, on ways to increase Canadian support for Armenian democracy, our government committed to open a full embassy with a resident ambassador in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital. This will help build stronger bilateral ties and support Armenia in its democratic development.

As a step towards this commitment, and in light of the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of Canada – Armenia relations, it was further announced by Canada’s Ambassador to Armenia, Alison LeClaire, on November 24, 2022, that a new consulate in Yerevan would be opened as of December 15, 2022, headed by Honorary Consul Vardges Avagyan. This consulate will offer essential consular services to Canadians living, studying, working, and travelling in Armenia, including emergency consular assistance and passport and citizenship services.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable David M. Wells on February 7, 2023)

Transport Canada takes all allegations of incidents involving aviation safety and security seriously. The responsibility for aviation security at Punta Cana International Airport rests with the Dominican Republic.

The incident involving the Canadian crew that was detained occurred at the general aviation or private terminal of the airport, not the main terminal building where scheduled commercial flights to Canada operate.

The main terminal and commercial aircraft area are protected by several more layers of security, and are separate from the general aviation area. Transport Canada does not have the legal authority or mandate to conduct a criminal investigation in a foreign State and has respected the due process of the Dominican Republic criminal justice system.

Transport Canada made arrangements with the Dominican Republic’s Cuerpo Especializado en Seguridad Aeroportuaria y de la Aviación Civil (CESAC) (Specialized Corps in Airport Security and Civil Aviation) to conduct an assessment of the airport. This was completed in February 2023.The assessment focused on commercial flights to Canada, and included a tour and review of the general aviation area.

No major security issues were discovered during this assessment. Transport Canada continues to collaborate with the civil aviation authority to encourage the continuous improvement of aviation security.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Hon. Fabian Manning: Honourable senators, today I am pleased to present Chapter 74 of “Telling our Story.”

When one speaks of Newfoundland and Labrador, the word “fish” often comes to mind. Well, today I am going to tell you about a group of men known as “The Fish Gang” who, over a hundred years ago, left the small fishing outports of our province and headed to the streets of New York City to help build that city’s incredible skyline. American construction companies recruited Newfoundland fishermen who were used to climbing the high rigging on fishing schooners and, therefore, were not afraid of working on high steel. The risk was high but so was the pay.

Legend has it that the first Newfoundland ironworker was a man named Frank Treahy from Conception Harbour, who quickly sent word back home to the “bys” that there was steady work and good wages to be had erecting skyscrapers in New York. Other Newfoundlanders heeded his call, and by the 1930s, Newfoundlanders represented about a quarter of the membership of Iron Workers Local 40, which covers Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and Westchester County. Some rose to prominent positions in the union. In 1939, Newfoundland native Jim Cole was elected president and served until 1950. The next union president was Ray Corbett, whose family hailed from Harbour Main. He was then followed by Ray Mullett, the son of an ironworker from the now resettled community of Oderin in Placentia Bay. He, in turn, gave way in the early 1990s to another native Newfoundlander, Jack Doyle. You could say they took the place over.

The Newfoundland men were known to swim in schools or stick together and watch out for each other on and off the job. They soon became known as “The Fish Gang,” and when their sons took up ironwork, they were called “The Fish Offspring.”

The men from Newfoundland were also well known and respected for their strong work ethic, their wonderful personalities and their fearlessness. New York journalist Jim Rasenberger, in his 2004 book High Steel: The Daring Men Who Built the World’s Greatest Skyline, said:

The Newfoundlander would have been a natural for the work.... He would have possessed the sea legs and the rigging skills that were so important to the job.

He went on to say that the Newfoundlander “. . . would also have been accustomed to working hard under risky circumstances and not fretting too much about it.”

Rasenberger added:

Compared to hauling seal carcasses across a shifting icefield in Labrador, or climbing a ship’s mast on a stormy sea, the feat of balancing on a steel beam several hundred feet above the streets of New York was a cakewalk.

I am sure many of you have seen one of the world’s most famous photographs, which was taken by Charles Ebbets on September 29, 1932, and has been referred to at different times by the titles Eating over Manhattan and Lunch Atop a Skyscraper. It shows 11 men having their lunch while sitting on a steel beam on the sixty-ninth floor of the Rockefeller Plaza building in New York City. That would be about 850 feet about the city street. The photo has become an icon of 20th-century American photography. While some of the men in the photo remain unidentified, it is said that the third man from the left is Austin Lawlor of King’s Cove in Newfoundland, and the fifth man is Claude Stagg from the fishing community of Catalina.

Knowing that the boys from home always hung out together, I’m confident that there are a few more Newfoundlanders sitting there, dangling their feet.

In 1986, Hana Gartner with “The Fifth Estate” produced a great documentary on “The Fish Gang” called Ironworkers from Newfoundland: Walking Iron. It is easily accessible on the CBC website, and I encourage you to have a look. They built buildings like the Sears Tower, the World Trade Center and, yes, the Twin Towers. The hands of Newfoundlanders helped build one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Years ago, long before safety protocols were put in place, a Newfoundlander was asked during an interview about the dangers associated with the job, and his answer was, “You only fall once.”

It is said that wherever you go in the world, you will find a Newfoundlander and Labradorian. They have left our shores and made their marks throughout the world. It was no different with the lads who went to New York so many years ago. Today, I am pleased to pay tribute to the “The Fish Gang.”

Thank you.