Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the certificate of nomination and biographical notes for the proposed reappointment of Heather Powell Lank to the position of Parliamentary Librarian.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Certificate of Nomination for the proposed reappointment of Heather Powell Lank as Parliamentary Librarian, tabled in the Senate on June 1, 2023, be referred to the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament for consideration and report; and

That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 205, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Library and Archives Canada.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 158, dated May 5, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan — Veterans Affairs Canada.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 120, dated February 8, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding honorary consuls.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 226, dated March 30, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the 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 December 1, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Wallin, concerning online harm.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 16, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, concerning online harm.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on September 28, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Klyne, concerning the RCMP Heritage Centre.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 17, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Black, concerning the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Cordy, concerning federal public service jobs — Statistics Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on February 7, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Cordy, concerning federal public service jobs — Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Pamela Wallin on December 1, 2021)

The Government of Canada is committed to continue efforts to develop and introduce legislation as soon as possible to combat serious forms of harmful online content to protect Canadians and hold social media platforms and other online services accountable for the content they host. Per the mandate letter for the Minister of Canadian Heritage, this legislation will be reflective of the feedback received during the recent consultations.

The government designed this consultation to allow stakeholders and industry to submit business information in confidence and to allow victims groups, equity deserving communities and other parties to share their experience with harmful content online privately. As such, the submissions were not made public.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Julie Miville-Dechêne on December 16, 2021)

The government remains committed to taking meaningful action to address child sexual exploitation content and other harmful content online. Harmful content overall discourages certain groups from speaking, prevents valuable voices from being heard, and undermines our democratic values. Child sexual exploitation and abuse specifically have lifelong consequences and are among the most egregious harms we see online.

On July 29, 2021, the government launched a public consultation seeking Canadians’ views on a detailed technical discussion paper, which outlined a proposal for regulating online platforms and combating certain types of harmful content. The government’s consultation was an important step in establishing a regulatory framework that ensures Canadians are safe when they participate in social media activities. We will continue our work to develop and introduce legislation as soon as possible to protect Canadians, including minors and victims of child sexual exploitation online, and hold social media platforms and other online services accountable for the content they host.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Marty Klyne on September 28, 2022)

The RCMP Heritage Centre falls under the purview of the Minister of Canadian Heritage. In September of this year, the RCMP Heritage Centre launched a series of national engagements to seek the views of Canadians regarding a possible national RCMP Museum. The RCMP Heritage Centre is gaining valuable insights as to how Canadians, particularly Indigenous peoples and people from equity‑deserving groups, feel about it and its future. The government looks forward to learning more about these and how they will be addressed going forward, particularly as the government considers the Heritage Centre’s future as a possible national museum.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Robert Black on November 17, 2022)

Canadian Heritage’s (PCH) Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program (BCAH) funds arts and heritage festivals, Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex (2SLGBTQI+) events, and Indigenous cultural celebrations such as pow-wows.

BCAH Local Festivals component supports eligible events that demonstrate sufficient arts and heritage activities and present local performing artists, cultural carriers, the work of local creators, or aspects of local heritage as a primary component. Agricultural fairs and exhibitions remain eligible for funding should they meet all eligibility criteria.

Activities that cannot be supported include any events of a commercial nature, including markets and tradeshows; sports or recreational activities; and fundraising and competitions.

BCAH supported 29 agricultural fairs in 2019-20 and 28 in 2020-21 which demonstrated sufficient arts and heritage activities to meet program criteria.

While some CAFE members may not be eligible for support through BCAH, it is possible they may draw on Innovation, Science and Economic Development programs.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Jane Cordy on February 7, 2023)

Statistics Canada reports on the labour market experience of Black Canadians using data from both the Labour Force Survey and the Census of Population. Data is publicly available in the following tables:

•Labour Force Survey — Table 14-10-0373-01 Labour force characteristics by visible minority group, three-month moving averages, monthly, Canada, provinces and territories

•2021 Census of Population — Table 98-10-0446-01 Labour force status by visible minority, immigrant status and period of immigration, highest level of education, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories

Data from the Labour Force Survey can be disaggregated to measure the total number of Black employees in the federal government public administration.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Jane Cordy on February 7, 2023)

The government has launched a suite of initiatives to support departments in improving diversity, equity and inclusion and to help equity-seeking employees, including Black employees, to advance to leadership roles. Every department manages its own human resources, program and initiatives. Centrally, the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO) collects and publishes qualitative and quantitative data to better understand employment equity representation gaps and the perceptions of equity-seeking employees through the Public Service Employee Survey. These unprecedented levels of disaggregated enterprise data on the composition of 21 employment equity subgroups, including Black, Métis and Inuit employees, enable more granular analysis and is a foundation for tracking progress. OCHRO also has developed tools such as the Maturity Model on Diversity and Inclusion to help departments measure their level of advancement in diversity and inclusion and measuring progress thereafter.

The 2021-22 Management Accountability Framework (MAF) included three questions regarding hiring goals and initiatives for Employment Equity groups. Two questions specifically asked the 34 assessed departments to include any hiring goals for Black candidates, for the general workforce and the EX cadre. In this cycle some departments also began developing initiatives to remove barriers to employment for equity-seeking groups, including Black employees.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 158, dated May 5, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan — Canadian Heritage.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 216, dated March 8, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the National Capital Commission.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 4-13(3), I would like to inform the Senate that as we proceed with Government Business, the Senate will address the items in the following order: second reading of Bill C-13, followed by third reading of Bill C-9, followed by all remaining items in the order that they appear on the Order Paper.

[Translation]

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Cormier, seconded by the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, for the second reading of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of May 31, 2023, moved:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of May 30, 2023, moved:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024;

That, for the purpose of this study, the committee have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, and that rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) be suspended in relation thereto; and

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.