Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Leader of the Government. Food Banks Canada released its poverty report last week. It shows a dismal picture of Canada after eight years of Justin Trudeau. More than 42% of the population feels financially worse off compared with last year. The report found 7 million Canadians are struggling to put food on the table, and at least 2.8 million Canadians are living in poverty.

This is your government’s legacy, senator.

Saying more coupons are coming is not a plan to fix this crisis. When will the government take this fight against inflation seriously, axe the carbon tax and stop inflationary deficits?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. Clearly, my answers so far have failed to persuade you of a number of factors. The rise in food costs is a worldwide problem. This government is addressing them in a serious, sustained way and will continue to do so.

The cost of living and inflation are also not problems unique to Canada, and Canada is doing its part as well to manage our transition from the spending levels necessary to sustain our people and our industries through the pandemic, transition to a sustainable economy and deal with things as I’ve mentioned in regard to defence spending in a prudent and responsible way. I will continue to provide you the facts in response to your questions. Canadians are suffering, and this government knows it. That’s why it’s doing things to help them, and it’s going to continue to do so in a responsible and prudent way.

Hon. Éric Forest: My question is for the Government Representative, Senator Gold.

For months, eastern Quebec has been rallying around Simon Croz, a Frenchman who has lived in Quebec since 2016 and runs the Paralœil production company and movie theatre. I can testify to Mr. Croz’s exceptional work at this place, which is the backbone of Rimouski’s cultural universe.

He has been subject to a removal order since May 4 because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not renewed his work permit. Allegedly, some minor errors were made. Since then, Mr. Croz has had difficulty meeting with an immigration officer in person and reaching anyone at the call centres, which are completely clogged.

The department is so bogged down that a border services officer apparently suggested he file a pre-removal risk assessment to help save time. It is totally ridiculous, since the risk of torture is non-existent in France. Can the government find a way to help Mr. Croz clear up his situation?

Some Hon. Senators: Yea.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: All those opposed, please say “nay.”

Some Hon. Senators: Nay.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: I believe the “nays” have it.

And two honourable senators having risen:

Hon. Senators: Question.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 235, dated June 8, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., regarding illegal transportation of waste overseas.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 197, dated January 31, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Veterans Affairs Canada.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 213, dated March 8, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Veteran Affairs Canada.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, which you prefaced with a list of many of the issues Canadians are facing.

As I said earlier, the government believes that the carbon tax is a tool that is consistent with traditional economic models — conservative ones, I might add. The carbon tax is one of several other tools, such as support to help Canadians cope with the housing crisis and the cost of living.

At this point, the government has no intention whatsoever of getting rid of this important tool.

[English]

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

The government is well aware that the decisions made in immigration cases like the one you raised have a major impact on the lives of those involved. I believe that Mr. Croz’s case has been made public and that people are calling for Minister Miller to intervene. I’ll be happy to follow up with the minister on this.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): CBC has 144 corporate directors, paid six-figure salaries and their average is over $135,000. I find it interesting. There are 144 well-paid directors at CBC, including ten who work in legal services. Yet none of them have found the time to answer a question I have had on the Order Paper for two-and-a-half years. The Trudeau government will not say how much the CBC spent on its failed lawsuit against the Conservative Party of Canada, which it launched during the 2019 election, Senator Gold.

Leader, in February, you said the delay in answering my question is not contempt.

If it’s not contempt, what is it? When can we get an answer to a question that’s been there for two-and-a-half years?

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table the answers to the following oral questions:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on November 15, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Gignac, concerning real return bonds.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on March 21, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), concerning the Competition Policy.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 2, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Dagenais, concerning contract negotiations.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 4, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, concerning the prevention of violence against women.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 17, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Simons, concerning the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy — Natural Resources Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on May 17, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Simons, concerning the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy — Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2023, by the Honourable Senator Boisvenu, concerning Arctic sovereignty.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Clément Gignac on November 15, 2022)

The government and the Bank of Canada, in its role as fiscal agent, undertook extensive consultations in 2019, which showed poor demand for Real Return Bonds (RRB). The summary of these consultations is available on the Bank of Canada website: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/governement-canada-rrb-consultations-summary.pdf. The government is committed to achieving its debt management objectives of stable, low-cost funding and well-functioning Government of Canada securities markets.

The government and the Bank of Canada perform annual debt management strategy consultations. The summary of September and October of 2022 consultations are posted on the Bank of Canada website. The RRBs are discussed as part of these consultations and the low level of demand for RRBs was once again reinforced by market participants. The decision to cease issuance of RRBs reflects the continued trend of low demand for this product and will allow the government to promote liquidity by consolidating funding within its core funding sectors.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Colin Deacon on March 21, 2023)

The Competition Bureau serves as the central hub of competition expertise. The Bureau enforces the Competition Act and provides expert advice to other departments to support pro-competitive policies.

Although the number of employees engaged isn’t tracked, other federal regulators consider competition within their spheres of responsibility. For example, public procurement officials design and oversee competitive tendering processes and are trained to recognize and report suspected bid rigging. Likewise, certain sector regulators, including the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission, Finance Canada, and Transport Canada, consider competition in aspects of their mandates.

One of the guiding principles of federal regulatory policy set out in the Cabinet Directive on Regulation is that regulations should “support a fair and competitive economy.” In 2020, the Bureau published a Competition Assessment toolkit to help regulators apply this principle when designing and evaluating regulations. The number of departments using the toolkit, or in what ways, is still unknown at this point given its newness and voluntary nature; however, the Bureau continues to promote its use at all levels of government.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Jean-Guy Dagenais on May 2, 2023)

The federal public service implemented a common hybrid model in March 2023. The Letter of Agreement on Telework does not change that approach and, therefore, it requires no new funding.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu on May 4, 2023)

The pandemic created unprecedented challenges for those experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) and the organizations providing supports and services to them. While preventing and addressing GBV is a shared responsibility between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, the Government of Canada acted swiftly in 2020 to provide an initial $90 million in COVID-19 emergency funding, through Women and Gender Equality Canada, to organizations across Canada serving those experiencing GBV. A year into the pandemic, the government responded to high demand and pressing needs by more than tripling the funding support and extending the timeframe for this emergency measure through Budget 2021. Since April 2020, approximately $300 million in total funding has been committed to organizations.

Like other COVID-19 emergency measures introduced by the federal government since 2020, this temporary measure for GBV organizations is coming to an end. However, the government remains committed to addressing GBV:

•Budget 2021 invests $601.3 million over five years in initiatives to advance towards the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. This included $200 million (of the $300 million) specifically for COVID-19 emergency funding.

•Budget 2022 invests a further $539.3 million over five years to support provinces and territories with the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Paula Simons on May 17, 2023)

The Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy (CWFS) was released by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) in 2005. It remains the foundational document that drives national wildland fire management in Canada. The CCFM renewed its commitment to the CWFS in 2016, noting that great gains had been made in fire suppression capacity, but more work was needed to strengthen the shared responsibility of wildfire prevention and mitigation (P&M).

Federal, Provincial and Territorial partners are working collaboratively on several strategic initiatives to advance the CWFS and to enhance P&M in Canada. This includes broadening the mandate of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) beyond traditional support activities for wildfire response to include wildfire P&M (CIFFC is now home to the FireSmart Canada program). In September 2022, the CCFM released a 2021-2026 Wildland Fire Action Plan. The plan includes targets and activities that will mobilize the CWFS and help transform wildfire management (including whole-of-society participation). CCFM partners are also developing the Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy, a document that will augment the goals of the CWFS.

Environment and Climate Change Canada will provide a response regarding fire management in national parks.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Paula Simons on May 17, 2023)

All national parks with fire-prone vegetation are required to have a fire management plan in place, information can be found on https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/conservation/feu-fire. Parks Canada’s framework for wildfire risk reduction is based on the FireSmart Canada program, a national program that helps Canadians increase community resilience to wildfire and aims to minimize its negative impacts. FireSmart Canada operates under a mandate from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), supported by federal, provincial, and territorial wildland fire management agencies and partners with municipal governments and the private sector.

National parks, including those in Western Canada, have dedicated and highly trained wildland firefighting crews ready to respond to wildfires during the fire season. Preparedness measures include on call firefighting personnel, communication of fire danger ratings, contracted helicopters, aerial smoke patrols, regional weather briefings, lightning monitoring, and extended work hours. In addition, Parks Canada uses contracts, supply arrangements and standing offers for additional wildfire resources such as contract fire crews, structure protection specialists, aircraft, wildfire equipment such as pumps and hoses, and aircraft fuel. Parks Canada has many wildfire mutual aid resource sharing agreements in place at local, provincial and territorial levels, and nationally and internationally, to assist with suppression where needed.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu on June 21, 2023)

A full cost estimate for the procurement of the future Polar class icebreakers continues to be developed. While the Government of Canada announced on April 04, 2023, that Chantier Davie has joined the National Shipbuilding Strategy as the third shipyard constructing large Government vessels, contract negotiations have yet to take place. Further, while engineering work continues with Vancouver Shipyards, Canada is yet to negotiate a construction contract with that yard. To ensure that we don’t put Canada in an adverse negotiating position, Coast Guard is not currently in a position to comment on, or disclose, the budget of the Polar Icebreaker project.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): The delay in my answer to your question is very regrettable, and I have expressed on many occasions my unhappiness that answers are so delayed or, in some cases, not forthcoming.

What I undertake to do again, as I have done in the past — and others will judge with what success — is to bring this to the attention of the government and underline the impatience of senators in this chamber with having to wait for so long for their answers.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 19, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Child Benefit — Auditor General.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, that further debate be adjourned until the next sitting of the Senate. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Are senators ready for the question?