Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The position of the government is, as I just expressed, that it has been managing its affairs and our affairs prudently and responsibly for the benefit of Canadians.

[Translation]

Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise today to raise an issue of concern for rural and agricultural communities in Canada.

[English]

Canada’s fairs and exhibitions are the backbone of many rural communities. They provide a great opportunity to learn about the hard work of farmers, processors, community members, organizations and entrepreneurs alike, and to celebrate them and the ingenuity of Canadians.

These vital events, however, are under threat again. Newly proposed regulations with regard to livestock traceability requirements expand far beyond a reasonable level and will inevitably challenge farmers, ranchers and the volunteers who work hard to participate in and host fairs and exhibitions across the country.

The proposed policy change from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires farmers to ensure a valid premises identification number as well as to register livestock accordingly.

Now, colleagues, this is not the problem because farmers are happy to follow industry standards and protect their assets with identification and have been doing so for years.

However, the problem is that agricultural societies and the fairs they organize would be burdened with the responsibility of collecting, tagging and reporting animal movement information during their fair dates.

Training and programming for fair and exhibition operators is insufficient, according to key organizations like the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions as well as the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.

It would require each agricultural society to train volunteers on the process, which would include checking the identification and ear tag on each individual animal and then inputting the data for each farm animal at the fair or event into the responsible administrators’ online database. This is not only an expense that fairs cannot bear but it is also not feasible for the shrinking number of volunteers all organizations are facing these days.

Further, the proposed regulations will apply to any event that involves the listed animals that are held on an agricultural society fairground, not just their fair. If an ag society rents or loans their premises for a 4-H show, calf rally or livestock show, the ag society will be responsible for collecting and reporting the animal movement, as explained above. Losing the opportunities and facilities to host 4-H livestock programs and achievement days could have a significant negative effect on the 4-H program and the youth who participate in 4-H programs in Ontario and across Canada.

As you know, colleagues, 4-H is near and dear to my heart, and I would not be here today if it were not for that program.

[Translation]

Honourable senators, it is important to note that farmers are not opposed to these measures.

[English]

The concern lies with the extensive burden this would place on fair volunteers, already strained by labour shortages and regulatory hurdles.

I hope the Canadian government will fix the problem that may unintentionally cause an end to many fairs and exhibitions, and I hope that we can find a way to fix this. Thank you, meegwetch.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the follow-up question.

I think Canadians are quite properly and rightfully concerned about many other issues that are affecting their daily lives, whether it’s the wildfires; I’ve answered them literally during virtually every Question Period, and I’ll say it again:

The position of the government is that it has confidence in the special rapporteur and the report, which contained valuable information for how we can better protect ourselves and a process going forward in which further work will be done in that regard.

I will refrain from commenting again on the way in which you characterize and depict the Honourable David Johnston.

Senator Housakos: The only things your government can take credit for are the exasperating monetary policies that are exacerbating inflation. That’s the only thing you can take credit for.

I can say something else: One thing about drunken sailors, Senator Gold, is that at least they spend their own money.

Now, my question has to do with the Bank of Canada, which, over the last few months, has acknowledged their error in following policy that has been put out by this government when it comes to dealing with inflation. They did delay, and their delay has exacerbated the situation, and now we’re starting to see it in compressed interest rate hikes. But at least the Bank of Canada has acknowledged that they were wrong in their forecast.

When will your government start acknowledging that you were wrong with your monetary policy and your approach to spending? The only thing the Trudeau government has ever done is point fingers and blame everywhere except in their direction. When will your government assume responsibility that your monetary policy over the last eight years has led us to the brink of economic catastrophe?

Senator Dupuis: Could you table disaggregated data on research funds allocated by federal programs and organizations: the list of sampling required for each funding application in the last five years; the list of sampling provided in support of each application that was funded in the past five years; and the list of sampling provided in reports on each grant obtained in the last five years?

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Senator Gold: I thank the honourable senator for her question.

Canada is the first country to collect and publish data on gender diversity from a national census. Of the some 30 million people in Canada aged 15 and older living in a private household in May 2021, over 100,000 identified as transgender or non‑binary, accounting for 0.33% of the population in this age group. Regarding the specifics of your question, I’ll have to make inquiries and report back.

[English]

Senator Plett: Leader, here are some more facts.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s made-up rapporteur revealed that he chose not to speak to the Chief Electoral Officer, he chose not to speak to the Commissioner of Canada Elections, he didn’t speak to the MP who left the Liberal caucus after being accused of very serious allegations, he confirmed the Prime Minister was aware of specific irregularities surrounding the nomination of that MP and he wasn’t aware his legal counsel donated thousands of dollars to the federal Liberal Party. He’s getting free media advice from Liberal and NDP strategists, which begs the question that if he’s getting free advice, why were taxpayer dollars going to paying for Navigator until he found out, of course, there were very serious reasons why he shouldn’t have used Navigator — but clearly that was only after he had hired them?

Leader, Canadians are shaking their heads in disbelief. Is there anyone with common sense left in the Trudeau government? Who will demand a public inquiry?

Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, I am pleased to rise today, joining you on Algonquin land, grateful to be here. My task is to applaud the determination and courage of Mr. Eddie Carvery, who has been protesting for justice and the restoration of his home in Africville, Nova Scotia.

Africville was a vibrant African-Nova Scotian community that was forcibly dismantled in the 1960s. Over 80 families — 400 residents — were uprooted from their homes. This forced relocation fuelled anger into action for Eddie Carvery, whose protest stands as one of Canada’s longest civil rights protests.

His protest started in 1970 as a sit-in on the grounds of Africville, where he had lived for over 50 years, and continued to live, refusing to leave until Africville is returned to its people.

His demonstration attracted supporters who recognized the significance of his cause. Many community members and activists rallied behind Mr. Carvery, calling for a resolution to the historical injustices faced by Africville residents and addressing broader issues of systemic racism in Nova Scotia.

In 2010, the City of Halifax apologized for the destruction of Africville and established the Africville Heritage Trust to oversee the revitalization of the community’s history. There are ongoing debates about the scope of these reparations. Many support Carvery’s mission to seek further reparations for the systemic racism and multi-generational harms caused by the forced relocation of Africville residents.

As Mr. Carvery himself has said:

I’ve been there on the ground . . . . I’ve had six heart attacks . . . . Our Lord . . . took a scoundrel like me and He gave me this great opportunity to fight. . . . I applaud Genealogy . . . but . . . our fight has just started . . . .

Today, honourable colleagues, I invite you to join me in recognizing Eddie Carvery and his commitment to creating a more just and equitable society.

The fight against racism and systemic discrimination in Nova Scotia is far from over; however, Eddie Carvery’s protest has been a catalyst for change. He inspires community members to take an active role in addressing historical injustices.

Thank you, asante.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That, in relation to Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act, the Senate agree to the amendments made by the House of Commons; and

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Barbara Cartwright, Chief Executive Officer of Humane Canada. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Boyer.

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

Senator Carignan: Speaking of making decisions to meet the needs of the Armed Forces, we learned this week that our troops deployed in Latvia are so under-equipped that they have to procure essential protective equipment themselves, using their own money.

This is despite the fact that the government doesn’t spend its entire procurement budget. In 2021, it left $1 billion on the table without spending it.

How can you explain to Canadian military personnel that they have to pay for protective equipment out of their own pockets, when their colleagues, especially the Danes, are better equipped, not to mention that the Danish government buys its equipment from Canada?

Senator Klyne: Thank you for the question. I don’t know that I was at the same meeting, but I did hear that as well. I think it should be cause for study in that regard. What is the deterrent? If 10 years is not enough, is 14 enough? What do we need to do to make that a deterrent enough to really clamp down and start making some inroads and progress on gun smuggling and other illegal firearm offences?

As I said in my speech, it’s the last stop before a life sentence, so what is it going to take? I think we need to do some education around this, potentially with the judicial system, and make sure that we lean into this with more bravo and brevity on these gun sentences and take it to the max. I think the more we allow this to happen without a strong deterrent like the 14 years, more problems will happen. There needs to be a deterrent and I think it has to be pain. Pain is the best leverage against a deterrent here. If they don’t feel the pain, we may not catch their attention.

I think it probably deserves further study and understanding of the behaviours of why they continue to commit these crimes. Also, how do we make sure that we implement and execute the justice that is available to us to serve that purpose?

Hon. Yvonne Boyer: Honourable senators, today I am honoured to be here speaking on Algonquin land, which is unceded.

I am rising to draw attention to and celebrate a group of incredibly brave and dedicated women whom I have had the privilege of working with over the past number of years.

The Survivor’s Circle for Reproductive Justice is a newly incorporated corporation which represents survivors of forced sterilization across Canada. The Survivor’s Circle is led by survivors of forced sterilization and governed by an experienced board of directors of strong Indigenous women leaders, who are matriarchs, mothers and grandmothers.

Over the past three years, the Survivor’s Circle for Reproductive Justice was formed by a collective effort by many, including Elder Mary Lee, Alisa Lombard, Senator Greenwood and I, and over 200 survivors. Quite simply, there has been an overwhelming need to have a strong unified voice speaking on behalf of survivors of this horrific practice. The trauma and pain that come from being forced or coerced into sterilization are so deep and unlike other traumas that the women have felt they needed to be represented by their own voices so they would have a strong hand in healing in the way they have determined works best for them.

We have formed a legal entity, with the survivors leading the way. Beyond advocating for justice for those who have been forcibly sterilized and working to end this practice once and for all in Canada, this newly formed legal entity is looking at ways to engage with Indigenous communities not only in Canada but across the world to see how they can support each other and work towards a better world for all Indigenous people in all corners of this planet we call home. This practice clearly targets Indigenous people worldwide.

Even after the immense trauma the survivors have gone through in their personal lives, these women are committed to making sure not one more sister, mother, auntie or daughter is subjected to forced or coerced sterilization. I am in complete awe of their strength, and I am honoured to continue to work alongside them and support their goals.

This might be the first time you have heard of this group, but I know it will certainly not be the last. These survivors are getting ready to change the world, and I have no doubt they will, for they are the survivors of reproductive justice.

Meegwetch, marsee, thank you.

Senator Coyle: Thank you for your response. I look forward to hearing more about the mitigation aspect as well.

Senator Gold, could you tell us anything about how Canada is collaborating with other Arctic countries on the loss of sea ice challenges?

Senator Klyne: That’s a quandary for me as well. I would pose the same question. Again, it’s something that I think needs to be studied at committee.

(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)

Senator Plett: Senator Klyne, of course, it’s well known that our party, I believe, is the party that’s tough on crime, even though the Liberals occasionally pretend that they are. But they repealed a number of the mandatory minimum laws that we had in place before. Would you not agree that a mandatory minimum would be more effective than increasing a maximum when that maximum will never be handed out anyway?

Senator Gold: The context of all of this, of course, is the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts — along with other nations — to combat climate change and, in that regard, relying upon science and collaboration with our partners.

On Arctic issues specifically, Canada meets regularly with our circumpolar partners to deal with issues like the ones you mentioned, and others, surrounding climate change, security and the like.

Some years ago, as you know, the government released its Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, providing overarching priorities to the government and investments in the Arctic that will take us to 2030 and beyond. This was co-developed with Northerners, territorial and provincial governments, First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

To repeat: Canada is working with other partners in the Arctic region to address this issue of common concern.

Senator Gold: Thank you, senator. I understand and respect your point of view. The government is considering its options. I will certainly take your suggestion under consideration. The chamber should rest assured that the government will do this in a proper and transparent way. I will make sure that is the case, whether the bill is introduced in the other place or, indeed, even here.

At this moment, the government has not yet made a decision as to what mechanism to use, but it is under serious study. Again, I stand here as the Government Representative and make a commitment that this will be addressed in a timely fashion. I repeat that this will have no impact on the bill once it receives Royal Assent for two years after implementation.

Senator Gold: Obviously, our Armed Forces need to be equipped with whatever it takes to do their job of defending our country and our interests.

The government continues to invest more in the military. The facts you have outlined are most regrettable. I’m told that the Government of Canada will continue to support our Canadian Forces with the necessary funds in a prudent manner.

[English]