Senator Housakos: The only assurance that this chamber and taxpayers have is that the RCMP is looking into it. Hopefully, they’ll get to the bottom of which pockets got lined.

Senator Gold, given the latest news regarding it, will your government finally do the right thing and cancel the outstanding fines that were issued as a result of this deeply flawed and — as we now know — fraudulent app? Will you apologize to Canadians who were unlawfully ordered into quarantine despite having done nothing wrong — Canadians such as Joe Walsh and thousands of others who have been fined?

Senator Gold: Again, I’ll simply repeat. The government is taking its management of the economy — to the extent that it has a role, which it does — seriously and responsibly, and that’s why Canada continues to perform well in these very tumultuous times. Importantly, the government is doing its part to help Canadians who — despite macroeconomic indicators and all the responses — are suffering, the government knows Canadians are suffering and the government is there to assist in the best way it can.

Senator Plett: These three MPs from New Brunswick yesterday had a chance to show some backbone and vote against the Prime Minister’s carbon tax in the other place, but they failed to do so. Were they whipped, leader? Is this typical of Liberal behaviour, say one thing and vote another way?

Senator Housakos: Senator Gold, I am pleading with this government. Canadians are having a hard time heating their homes and putting food on the table for their children. They’re having a hard time getting from their homes to work, very often costing them more to get there than what the work actually pays.

When will this government lift its boot off the throat of working-class Canadians and allow them to breathe during these terribly difficult times which your government has created and contributed to in creating this inflation?

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The government is pursuing policies, programs and investments to help Canadians through these difficult times. I have outlined them on many occasions in this chamber, and, with the time allocated to me, I will not repeat myself. I will leave it for you to repeat the same question over and over again. I’m afraid that the facts and my answers will speak for themselves.

Senator Cormier: Thank you for the answer, Senator Gold.

I applaud the partnership announced by the Government of Canada last June with the Rainbow Railroad organization to protect LGBTQI+ refugees and welcome them to Canada.

What observable results has this partnership achieved to date? Is the government consulting this organization to improve the LGBTQI+ refugee intake process in Canada?

Senator Plett: The Prime Minister continues to live far outside of the real world. A record number of Canadians cannot feed themselves, yet his government continues to implement policies that make groceries more expensive. Three weeks ago, the Prime Minister promised food prices would be stabilized — and ideally lowered — by Thanksgiving.

Senator Gold, does your government honestly believe that telling Canadians more coupons and flyers are coming fulfills that promise?

Senator Gold: I am not a part of the government, though I represent them here in the Senate. I really have no comments to make as to what is done in the other place vis-à-vis controlling members of any caucus, Liberal or otherwise.

The fact remains, as I said, that the policy of the government remains and it’s one that the government will continue to pursue.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Well, I certainly hope, Senator Plett, before you and I both have to leave this august chamber that more of your questions will be answered. I am doing what I can do to bring this issue to the attention of the government. It does not serve any of us well for the Senate to be frustrated in that regard. As a representative of the Senate to the government, I will continue to pass that message on.

Senator Gold: As the minister announced today, we are expecting concrete action from the five major chains with proposals to lower the cost of groceries for Canadians. The minister has also been in touch, as he was encouraged to do so by business groups, with other important players in the chain. This is about concrete action with those responsible for food prices, and that’s what the government is doing.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order, or usual practice, until the end of the day on June 30, 2024, any joint committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings, with the provisions of the order of February 10, 2022, concerning such meetings, having effect; and

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

Senator Omidvar: Senator Gold, would you also convey to the minister that one of the largest stakeholders, the March of Dimes, has raised this question with us? They have also raised the issue that there will be no money flowing to the disability community without an allocation somewhere.

Will the government table their financial allocation soon to assure the disability community that benefits will be flowing sooner rather than later? They really are concerned.

Senator Tannas: Thank you for that answer. I appreciate it.

I’m not suggesting a large study, but I think if the Senate needs to agree to these things, if we have a role in the process, perhaps every once in a while for things like this, we should step back, take a look and call officials in. We ought to understand why this keeps happening.

Hon. Denise Batters: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to the late senator Pat Carney. Senator Carney was a fierce female trailblazer who built a remarkable career of firsts in politics. In 1980, Pat Carney was the first female Conservative member of parliament ever elected from B.C. With her appointment to the Senate in 1990, she became the first female Conservative senator from British Columbia. In fact, Pat Carney was the first woman in every post she held, including that of the first female finance critic. As a minister in former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s cabinet, she was the first woman appointed to senior economic cabinet posts as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources; the Minister of International Trade; and the President of the Treasury Board. This carried on a Conservative tradition of elevating strong women to prominent roles. It began with Ellen Fairclough, the first female cabinet minister, and then included Pat Carney, Barbara McDougall, Flora MacDonald and — Canada’s first and only female prime minister — Kim Campbell.

In her role as Prime Minister Mulroney’s international trade minister, Pat Carney helped negotiate the groundbreaking and highly contentious Canada-U.S. free trade agreement. I remember seeing her on a panel discussion at my very first Progressive Conservative Party national convention in 1989, and I was in awe. This was Pat Carney who negotiated the free trade agreement — wow.

In her role as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister Carney oversaw the dismantling of Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program — a program much loathed in Western Canada, including in my province of Saskatchewan. In her role as minister, Pat Carney negotiated the Western Accord and the Atlantic Accord, creating a market-oriented system for oil and natural gas, and developing the resource industries on the East Coast.

Senator Pat Carney served honourably in this chamber from 1990 until her retirement in 2008. She was the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, and the Deputy Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. As well, she served as a member of both the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and the Senate Fisheries Committee. Senator Carney championed several causes during her time in the Senate, including the rights of Aboriginal women, women’s equality and the preservation of Canada’s heritage lighthouses — an issue she pursued for more than 10 years.

Senator Pat Carney was a fearless, tenacious and passionate Canadian. She loved Canada and served it honourably during her long career as a member of parliament, cabinet minister and senator. Pat Carney passed away in July — on her beloved Saturna Island in B.C. — at the age of 88. I extend my condolences to her family, friends and all those whose lives she touched. The Honourable Pat Carney will be greatly missed, but her legacy and contributions to Canada — as a proud female Conservative parliamentarian — will live on always.

Thank you.

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Honourable Senator Pat Carney from my province of British Columbia.

[Translation]

I’d like to take a moment to express my respect for an exceptional woman who, by her courage, determination and vision, made her mark on Canada’s history. I’d also like to share some thoughts about her.

[English]

Senator Pat Carney was a pioneer for women in journalism and politics. She was the first Conservative woman elected to Parliament from British Columbia and the first woman to hold a number of government portfolios, including energy, international trade and the Treasury Board. During her term as the Minister of International Trade, she played a critical role in negotiating the free trade agreement with the United States. She then became the first woman from British Columbia to be appointed to the Senate.

Beyond her impressive professional achievements, Senator Carney was a woman of conviction. She did not hesitate to stand up for her principles, even at the risk of opposing her own Conservative Party. She demonstrated this in 1991 when she voted against Bill C-43, which aimed to reintroduce abortion into the Criminal Code. Her decisive vote helped preserve the right to choose for Canadian women. This vote was not only a reflection of her personal beliefs, but also a courageous act — as she was the only Conservative senator who voted against the bill, which failed in the Senate in a tied vote.

She was, as you have heard, also a hard-working woman who was involved in her community and who supported many causes. She was particularly passionate about preserving the coastline of British Columbia and the historical lighthouses in British Columbia. She was also dedicated to promoting cultural relations between Canada and China. She helped finance the Dr. Sun Yat‑Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver — the only garden of its kind outside of China.

Senators, today we salute the memory of a great Canadian who inspired generations of women and men throughout her remarkable career and her unwavering commitment to our country. We offer our sincere condolences to her family. Senator Carney was a mentor to me, a great feminist and a great Canadian. There’s one thing she taught me — she said, “Stand up for your convictions, even if you are alone.”

Rest in peace, my friend.

Thank you, senators.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, please rise and join me in a moment of silence in memory of our late colleague.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Honourable colleagues, I rise today to speak to the UN Security Council’s Monday, October 2, adoption of a resolution authorizing the deployment of an international security mission to help the Haitian police fight street gangs.

According to a Canadian Press article by Émilie Bergeron, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Canada wants “to do more.”

I applaud Canada’s desire to do more, considering it has repeatedly cut aid to Haiti.

According to the public dashboard DevData, Canada’s international assistance to Haiti shrank by more than 25% between 2017 and 2022.

This morning, I had the opportunity to talk to Global Affairs Canada officials at the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade meeting, which was about the situation in Haiti.

Today, I’m glad the international community has turned its attention to Haiti, my country of birth.

As the old saying goes, let’s hope the government will walk the talk. Thank you.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Tricia Murrary, a survivor, on the occasion of International Day of No Prostitution. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Peter Ittinuar, who was the first Inuk to be elected as a Member of Parliament. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut).

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Nadine and Tody Frisk, who are members of Senator Klyne’s family.

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