Senator Plett: The implication was very clear, Senator Gold. It wasn’t just Prime Minister Trudeau that did it; Minister Joly did it as well. They both are not worth the cost.

Tuesday night, just down the street, people leaving an anti‑Semitism conference were told to exit through the back door for their safety due to angry protesters outside. That’s the context in which the Prime Minister used such poor judgment.

After eight long years, he has no common sense and provides no serious leadership. Isn’t this a time that requires both?

Senator MacDonald: Senator Gold, the first line of that third stanza reads, “Take up our quarrel with the foe . . . .”

Honourable senators, I never thought I’d see the day when the foe would be the Government of Canada. Since you represent the government in this place, can you please tell this chamber if you support this directive of the government, and tell Canadians if you support this directive of the government?

Hon. Leo Housakos (Acting Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, as you know, October is Autism Acceptance Month in Canada.

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental spectrum condition that affects 1 in 50 Canadian children aged 1 to 17 years. Bill S-203, which received Royal Assent earlier this year thanks to all of you, is an important step in ensuring a brighter future for autistic Canadians, their families and caregivers.

As we move forward, I am pleased to see more autistic individuals being included in the conversation about autism and acceptance, which was one of the biggest takeaways from our study on Bill S-203. However, the involvement of autistic individuals is crucial in terms of research to better inform on what questions and priorities are most relevant and urgent. Solutions need to be developed and knowledge generated that respond directly to the needs established by the community.

One organization doing just that is the Transforming Autism Care Consortium, or TACC, a research network that connects and mobilizes Quebec’s strengths in autism research to improve the quality of life of autistic people and their families. The goal of TACC’s team of 80 researchers and more than 350 professionals, clinicians, autistic individuals and their families is to accelerate scientific discovery, build capacity and integrate evidence into practice and policy.

I also want to take this opportunity to draw attention to another pillar of the autism community in my hometown of Montreal: Giant Steps. Giant Steps — a leader in education, community training and advocacy for the lifelong inclusion of autistic individuals in all sectors of society — recently inaugurated a $54-million state-of-the-art facility to meet the changing lifespan needs of autistic individuals, their families and professionals in the field. Senator Boehm and I had the privilege of visiting that wonderful centre.

Home to many firsts since 1980, Giant Steps, which I know very well, is a shining example of many stakeholders coming together from both the public and private sectors to envision a more inclusive society and take concrete actions to achieve it.

A little more than a year and a half after being announced, the Giant Steps Autism Centre opened its doors in September to more than 250 autistic individuals, teachers, educators, researchers and staff members. Unique in Canada, the centre is already attracting worldwide attention and recently hosted a visit by the Belgian government, which was looking for inspiration as they plan to build an autism centre of their own in the next few years.

I’d like to close by saying that this month of autism acceptance is about the importance of respecting and celebrating everyone’s individuality, creating pathways for growth and success, and promoting meaningful inclusion for all individuals. I look forward to seeing a Canadian national autism strategy where all Canadians will be able to flourish and receive consistent services, from coast to coast to coast.

Thank you.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Gail Hamamoto, Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Canada. She is accompanied by members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Ontario).

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

Senator Woo: If I may? On the motion.

Senator Loffreda: Thank you, Senator Gold, for that answer.

Fiscal responsibility is key, but I continue to believe that the government needs to give serious consideration to including tax incentives for business owners to embrace employee ownership trusts. Senator Gold, can you commit to sharing my views with the government and encourage them to make tax incentives part of their upcoming legislative proposal? Otherwise, I’m afraid the take-up rate will be minimal and the policy won’t achieve its intended objective.

Senator Housakos: As I mentioned, Senator Gold, of course, the legislation is non-prescriptive. We don’t want to handcuff the government, but there are measures needed in terms of putting the framework together. I really want to ask, on behalf of this chamber, that a gentle and polite reminder be sent to the minister that there is a timeline; the time is ticking. The bill was unanimously supported in this chamber and in the House. We will follow this closely and make sure that they follow the guidelines of the bill.

Senator Kutcher: Thank you for that, Senator Gold. Given the rampant disinformation being shared widely on social media during this Israel-Hamas war — and indeed during other wars such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — Canadians need to have access to valid and fully fact-checked information in a timely and trusted way.

What plans does Canada have to ensure that Canadians can have this kind of access? When will that happen?

Senator McCallum: Senator Gold.

Senator Gold: As you properly should. Of course, I’m always gentle and polite with ministers, especially those with whom I’ve had the privilege of working for many years. The current Minister of Health — a former House leader — and I have a good relationship. I would be pleased to mention this to him at the next suitable occasion.

Senator Gold: Let me ask senators whether they support the following directive — I’m answering the God — the question. Well, I used a religious term, “God,” and I hope I did not offend those who do not believe.

The directive says that:

. . . chaplains must “endeavour to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in the reflection . . . no matter their beliefs . . . .”

I would be astounded if anyone here objected to that respectful and inclusive directive, given the diversity in this country that we all celebrate.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you. I do not know, and I am not in a position to predict what the government’s plan is. As you point out, provinces acting within their jurisdiction have taken that step, and I think the evidence that will accrue over time with that experience would, and certainly should, inform decisions made at the national level.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. It would be my great pleasure to communicate your suggestions to the minister.

Senator Gold: I’m not sure I know fully what the question is. It is true that the P-8A Poseidon is the only readily available military with off-the-shelf capability; however, there has not been a final decision yet. The issuance of a letter of request itself does not commit Canada.

The decision to accept or decline the offer detailed in the letter of acceptance will be based on the capability offered in the matter, availability, pricing and the benefits.

[Translation]

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Senator Gignac: Senator Gold, according to National Bank economists, Canada’s monetary policy is the most restrictive of the G7. At his last appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, David Dodge, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, said that the government would be well advised to adopt fiscal anchors to support monetary policy.

Can you reassure the Senate that your government is going to submit a responsible fiscal framework before moving ahead with the New Democratic Party shopping list?

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I will reiterate that in the weeks and months to come, we expect to receive an interim report from the government. I am sure it will be prudent, responsible and balanced.

[English]

Senator Gold: I was at that conference. Sadly, it was not the first time that I had to be escorted out of a public event for fear of the violence of protesters. It occurred in Hamilton when convoy protesters barricaded us within a meeting, and we had to be escorted for our lives.

This is a deplorable situation, and the Prime Minister did the right thing by condemning the damage and harm that was done.

Senator Boisvenu: These illegal weapons have entered penitentiaries by way of drones. For the past eight years, the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers has been asking your government to provide modern, effective equipment to detect these drones, given that correctional officers aren’t detecting even 1 in 100 of them right now. Why are you going to invest a billion dollars in buying back legal weapons that you’ve made illegal when you haven’t invested a penny in penitentiaries to control illegal weapons for eight years?

Senator Seidman: Thank you. We would all appreciate that, I’m sure.

Despite the 2021 consultation — which there was — we have yet to ban vaping flavours, which are said to be most appealing to youth. Senator Gold, of Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial governments, 6 have adopted legislation or regulations to ban the sale of vaping flavours other than tobacco. When does the federal government plan to ban flavours in vaping products?