Senator Bernard: Senator Gold, thank you for your response. Please note that I will continue to ask this question until these vacancies are filled.

Following the retirements of Senator Lovelace Nicholas and Senator Christmas, we now have only one Indigenous senator for the entire Atlantic region: Senator Francis, representing Prince Edward Island. How does the government plan to ensure more Indigenous representation for the Atlantic region in the Senate?

Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: My question is for the representative of the government in the Senate.

Senator Gold, a few weeks ago, my colleagues and I asked Minister LeBlanc about the many vacancies in the Senate for senators representing the Atlantic region. The minister reassured us that we will be pleasantly surprised with the coming news, and indeed we were. I welcome our new Atlantic colleagues: Senator Petten, who is here in the chamber today, representing Newfoundland and Labrador; and Senator MacAdam, representing P.E.I., who will be with us shortly.

I would like to follow up about Nova Scotia appointments, since we have the longest vacancy for these seats in the Senate since April 9, 2020. What is happening with the three vacant seats for Nova Scotia?

What is happening with the other vacant seats for the Atlantic region: two in Newfoundland, one more in P.E.I. and three in New Brunswick?