Hon. Mary Jane McCallum: I wanted to go back to the suggestion about consultation and defining it. When we look at consultation, it’s defined by the groups that they consult with. That group defines what it means to them. To have a pan-Canadian approach hasn’t worked, and it will never work.

We live with the reality that there’s very little to no consultation that happens, and First Nations are continuously left to struggle with the legislation that we pass here, such as Bill C-91 and Bill C-92. I was talking to the Assembly of First Nations about that today. There are limited time resources, so I think this consultation —

Senator McCallum: I am bringing these issues to the floor from MKO. I know that they have been talking to the land board, but they still want to express this. They’re still expressing their concern. So they’re not working together. Everyone has concerns about this bill, especially because it involves two other acts that need to be addressed if this is there.

People have always said people are collaborating; they’re working together. Yet, we continually hear that they only speak to specific groups. My concern is that this has been brought forward for MKO. This is their voice. I think we need to appreciate that and not lessen or silence their voice.

Senator McCallum: In the speech that I gave the other day, I was setting up the context for this speech about the pre-studies and about how fast legislation is going through. That is part of the problem. It needs to be noted that proper attention was not given. It was rushed through.

Senator McCallum: Yes, I do. There has been talk about the 194 signatories. However, as I said — and this came from the report from the other place — in the bill there is no off-the-shelf solution. Any response must be distinctions-based and recognize the need for individual communities to craft their own solutions as desired in order to respect their inherent rights.

What did the voices that were outside these 194 signatories tell you about how they’re going to be proceeding with their own framework?

Hon. Mary Jane McCallum: Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That Bill C-235, An Act respecting the building of a green economy in the Prairies, be not now read a third time, but that it be referred back to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry for further study.

Thank you, kinanâskomitin.

Hon. Mary Jane McCallum: Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That Bill S-5, as amended, be not now read a third time, but that it be further amended in subclause 9(3) (as amended by the decision of the Senate on June 21, 2022), on page 5, by adding the following and repositioning and renumbering accordingly if required:

Senator McCallum: You partially answered the question I had in your response to Senator Ringuette, but I was wondering if there was anything else you wanted to add. Is there any way that the provincial, federal and territorial governments could have predicted the need for rapid tests in the past, at this late stage and in the future?

Hon. Mary Jane McCallum: Senator Gold, will you take another question?