Senator Carignan: Leader, let me show you the other side of the coin: young people who want to buy property.

After eight years of the Trudeau government, the average down payment for a house has more than doubled. In fact, the gross salary required to buy a home on the island of Montreal is $251,000 a year, which means that young people and immigrants can’t afford to buy property.

Will you admit that the Trudeau government has failed and is changing the property market so that these young people will forever be tenants?

Senator Petitclerc: Senator Gold, I would like to get a clear and precise answer, especially about the flavours. You will recall that during study of Bill S-5, we were assured that this bill would provide Health Canada with the necessary flexibility to respond very quickly and make adjustments based on the most recent data available. We have that data now.

We can see that several provinces are taking the initiative and taking action. Quebec recently banned all vaping flavours other than tobacco. Don’t you think that it is the federal government’s responsibility to take action and use regulatory mechanisms to restrict or outright ban, nationwide, flavours that are appealing to young people?

Hon. Sabi Marwah: Honourable senators, I rise today in recognition of Deafblind Awareness Month, the month of June. This is a month dedicated to promoting public awareness about the distinct experience of Canadians who are deaf-blind and recognizing the tremendous contributions they make.

This month is also an occasion for Canadians to develop an understanding of the people in the communities who are deaf‑blind. Being deaf-blind is different from being deaf or blind on its own. It is a combination of both hearing and vision loss. Over 400,000 people in Canada are living with some degree of dual sensory loss.

Deaf-blind people experience far greater adverse consequences than people with either hearing loss or vision loss only. Their experience can be even more isolating and restrictive, and they face unique barriers which require specialized care services, including adapted communication methods.

As the Speaker mentioned, there are many remarkable organizations that support the deaf-blind community, and some of them are with us today: the Helen Keller Centre; the Deafblind and Sensory Support Network of Canada; DeafBlind Ontario Services; CNIB Deafblind Community Services and many other members of the deaf-blind community.

I would like to congratulate and thank them for their leadership and commitment to serving the deaf-blind community and their advocacy to ensure these Canadians have equal rights and opportunities.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the remarkable accomplishments of many members of the deaf-blind community: the legendary Helen Keller, a deaf-blind trailblazer; Kevin Frost, a deaf-blind three-time world champion Canadian speed skater with 16 gold medals and nine world records to his name; Mae Brown, the first deaf-blind person in Canada and the British Commonwealth to graduate from university; and Joan MacTavish, now 103 years old, who was instrumental in starting deaf-blind services at CNIB in 1972. And I must acknowledge a former colleague and my friend, the Honourable Vim Kochhar. He is a timeless advocate who has dedicated decades to helping people with disabilities.

Colleagues, deaf-blind Canadians deserve to live fulfilling lives. While progress has been made improving the quality of their day-to-day lives, there is still much to be done. We need to take collective responsibility for assisting people with this lonely condition. We can contribute to the betterment of our society, and it begins with awareness. We must use our voices to raise awareness and gain better access to funding for the deaf-blind community and the organizations that support them.

Honourable senators, please join me in recognizing Deafblind Awareness Month and working towards a country more inclusive for deaf-blind Canadians. Thank you.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Franca Ciambella. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Gerba.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of our former colleague the Honourable Vim Kochhar and members of various deaf-blind services and organizations. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Marwah.

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

Hon. Victor Oh: Honourable senators, I rise today to acknowledge my son, Derek Oh, and his business partner, Faraz Nomani, for their success as entrepreneurs in the Canadian health field.

Five years ago, Derek and Faraz launched a start-up business in Toronto focusing on women’s health. They took a leap in this unpredictable industry, and though they faced many hurdles, were successful in creating locally sourced and produced natural health products.

Their hard work and tenacity paid off, as leading doctors and researchers now recommend their products throughout Canada to help prevent urinary tract infections and help those suffering from an overactive bladder. Even more importantly, they have created over 15 full-time jobs and their products have helped over 50,000 people naturally reduce their dependency on drugs.

I proudly celebrate not only Derek and Faraz, but all those who take the brave step into entrepreneurship. As I have stated before, local businesses are the backbone of our great nation and play a vital role in creating jobs, driving innovation and boosting our economy.

It is always inspiring to me to see people who take steps to start their businesses and pursue their dreams. It is necessary to celebrate and foster this courage, creativity and determination. Let’s continue to support and commemorate these trailblazers who are making a difference in our communities and the world. I also would like to wish Derek and Faraz continued success and commend their focus on driving innovation in the health industry. Thank you.

[Translation]

Hon. Michèle Audette: Good afternoon.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Audette spoke in Innu-aimun.]

Colleagues, I just want to take a few seconds to thank you for your contribution to our celebrations this month. For Indigenous peoples across Canada, the month of June is a time to celebrate our stories and especially to celebrate our lives today and the youth who have finally put their feet, their moccasins, their running shoes in a place that may seem complicated and difficult. For me, the month of June is also salmon month.

Thank you to all of the youth who participated in the Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders program.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Audette spoke in Innu-aimun.]

You can see that my new Shaputuan is very pleasant, appealing and full of people who want to walk with you every day.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Audette spoke in Innu-aimun.]

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Senator Oh’s son Derek Oh, Mary Beth Moellenkamp and Mohd Faraz Nomani.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Geraldine Muganwa. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Bernard.

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

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 of Harriet Solloway, the nominee for the position of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.

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, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, and I am pleased to respond.

The government has been very clear with regard to its denunciation of the regime in Iran. It has taken several measures — important measures — to provide sanctions.

I know that the members of the opposition do not enjoy it when I respond that the issue of listing entities as terrorist organizations under the Criminal Code is a complicated affair that engages considerations that go far beyond the scope of Question Period.

I expressed it “on division” because it is the government’s position that at this juncture it is not prepared to take that step for reasons that I have explained in this chamber before.

Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, and without affecting progress in relation to Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals), the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine and report on legal and constitutional aspects of the subject matter of Bill S-241; and

That, for greater certainty, if Bill S-241:

1.has been referred to a committee before the adoption of this motion, the adoption of this motion have no effect on that referral; and

2.is referred to a committee after the adoption of this motion, that referral have no effect on the study on legal and constitutional aspects of the subject matter of the bill as authorized by this motion.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): My question again today is for Trudeau’s government leader in the Senate and it has to do with a vote last night, leader, on Motion No. 102, which was brought forward by Senator Omidvar. It’s a short motion, so I’ll put it on the record:

That, given reports of human rights abuses, repression and executions of its citizens, particularly women, in Iran by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Senate call upon the government to immediately designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity.

Leader, instead of allowing this motion to pass with the support of the entire Senate, you called out, “On division,” which means the motion passed but not unanimously.

Senator Gold, could you explain why you were opposed to this motion? Does it mean that it is the position of the Trudeau government to never list the IRGC as a terrorist entity?

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

This morning, the Bank of Canada announced that it was increasing its policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.75%. That is 19 times higher than it was a year ago. While the Trudeau government is putting its foot on the gas by announcing $60 billion in additional spending, the Governor of the Bank of Canada is putting his foot on the brakes by increasing rates. Prices continue to soar, making life more and more difficult for Canadians.

Leader, this week Equifax Canada reported that in the first quarter of 2023, 175,000 Canadian consumers missed payments on at least one non-mortgage debt product, representing an 18.8% increase over last year, and for mortgage debt, missed payments are up 15.7% over last year. Of course, the phony grocery rebate isn’t going to change any of that for Canadians.

Senator Gold, when will you admit that this government’s economic strategy is a complete failure? How much longer will Canadians have to put up with these higher interest rates and higher consumer prices?

Hon. Chantal Petitclerc: My question is for Senator Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, my question has to do with the rate of vaping among Canadian teenagers, which, as you may know, is one of the highest in the world.

Last month, the results of the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey 2021-22 confirmed that this increase in use is largely due to the appeal and availability of flavours. The existing restrictions do not seem to be sufficient. As senators will recall, vaping was supposed to help adult smokers stop smoking without attracting young non-smokers.

Does the government realize that it needs to act quickly to make vaping less appealing to young people and thereby protect them from nicotine dependency?

Hon. Paula Simons: Would the Government Representative take a question?

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

The government’s handling of Canada’s economy has not only helped Canadians get through a very difficult period, but has also ensured that we are well positioned for the present and for the future. This doesn’t mean that anyone is denying the challenges and problems facing Canadians as a result of global inflation and the supply chain issues I have described on a number of occasions.

Still, facts are facts. Canada leads the G7 in terms of the debt‑to-GDP ratio. Furthermore, the fact that the Bank of Canada has independently decided to raise the policy interest rate is a testament to the strength and health of our economy. There are always two sides to a coin when it comes to fighting inflation.

To answer your question, no, the strategy is not a failure. On the contrary, it has been a success.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for asking, but it’s your prerogative.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question and your ongoing commitment to this issue, senator. As you know, honourable senators, the government has already taken a number of steps to reduce the appeal of vaping products, not only for young people but for everyone.

The government eliminated and banned lifestyle advertising on television and in stores, as well as the social media content of influencers who are trying to encourage young people to take up this habit.

That being said, I have been informed that the government is still examining this issue to find more ways to help adults, in particular, transition from smoking cigarettes, cigars and the like to vaping, while not encouraging the younger generation to take up this habit.