Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Leader, Public Safety Canada recently released its annual report on trends and patterns in drug-impaired driving. It shows that police reported 7,454 drug-impaired driving incidents in 2021 — an almost 60% increase in such incidents since 2018 when cannabis was legalized.

The report shows that daily cannabis users are more likely to think cannabis use does not impair driving. Only 25% of Canadians believe it is very likely they will get caught if they drive under the influence of cannabis.

The report points to a B.C. study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine which showed that people injured while driving under the influence of drugs had higher THC levels in their blood since legalization.

Leader, many concerns that honourable senators have raised during our study of Bill C-45 and Bill C-46 have come to pass. How does your government respond to the report’s findings?

Hon. Chantal Petitclerc: Thank you very much for your well‑thought-out speech, as per usual.

I want your impression on something that I hope we will study in committee: This bill calls for a benefit that will be for working-age persons with disabilities. I have read that about 30% of persons with disabilities are over that working-age group.

Do you think this is something we should spend some time on in order to ensure that they, too, are lifted out of poverty?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the government leader in the Senate.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has given McKinsey & Company consultants contracts worth $24.5 million for so-called management advice. A public servant with this department told Radio-Canada last month:

We had a few presentations on very generic, completely vapid stuff. They arrived with nice colours, nice presentations and said they would revolutionize everything . . . In the end, we don’t have any idea what they did . . .

Leader, the wait times and backlog in this department in recent years are arguably the worst ever. Why did the Trudeau government give McKinsey millions of taxpayer dollars when whatever advice it was providing to the immigration department was obviously not working?

Senator Plett: I don’t doubt that you’re doing your part; it’s the Trudeau government that has a long history of denying Canadians, including parliamentarians, access to information about what their government is doing and how taxpayers’ money is spent. For example, I find it hard to believe that the CBC still doesn’t know how much it spent on its failed lawsuit against the Conservative Party of Canada. My question asking for that information has been on the Order Paper since May 25, 2021.

I also find it hard to believe that no one in this government has any idea on how many middle-class jobs were created in Canada by sending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to China through the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. That question has been on the Senate Order Paper since March 30, 2021.

Leader, if this situation isn’t a perfect example of the absolute contempt shown by this Trudeau government toward the Senate, Canadians and accountability, then what is it, leader?

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: I rise today to pay tribute to Senator Viola Léger.

In September 2001, four people were appointed senators — Laurier LaPierre, Viola Léger, Jean Lapointe and I — one week after the September 11 tragedy.

As I was the first Muslim senator, I was worried about the situation because I was hearing negative comments about Muslims in the house.

Viola comforted me and told me that it was not true that all Muslims were like that. She said, “Don’t worry, be patient, take your time and tell your story slowly.” She promised me that one day things would change in the Senate.

Viola was very generous with me.

Senator Léger was first and foremost an accomplished artist. We remember her mainly for her role as La Sagouine, the character created by Antonine Maillet. La Sagouine, a humble cleaning woman and daughter of a fisherman, tells her story and that of Acadia and its people. This role showcases the Acadian culture and language and presents the reality of this group of francophones from the Maritimes to Canadians in the rest of the country.

Between 1971 and 2016, Viola Léger performed this role more than 3,000 times in French and English, and brought her to life right across Canada, the United States and Europe.

[English]

Viola, I want to send you an update on your advice to me. For being patient, I get a C on my report card; taking my time does not come naturally to me; in telling my history about being Muslim, with the help of many other senators — we are now five in the Senate — we have made great progress.

Viola, you were an amazing friend and colleague and I will always remember you fondly. Rest in peace, my friend.

Senator Simons: By all means.

Hon. Amina Gerba: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, we all work to promote our country in the world, and Montreal has become an international showcase that welcomes a multitude of international conferences and investors.

However, delegates who want to participate in this type of conference are being denied visas to enter Canada because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada believes that they will simply stay in Canada and not return home.

This terrible situation is damaging the reputation of our immigration system and undermining many opportunities.

Senator Gold, when will the government find a way to make it easier to obtain temporary visas, especially for potential investors, professionals and parents of students who are living in our country?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I would ask you to rise and join me in observing one minute of silence in memory of our deceased colleague.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Councillor Tanya Foubert, Town of Canmore. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Sorensen.

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 Dawn Edlund, Diane Burrows and Michael Molloy. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Jaffer.

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

Senator Martin: This report also shows that, while the number of drug-impaired driving incidents increased, the number of active officers trained as drug recognition experts — speaking of testing — has decreased. There were 68 fewer of these officers across Canada in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Leader, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, capacity limits were placed on the number of officers that could be trained at certification events.

Could you make inquiries and let us know if the capacity limits have been lifted? What will your government do to ensure more officers receive this training, and are active in communities across our country?

Senator Seidman: Yes.

Hon. Diane Bellemare: Would Senator Seidman take another question?

Senator Campbell: Absolutely.

Senator Campbell: It’s a classic example of ageism.

(On motion of Senator Clement, debate adjourned.)

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Brazeau, seconded by the Honourable Senator Housakos, for the second reading of Bill S-254, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages).

Hon. Robert Black: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, I am sure you’re well aware that tomorrow is Canada’s Agriculture Day. Tomorrow — and I hope every day — farmers, producers and all members of the agriculture and processing sectors are being celebrated for their immeasurable contributions to this country. They remain an essential part of every Canadian’s life, and continued support for their tireless efforts remains paramount to the success of the nation.

However, while the agricultural industry has had many successes, they continue to face obstacles, barriers and difficulties. Whether it’s climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, labour shortages or regulatory issues, all members of this sector repeatedly rise to the challenge in the face of many issues. Their determination, skill and dedication continue to be appreciated by Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Senator Gold, can you please tell us what the Canadian government is currently doing to help solve these ongoing challenges to the sector, namely, processing capacity, food security, soil health and climate change, just to name a few?

Ahead of your response, I want to wish you and my colleagues here in the chamber and all Canadians a very happy Agriculture Day tomorrow.

Hon. Pamela Wallin, pursuant to notice of February 9, 2023, moved:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate a report relating to its study on the state of the Canadian economy and inflation, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

Senator Martin: Leader, there are well over 2 million applications caught in the backlog at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Today, according to the government’s own website, the application processing time for a skilled tradesperson seeking entry to Canada is 70 months.

Despite the massive backlog and little evidence Canadians are getting good value for money spent on the McKinsey contracts, the Trudeau government revised an immigration department contract during the pandemic to give McKinsey even more money.

Leader, could you tell us why your government believed McKinsey deserved extra money from Canadian taxpayers for a job done so poorly?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?