Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I do not believe I was spreading misinformation. I repeat that any vetting is done for security purposes — not in terms of their pedigree, history or the like.

The Prime Minister has taken responsibility, and the Speaker has taken responsibility — and all of us regret deeply what happened.

Again, it is your prerogative to treat this as a partisan issue. It is regrettable, and I think it does not address the real issue. The real issue is that Canada continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression, and will continue to do so despite this most horribly unfortunate and embarrassing incident.

Senator Gold: I’m prepared to answer the supplementary question if you so move it.

Senator Gold: Not knowing the honourable member well enough — that is to say, the person who is the object of those comments — I’m not in a position to evaluate the appropriateness of the comment. As I said, I choose not to comment further on Minister Miller’s comments.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. Because of the Quebec legislation known as Act M-30, the federal government is working with Quebec to negotiate a bilateral agreement that would allow Quebec municipalities to receive funding, as I just mentioned.

The government hopes to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The Trudeau government has not created the housing crisis. It’s doing its part — along with provinces and municipalities — to address it. Indeed, the most recent announcement about the reduction of the GST is already encouraging developers to build more homes, as has been recently reported by the press.

With regard to immigration, it is regrettable and unfortunate that some foreign students are being misled — not by the government but rather unscrupulous advisers and professionals — into believing that by coming to Canada to study they can easily secure permanent residency status.

The government is investigating these fraudulent behaviours and abuses of the system — and will take measures to counter them — but the fact remains Canada benefits from immigration. The Government of Canada is addressing the housing crisis responsibly and will continue to do so.

Senator Gold: The vetting of guests is for security purposes in terms of the danger to any guests or parliamentarians. It is not with regard to other aspects of those guests, as the honourable senator knows very well.

The Speaker of the other place took his responsibility and did the honourable thing. The Prime Minister has apologized.

Senator Gold: Thank you again for underlining the very challenging situations they face. I will certainly take those further considerations to the attention of the minister.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: As I stated in this chamber just a few minutes ago, the vetting that takes place by protocol is done as are those that feed into it for security purposes. It was not done, and that’s the criteria that is used.

Again, it is misleading to suggest otherwise. I’ve answered the question clearly and will continue to do so, because no matter how many times you ask, the answer will remain the same. I’m giving you the answer that is correct and true.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question.

I can assure the honourable senator that the government very well understands the need for collaboration between organizations and across jurisdictions to address the growing demand for disaggregated data. I understand that, in recent years, Statistics Canada has enhanced crowdsourcing survey instruments and uses them to collect key information for vulnerable populations, including immigrants, Indigenous communities and visible minority groups.

I further understand that, as a general matter, Statistics Canada is exploring areas where larger sample sizes are needed to provide credible disaggregated information.

I certainly would be happy to take the honourable senator’s questions back to the government for further consideration.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question and for the commentary that preceded it which, I might suggest, was filled with more misinformation than any answer you have heard from me during my time in this office.

This was a regrettable situation, Senator Housakos and others, and I think it would behoove us to not treat it as it is being treated in this chamber today. It really is regrettable.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Well, again, I’m not in a position to provide that information. I certainly will take the question to the attention of those responsible for working with the provinces in this regard, and I’m sure they will take it seriously.

Senator Gold: You finished your question, and I answered.

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

What happened is deeply troubling and deeply distressing for Canadians, especially Jewish Canadians, Ukrainian Canadians and all of those affected by the Holocaust.

It is regrettable, Senator Plett — with the greatest of respect — that you make assertions with underpinnings that you know are incorrect.

The Speaker of the other place — like the Speaker of the Senate and the senators in this chamber — has the prerogative to invite guests. Their names are not vetted with the Prime Minister’s Office, or PMO, and neither are our names when we invite guests.

It was a horrible, embarrassing situation for which the Speaker has apologized and resigned, and for which the Prime Minister — literally within the last few minutes — has apologized to all Canadians.

I think it is important to heed my words: I urge all parliamentarians not to politicize this event that was deeply hurtful to so many people.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): The Government of Canada is working hard to speed up the construction of housing for Canadians, including Quebecers. The government is already making historic investments in housing in Quebec, but, as all senators know, the federal government can’t do it alone. It must work in partnership with Quebec.

I was told that Minister Fraser had a very positive and productive call with Minister Duranceau this week, and the Government of Canada hopes to reach a bilateral agreement as soon as possible that would allow Quebec municipalities to receive funding to speed up the construction of housing.

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

I will not repeat the answers I have now given several times today.

Canada is a strong ally of Ukraine, and the strength of our support was reinforced during President Zelenskyy’s visit. That will continue, despite this very unfortunate circumstance.

The important thing is that Canada and democratic allies across the world stand in solidarity with Ukraine, continue to provide them with the material resources, diplomatic and humanitarian support and all necessary military support in order that they can resist the aggression and reclaim their proper territory.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. The government knows full well that it is unacceptable that home ownership is out of reach for many people.

I also know that the eligibility criteria for mortgage insurance can play an important role in supporting the financial stability of lenders and, by extension, homeowners.

In recent years — during the pandemic, for example — the government effectively modified the eligibility criteria so it could help Canadians who were struggling. The government continues to consider all possible solutions to make housing affordable again.

I would be pleased to share your comments with the government so a more thorough study can be done.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I understand that the General Social Survey, or GSS, aims to collect data on social trends to provide up-to-date information on social policy issues, and that it includes the Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating, or SGVP, providing a comprehensive overview of the contributions Canadians make by donating both time and money.

I’m advised that the SGVP involves a partnership of numerous federal government departments as well, importantly, of voluntary sector organizations, including the University of Ottawa, Imagine Canada and Volunteer Canada. The modernization efforts to which I alluded would take place through those partnerships, and any updates with regard to data collection and the rest will be forthcoming in due course.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, senator, for highlighting Canada’s first-ever National Adaptation Strategy. It was launched earlier this year, as you point out, and is designed to help communities across this country.

The strategy aims to transform the way governments, communities and individual Canadians work in partnership to prepare for and reduce risks of climate change through coordinated, ambitious action.

I understand, senator, that the targets to which you refer are to be attained in provincial health jurisdictions. Although the draft strategy was released for comment in November 2022 — prior to its official launch in June of 2023 — you might agree with me that there has been very little time in these short months to achieve a fruitful measure of progress. I’m sure that the federal government and the provincial jurisdictions will provide Canadians with progress updates in due course.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): There is a difference between parliamentary language — as well as the parliamentary privilege that surrounds our statements in Parliament — and the statements that one may make outside of Parliament.

Minister Miller is more than capable of addressing these issues himself, and it’s not my intention to comment any further on the remarks that he may have made in that regard.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Canada’s immigration policy is designed to provide opportunities for those around the world who want to participate in the growth and development of our country and help it and prosper, as it has from generations of immigrants — many of their children and grandchildren are in this chamber.

There’s no doubt that the challenges that Canadians face — including those who have recently arrived for affordable housing — is a serious one that the government is addressing in several important respects. It will continue to do so for the benefit of Canadians.