Senator Gold: Thank you for the follow-up question. I will certainly add that to the inquiries I will make.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The government is strongly committed to its relationships with African nations. I want to point out that, when it comes to visa applications, Morocco and Seychelles are among the 13 new countries that are now eligible for the Electronic Travel Authorization program, or eTA. Eligible travellers from those African countries can request an eTA rather than a visa.

Senator Gold: Thank you. I’m not prepared to accept that the government is “being secretive,” but I do accept the point that you’re making, namely that you are having difficulty following the money. That is an important point which I will certainly bring to the attention of the minister. It’s a valid point and I take that point.

Senator Gold: Of course, thank you for your question. As I said in my answer to your first question, this is a transformative project which, as you properly underlined, holds the potential for providing access to cleaner energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels for the entire Atlantic region.

As you also underlined, it involves not only the four provinces of the Atlantic region but the province of Quebec, and not only them but the federal government.

This is a large project. Discussions are clearly under way. The Prime Minister was very clear when he took the opportunity to announce his support and encouragement for this project. I have every confidence that all of the governments will provide further information as their discussions progress.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question and, again, underlining the questions that many researchers face in order to do the work upon which we depend for our present and future prosperity.

Colleagues, as you may recall, the government’s previous budgets provided $40.9 million to support targeted scholarships and fellowships for, in this case, promising Black student researchers, and $38.3 million for the federal granting councils to add new Canada Excellence Research Chairs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Again, I repeat: The government remains committed to supporting Canada’s continued status as a global leader in research and innovation because our world-class researchers perform cutting-edge and bold work.

Senator Gold: I will certainly make inquiries. Thank you.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. As you noted, the negotiations with the provinces and territories are being done with the involvement of the disability community. There is, as you mentioned as well, a fairly large number of governments at stake, as well as an important yet diverse community of persons with disabilities.

This work is under way. The minister has given her assurance of the good faith that she’s encountering with the provinces and territories, and as those discussions progress, I have every confidence that Canadians will be updated in regard to their progress.

Senator Gold: Yes, of course.

Senator Gold: As I said, I’ve been informed that the government has confidence in Minister Mendicino and the work that he does for us.

[English]

Senator Gold: I do not have that information, but I am assured by the minister that they are proceeding diligently and seriously in these negotiations. This chamber should have every confidence that the government is committed, as are their partners in the provinces and territories, to concluding the negotiations in a timely fashion so that this benefit can finally be provided to those millions of Canadians in need.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I regret that the answer that was provided didn’t answer that. I’ll certainly follow up and endeavour to find out why and what the answer might be.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I think the answers to both questions are already in the public domain. However, the important point to make in response to your question — and, again, to this troubling incident, especially for the families who were so tragically affected — is that it is neither the law nor the practice, nor should it be, that ministers direct Correctional Service Canada with regard to whether they transfer inmates from one facility to another or the inverse. As the minister said, he asked for a review, which is the appropriate limit of political involvement in these matters.

With regard to the challenges that have been acknowledged with the transmission of information, the minister has addressed that internally.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, and thank you to our other colleagues who are tirelessly advocating on behalf of those in our country who are most in need.

The government has certainly heard and takes seriously the concern about possible clawbacks in these various areas.

I can assure my colleagues in this chamber that the government remains committed to working closely with the provinces and territories to harmonize the benefit, in this case the disability benefit, and to ensure that Canadians receive the assistance that they need. In that regard, I look forward, as we all do, to the debate on the message of Bill C-22, which I hope we will adopt today so that the Canada disability benefit can finally come into existence.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for that question. Thank you for bringing to our attention the important role played by the Tri-Agency, which comprises the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the SSHRC, or Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

The government remains committed to supporting Canadian researchers and scientists and the government, as I have said before in this chamber, recognizes the central role that our graduate students, our doctoral students and the post-doctoral community play within our research ecosystem. That’s why, in October 2022, the government launched the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System to provide independent expert advice on the structure and governance of the federal system that supports such research and talent.

In March, Minister Champagne and Minister Duclos released the panel’s report with its finding and recommendations. I understand the government has been carefully reviewing this advice with a view to further supporting our researchers and talent. However, before we look to the fall economic update to which you referred, colleague, I certainly look forward to this chamber’s third reading of what I hope will be its swift adoption of Bill C-47, the budget implementation act, 2023, No. 1.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. Senator Marshall, if you can’t figure it out, I may have some difficulty.

The important point to underline here with regard to the numbers to which you referred is that this arrangement with Volkswagen and the monies that the government has agreed to provide are tied to the performance of that factory — the degree to which and the timing with which that production comes online.

In that regard, it may well be that, first, the amount of the funds is not necessarily fully known, which might explain that.

I’ll certainly bring your question to the attention of the minister.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and thank you for highlighting the importance of this proposed Atlantic Loop, which could revolutionize the life and the economy of everyone in Atlantic Canada by ensuring that their dependence on coal is replaced with cleaner energy.

I don’t have the details on the negotiations and the discussions that are under way, but I will make an effort to obtain more information on this.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator, thank you for your question and for, again, reminding this chamber of the challenges that communities in the North face, in this case with transportation and the costs associated with that.

I will certainly make inquiries with regard to your question, and I hope to have an answer soon.

Senator D. Patterson: Thank you. Senator Gold, the only check on the staggering 25% increase — potentially per year — in passenger fares and cargo rates is that the Minister of Transport will review the airline’s financial statements every quarter and pay for an independent audit in order to ensure the monopoly does not make an overall profit of more than 10% each year.

Will the Minister of Transport provide a compliance report on the independent audits to advise the public whether Canadian North has met the criteria for profit, passenger fares and cargo rates?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, colleague, for raising this issue. Generally speaking, the government takes all necessary steps to reduce backlogs in the short term while making our system more sustainable in the long term.

Senator, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada recognized, and I quote, “the presence of racism in Canada and within [its] own organization.”

The department is taking measures geared at achieving racial equity. I have been assured that each case is assessed on its merits fairly and in accordance with Canadian laws. The government has clearly indicated that all applications must be treated impartially and professionally.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question and for highlighting the important issue of ensuring that those workplaces within the federal jurisdiction are safe, secure, healthy places for all who work there.

I will make inquiries with respect to your specific questions and hope to have an answer as quickly as possible.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Yes, the minister received and read his mandate letter. He introduced an important bill, Bill C-21, which has the support of several opposition parties, but unfortunately not that of the official opposition. The bill also has the support of communities affected by gun violence. I look forward to the speeches at second reading in this chamber.

As for the other aspects of your question, I’ve responded to them several times. Yes, he received and read his mandate letter, and the government is confident in Mr. Mendicino’s work.