Senator Plett: Of course, there are many Conservatives who would be able to fulfill all those criteria that you just mentioned.

Let’s be clear: This isn’t about us personally being upset for not being included. This is about Prime Minister’s Trudeau disregard, complete lack of regard, for democratic representation and balance for a committee that deals with issues of national security and intelligence matters. NSICOP is tasked to review issues that Canadians are, with good reason, increasingly worried about. At a time when Canadians need reassurance, the Prime Minister chooses to disregard the convention of cross-party cooperation and has seemingly chosen to appoint only supporters of his government and him personally at NSICOP.

Senator Gold, why is Prime Minister Trudeau going to such great lengths to exclude the opposition in the Senate? Why is the government so afraid of having an opposition party at the table?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, on Tuesday, my colleagues and I asked you multiple questions about Prime Minister Trudeau’s Senate appointments to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, known as NSICOP. We asked for transparency on the appointments and we have asked you to get information from the Prime Minister as a representative of the Trudeau government in this chamber. Senator Gold, you have had two days to make a phone call and get an answer from your boss, the Prime Minister. Why are there no Conservative opposition senators on NSICOP?