The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Michael Pearson, son of the late Honourable Senator Pearson; Hilary Pearson, her daughter; Kerry Buck, her daughter-in-law; Maija Buckley-Pearson, her granddaughter and her two-month-old son; and Euan Pearson, her grandson. They are accompanied by the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of Canada.

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

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Do we have agreement on the bell?

The Hon. the Speaker: Do we have agreement on a bell?

Senator Dalphond: Of course.

Hon. Claude Carignan: Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Last week, an investigative report was aired on the show Enquête on Radio-Canada, in which we learned that the security firm Neptune had contracts with the Government of Quebec, several entities, as well as the Government of Canada.

The investigation uncovered dubious practices by its director, including the fact that he went by two names. One was Robert Butler and the other was Badreddine Ahmadoun. The Government of Quebec took this matter very seriously. The Autorité des marchés publics suspended the company for the next five years, since it was already familiar with the case.

What is the Government of Canada doing for the mandates entrusted to Neptune, including by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and by the Department of National Defence?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I will look into that with the government and come back to you with an answer shortly.

Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, I give notice that, two days hence:

I will call the attention of the Senate to the ongoing business and economic contributions made by Indigenous businesses to Canada’s economy.

Hon. Renée Dupuis: Would Senator Dalphond agree to a question?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2023 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17,sbs. 7(5).

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Craig Smith, President, and Sean McCarthy, Treasurer, of the St. John’s Fire Fighters Association. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Wells.

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

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-241, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction of travel expenses for tradespersons).

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I would ask you to rise and join me in observing a minute of silence.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I don’t have that information, but I’ll make inquiries.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Martin, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: The vote will take place at 4:28.

Call in the senators.

(1620)

Motion agreed to and bill read second time on the following division:

Senator Quinn: Senator Gold, thank you for your response. I agree with the second part as well, that we should ask our Rules Committee to look at this so that we can have equality, if you will, as parliamentarians with those parliamentarians in the other house who have responses delivered within 45 days. It seems that we should have that same privilege as parliamentarians, so I’m glad to hear that you support bringing this to the Rules Committee. That was the nature of my question, so would you, in fact, agree to having this referred to the Rules Committee?

Senator Gold: Thank you for that.

First and foremost, I think it is up to the Rules Committee to decide if that is something they wish to consider, and, of course, for the chamber as a whole to consider as well. I certainly would be happy, on behalf of the government, to participate in any such discussion to improve our Rules so as to improve the work that we do on behalf of Canadians.

Senator Gold: Indeed, thank you for your question. I have the resources, and I use those resources. I shall continue to endeavour to get you those answers.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I received a notice from the Government Representative in the Senate who requests, pursuant to rule 4-3(1), that the time provided for the consideration of Senators’ Statements be extended today for the purpose of paying tribute to the Honourable Landon Pearson whose death occurred on January 28, 2023.

Is it agreed to continue tributes in Senators’ Statements?