Senator Gold: I will certainly add those to my inquiries. Thank you.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question.

The government’s position, which I’m sure you share, is that it’s very important to have sufficient judges in place to meet the needs of the system, regardless of the nature of the cases before the courts.

The government is working hard. Filling vacancies is a priority. I have been advised that the minister has spoken with members of the judiciary and the bar to encourage more people to apply, to ensure that the pool of candidates can adequately meet the justice system’s needs. I have also been told that the government continues to make appointments at a steady pace and that the number of vacancies will continue to decline.

[English]

Senator Gold: Canadians, I think, will judge as they judge. However, I didn’t tell you, and I thought that you would have taken my response in the spirit in which it was offered. I simply said that you obviously have an answer, and I was inviting you to share it.

The Prime Minister and this government are serving this country well. In that regard, questions about his residency, 24 Sussex and Harrington Lake, relevant though they may be, are not ones that I am in a position to answer at this juncture. I’m sorry.

Senator Gold: Again, your question about what was seen two years ago has been answered time and time again. You continue to reject the answer that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have made. I have nothing to add except to repeat what the Prime Minister said: He received the information, but became aware of it only when it appeared in The Globe and Mail.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question.

It is an important question. It is true that there are vacancies. We cannot deny the numbers, but with all due respect, honourable colleague, it is not a failure.

Since November 2015, the government has appointed more than 600 judges, and it has created a significant number of judicial positions in order to help the courts manage their workload. A process is in place. The criteria are clear. The government and the Minister of Justice are working hard to fill the positions to effectively support our justice system.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Well, I’m not sure what the honourable senator is asking me to confirm, but I will confirm what the Prime Minister said, which I’ve repeated on so many occasions. He became aware of this first from The Globe and Mail, and action was taken to expel the diplomat. That was done, having taken the appropriate time to consult and make sure that Canada was prepared for whatever implications or ramifications came.

For the record, colleague, I have never suggested that questions of this nature are not important or of interest to Canadians, to parliamentarians and indeed to the government. I have on many occasions — today is not one of them — pointed out, however, that innuendos, insinuations and assertions that are not based in fact to say nothing of imputations of lack of integrity, do a disservice both to this chamber and to the institutions that our Constitution has put in place for all of our benefit and that we are sworn and summoned to uphold.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you very much for the question. It’s an important one.

I can’t answer the specific question you asked at the end but I will underline that it is the position of this government that Canadians experiencing serious illness or facing end of life deserve to receive care in the setting of their choice in comfort and dignity.

In that regard, the federal government has collaborated with provinces, territories, health care providers and stakeholders to develop the framework and to implement an action plan on palliative care, and this has carried with it, as you would know, serious investments: $24 million from 2019 to 2021 and $29.8 million from 2021 to 2027. This complements the federal support that exceeds $8 billion over 10 years to provinces and territories for home and community care, including palliative care.

You referred to the framework. The Action Plan on Palliative Care lays out the multi-year plan of Health Canada to tackle the issues identified in the framework. This is also part of the ongoing investments Health Canada has made, including during the pandemic, to fund some of these initiatives. The government will continue to work in this area with provinces, territories and health care providers to provide and to improve access to home, community and palliative care. With regard to the specific dates, I will have to make inquiries.

Senator M. Deacon: Thank you for that. I hope and look forward to the Senate knowing the specifics of when this review unfolds so we can be accountable at the table in conversations with our various communities.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question.

The protection of privacy and Canadians’ data is fundamental. Laws are in place and further laws that will address this subject are forthcoming. Indeed, Bill C-27, which is in the other place, introduces more robust measures around areas including privacy, which I would underline.

With regard to the specific question about end-to-end encryption, I’m not in a position to commit the government. I will certainly make inquiries to see what the status is of the deliberations on that particular issue.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. Congratulations to you and our colleagues for a wonderful event this morning on Bear Witness Day, which I was privileged to attend.

This is an important issue. Government has, as you underlined, made enormous efforts in this area, and that includes giving First Nations communities control over the provision of these services.

That said, the statistics to which you referred are preoccupying. I will have to make some inquiries, and I will certainly report back as soon as I can.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I am not in a position to agree that it was hidden. I will have to look into the nature of those contracts. I am sorry you have not received an answer yet, but I will certainly do my best to get a better one for you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I actually don’t have the answer to your question, but I’m glad that at least some of the questions you asked here have been answered in the House of Commons. I invite you to share those answers with us for the benefit of all the senators present.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) moved third reading of Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Income Tax Act.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for raising and underlining the importance of this issue. I don’t have the information as to why the spending to date has been as you have described it, and I won’t make assumptions as to the reasons. I will make inquiries so that I can give a proper response when I get an answer.