Senator Marshall: — with the Phoenix system.

Can you assure us that the government has control over this program and that it will be successfully implemented?

Senator Gold: Thank you for raising the subject.

The report of the Auditor General is important. It shines light on a problem that, as I said, has been neglected by governments. This is not to blame previous governments; many governments going back far too long have neglected it.

The government is seized with the issue and will do everything it can to address this.

Senator Loffreda: Thank you for that, Senator Gold.

We clearly need to accelerate the pace to ensure we meet our targets. I know the Treasury Board has been mandated to develop policy guidance and ensure that departments have the tools they need to implement the directive. What are these tools that the government is using to encourage and connect with Indigenous businesses so they are aware of procurement opportunities? What criteria are used to determine what constitutes an Indigenous-led business?

Senator Gold: Briefly, the central program is the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program, which provides access to capital and other support.

With regard to the criteria, I’m informed that for the purposes of the target, an “Indigenous business” is defined as “Elders, band and tribal councils; businesses registered in the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Business Directory . . .” and “. . . businesses on a beneficiary business list.”

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you. I wish I had the solutions. One thing is clear: Canadians have to understand, as governments do at all levels — federal, provincial and municipal — that we are in the stage of having to mitigate the impact.

Climate change is upon us; the impact is clear. Whatever we do in the future to address climate change has to include mitigating the current and foreseeable impacts of it.

Senator Gold: Yes, I undertake to do that. I see the minister on a weekly basis, and I’ll make a point to bring that to his attention.

Senator Gold: The reliance in the North, as you know better than I, senator, whether on diesel or home oil, is a fact that has to be taken into account in all adaptations of government programs. There are talented people in Canada and the North exploring alternatives, and I’m sure the government will work in partnership with them and the Government of Nunavut to the benefit of the residents in Nunavut.

Senator Coyle: I would appreciate hearing more specifics on what that “more” would look like.

Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: Honourable senators, Nunavut has, without question, the highest cost of living and is the most carbon-intensive region of Canada. You all know the story: no roads, deathly cold early and long winters, and darkness. There is a virtually total reliance on diesel fuel to generate power and to heat both private homes and social housing, where the preponderance of residents live.

We have the highest incidence of food insecurity and the worst social indicators in the country and — in areas like suicide — in the world. So, how is our federal government helping us deal with all these issues? Well, “big daddy Ottawa” added a carbon tax, seemingly heedless of the added cost burdens it imposes on our already sky-high cost of living.

Now, Nunavut did get exempted from paying the tax on aviation fuel for intra-territorial flights. That has been great. But the reality is that everything comes from the South, so we are taxed on it anyway.

We have also been exempted from paying the carbon tax on fuel burned to generate electricity, and it has now been confirmed that on July 1, 2024, the carbon tax will not be levied on home‑heating fuel. That is also good. Thanks to Atlantic Canada.

However, this brief three-year reprieve was meant to buy folks a little more time to transition to cleaner energy sources, and I’m sorry to say transitioning Nunavut to clean energy in three years just isn’t going to happen. Just yesterday, we heard from Jerry DeMarco, Canada’s Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, that Canada is not on track to meet its 2030 emission targets. Canada is the only G7 country that has not achieved any emission reduction since 1990.

Carbon taxes are supposed to change consumer habits and encourage people to seek out alternatives, but the Environment Commissioner’s report confirms that this has not happened since the tax was introduced in 2019. Moreover, in the case of Nunavut, there are no alternatives from which to choose. We can’t go back to dog teams to hunt. We can’t go back to igloos in which to live in the cold. There are still no electric vehicles — not one — in the capital city of Iqaluit. So, Nunavummiut are hurting, and, sadly, there just doesn’t seem to be any end in sight.

Thank you.

Hon. Tony Loffreda: Honourable senators, I rise today to mark National Philanthropy Day.

We set aside November 15 to celebrate this day that seeks to recognize the spirit of giving without expectation of reward, something that is an integral part of who Canadians are.

Thanks to the determination of Senator Mercer and his Bill S-201, we have been celebrating this day since 2012.

[English]

In his second-reading speech, Senator Mercer invited everyone to come together to support his bill and said:

In doing so, we will be saying thank you to our neighbours, our friends and the thousands of strangers who work hard every day to make life better for someone they have not even met.

That, in essence, is the epitome of philanthropy: people helping strangers without any expectation of reward or recognition, people being good. And there is a lot of goodness in Canada, but more troubling still is that there are a lot of people in need of goodness, empathy and support.

According to Imagine Canada, the charitable sector contributes $192 billion in economic activity to Canada annually. The sector employs 2.4 million people, but even more impressive is that 13 million Canadians volunteer nearly 2 billion hours per year to worthy causes.

Honourable colleagues, charities are increasingly relied upon in doing some of the work governments are simply unable to fulfill. They need our support, but I am worried the government may soon be legislating changes to the alternative minimum tax that could hinder the sector. The changes may have unintended consequences and may discourage Canadians from donating, which could result in a drop in charitable revenues.

In 2022, for example, 30% of donations to the charitable sector came from higher-income households. This could have a huge impact on the sector and negatively affect those who benefit from philanthropic donations. These facts should be carefully considered.

Honourable senators, philanthropy helps build strong communities and active civic participation by bringing people together to serve a common goal. Canadians deserve a fair shot at living a life of dignity and quality, which is why it is important to celebrate National Philanthropy Day and honour Canada’s spirit of giving.

Thank you.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, for the third reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation, as amended.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Dianne and Mike Ilesic. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Boisvenu.

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

Hon. René Cormier: Colleagues, we are living in a time when we often feel as though the world around us is falling apart, so it’s comforting to know that there are people of all generations in this country who are driven by a genuine desire to help others and to work for the betterment of their community and their people.

I had the pleasure of seeing this first-hand last weekend during a memorable trip to the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula, the heart of Newfoundland’s francophone community, played host to an impressive gathering of Acadian organizations from the four Atlantic provinces and Quebec.

From Stephenville in Grand’Terre, to L’Anse-à-Canards, in this magnificent region where the local anglophone population greets you with, “How are you, my love?”, a jubilant cohort of Acadians, francophones and francophiles of all generations gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador, or FFTNL.

It was an opportunity to celebrate FFTNL’s many achievements and to rally together to face future challenges, because there’s no denying that our francophone minority communities are still quite fragile, colleagues.

The Société nationale de l’Acadie, the voice of the Acadian people on the national and international stage, was there to celebrate the renewal of an important agreement with France. The mutual promotion of the French language and French and Acadian cultures, as well as youth and student mobility, are at the heart of this historic agreement. It was an opportunity to thank Johan Schitterer, the Consul General of France in the Atlantic Provinces, whose diplomatic efforts in Acadia have been exemplary and exceptional.

Our new colleague, the Hon. Réjean Aucoin, who will shortly be sworn in as a member of this chamber, was also there. This Chéticamp lawyer, who specializes in criminal law and is an ardent defender of francophone language rights and a passionate Acadian, was enthusiastically welcomed by those in attendance. Clearly, his appointment to the upper chamber was long overdue.

Colleagues, as I roamed that breathtaking landscape where land and sea are one, my thoughts turned to those around the world who are currently suffering, and I so wish I could have given them a glimpse of the restful, radiant beauty before my eyes.

On the way back, a stop in Montreal gave me the opportunity to celebrate the members of the Acadian band Salebarbes, who received the Félix award for song of the year at the prestigious ADISQ gala on Sunday. It is a distinction that honours all artists who create art under tenuous conditions, but who are keen to share their vision of the world.

Colleagues, we are privileged as parliamentarians to draw inspiration from the vitality of civil society and artists who are buoyed by a common dream: to help make the world a better place.

Newfoundland is an island worth visiting. Its very name evokes hope, the hope we all need in these troubled times to keep up our important work, that of working for minorities and the regions. Colleagues, I had a great weekend and I wish the same to you.

Thank you. Meegwetch.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[English]

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, I rise today to mark Indigenous Veterans Day, which is observed each year on November 8, to pay tribute to all the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who served — and continue to serve — in the Canadian Armed Forces.

While Indigenous people have made significant contributions to the military history of the country now known as Canada, their service was disregarded for many years. However, due to their campaigns for respect and recognition, there is growing awareness of, for example, the estimated 12,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit soldiers who served in the great conflicts of the last century, with at least 500 of them losing their lives and countless others being injured.

There is also now growing awareness that, despite being deemed equals on the battlefield and some receiving decorations for their skills and bravery, Indigenous veterans faced prejudice and discrimination during and after their military service. For example, at the start of the First World War, First Nations registered as status Indians under the Indian Act were exempt from conscription because they were not considered citizens. However, shortly after, the federal government declared that, as British subjects, First Nations could be called up for training and service, which some communities protested.

It is also important to note that First Nations did not have the right to vote federally without conditions until 1960. However, men who served during the First and Second World Wars gained the right to vote in federal elections without giving up their Indian status. Yet, after the wars ended, those who lived on a reserve lost the right to vote. In addition, many were stripped of their Indian status and associated rights which, among others, severed their family and community ties.

Upon their return home, First Nations veterans also did not receive the same benefits as non-Indigenous veterans, and many experienced poverty and other hardships throughout their lives.

Colleagues, let us pause to remember the life and legacy of the thousands of Indigenous people across Mi’kma’ki and beyond who left their loving families and communities and risked their lives abroad for freedoms that, in many cases, they were not entitled to at home.

Although progress has been made in recent decades, including through a federal apology and compensation package for First Nations veterans in 2003 and for Métis veterans in 2019, work is still needed to ensure that all Indigenous veterans receive the care and support they need and deserve. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and we must not forget them — nor the injustices this country inflicted upon them and their families and communities. Thank you. Wela’lioq. Meegwetch.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Morgan Hussey, recipient of the Bronfman scholarship and student at Mount Saint Vincent University. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Cordy.

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

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Honourable senators, it is with deep emotion that I rise to speak to you today. My voice carries the weight of stories that tell of both human tragedy and the perseverance of victims of crime and their families.

We have with us today, in the Senate gallery, a family of unwavering courage and dignity. The Ilesic family went through something no parent or loved one should ever have to experience, and that is the loss of their son Brian, who was cut down in the prime of life by an act of unspeakable violence.

On June 15, 2012, Brian Ilesic’s fate was forever changed in a tragedy that shook our community to its very core. That day, while he was hard at work at the University of Alberta, he fell victim to a violent, unthinkable crime.

One of his colleagues, blinded by greed and full of contempt for human life, opened fire in what has been described as the deadliest armed robbery in our history. Three armoured guards were gunned down, and Brian was one of them. With his exemplary work ethic and kindness, Brian would have never imagined that his commitment to keeping others safe would lead to his death.

This tragedy left an indelible mark on the hearts of his family members and rocked our entire nation. It reminded us how fragile life is and how important it is to protect our citizens.

Dianne and Mike Ilesic have joined us not only to bear witness to a grief that never truly fades, but also to show exactly what it means to have a broken heart. Their presence here is a poignant reminder that behind every decision, there are faces, names and lives left in disarray.

The solidarity and comfort they found in a support group, and the courage they showed in sharing their story with the public, are bright lights that shine through the darkness of their ordeal. These actions are not only liberating, they are also forging alliances that are effecting positive change in our society.

However, their quest for justice and peace was recently undermined by a Supreme Court of Canada decision. That decision could allow the person who took their son’s life to seek parole much sooner than expected. Their story is also the story of too many Canadians whose lives have been affected by similar crimes.

Colleagues, this decision challenges the very foundations of our justice system. It casts light on a deep-seated flaw in our justice system, namely that the severity of the punishment does not always match the gravity of the crime.

That’s why I will be introducing a bill this afternoon that seeks to balance the scales of justice.

To the Ilesic family and to all grieving families, I want you to know that I see your pain and I hear your call for justice. Your fight for the memory of your loved ones will henceforth be my fight. Thank you.