Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): A report from CBC indicates, minister, that sky-high inflation is causing more people to turn to rural food banks, and, in fact, this is something we are seeing across the country as food bank usage reached its highest level in Canadian history this year.

While this is an issue affecting all Canadians, it is not uncommon to have differences in inflation rates throughout the country. For many Canadians living in remote communities, many of whom are low-income or seniors on fixed incomes, the effects of inflation are felt all the more pointedly. Gas price increases likely come as a huge blow, as they depend on their vehicles for day-to-day activities and do not have the luxury of public transportation, as you indicated earlier.

As the minister on this file, can you tell me where the inflation rate currently stands in rural Canada and what kind of practical impacts it is having on rural Canadians?

Hon. Lucie Moncion: Welcome to the Senate, minister.

In your mandate letter, the Prime Minister asks you to do the following:

 . . . continue to implement the Rural Economic Development Strategy to build on existing investments . . . and identify improvements that could be made to programs, policies and future investments to benefit rural communities.

We know that financial cooperatives are generally the last to be consulted when it comes to program and policy development. I am thinking in particular of the Canada Emergency Business Account, or CEBA, during COVID-19. The government eventually made members of these institutions eligible, but they had to work hard to make themselves heard.

Nevertheless, these financial institutions represent nearly one quarter, or 21%, of the Canadian SME market share. Their belated inclusion in critical discussions is hampering rural economic development.

In keeping with the spirit of the objectives set out in your mandate letter, can you tell us how your government intends to consult financial cooperatives systematically rather than belatedly?

[English]

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Thank you, senator. That is a great question. One thing that I did as soon as I was appointed minister with this portfolio — there is a Centre for Rural Economic Development already established. I sat down with the team and I asked, “Who do we have on the ground? Who do we have actually out working with businesses, banking institutes, not‑for‑profits, communities and Indigenous communities?” I am pleased to say that now we have 22 people in that department, and there are some on the ground in rural Canada from coast to coast to coast. We also work with regional developments associations, with BDC and, of course, with all of the other ministries in this field.

The reality is that banking is different in rural Canada. We have to work with the Canadian Bankers Association, or CBA, and all aspects to make sure that we develop and deliver to rural Canadians. I have tasked my team in the Centre for Rural Economic Development to make sure that they get out to every field because if we are not delivering the services that rural Canadians need to grow the economy, to help farmers, to help fishers and to help the tourism sector and the mining industry, we are not going to get there. They are a vital part of working with all of the groups on the ground to make a difference in rural and economic development from coast to coast to coast.

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Thank you so much for that question, my friend. You know just as well as I do that the financial sector is becoming increasingly digitalized, and we have to make sure that the standards are modernized to ensure that every part of Canada enjoys a strong, stable and innovative financial sector.

We also have to make sure and realize that for every Canadian, no matter where they live, the financial sector is globally competitive, promotes consumer choice and contributes to economic growth. That is why I was delighted when our government launched the Advisory Committee on Open Banking. I am sure that you know that the lead on that is Abraham Tachjian, who has done phenomenal work with stakeholders, consumer organizations and regulators. The four pillars of the committee’s report is on accreditation, liability, privacy and security.

The government is reviewing the committee’s recommendations and developing the next steps to move forward. I know that you will play an active role in that along the way, sir.

[Translation]

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Thank you, senator. That is an incredible question because it alludes to what I mentioned earlier about the terrible drug problem that we have in rural Canada. As you know, Canada Post is a Crown corporation, but I will be following that bill’s progress to the detail. I know that is exactly how some of the drugs are getting into these rural communities.

The other thing that I am delighted to see is that Canada Post is now looking at a different way to do business. They’ve started Canada Post hubs. They are piloting these new projects. There are four — one in Membertou, Nova Scotia, one in Alberta, one in Saskatchewan and one in Ontario — where they are looking at being more service-centred. There could be electric vehicle charging stations, money services, maybe rentable meeting rooms, having access to local businesses and community information and secure access to postal and parcel boxes. I think that as we see these hubs grow, you will see more people in these areas, and hopefully, we can get that under control.

As you know, it would be a policing issue. Again, I’m sure that we’re going to have a talk about policing in rural areas as well because that is totally different. But I will be watching the progress of that bill, and I’ll be watching you watch it with me, sir.

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Senator Black, thank you for that. This is a passion for me. As you know by now, my riding is bigger than Switzerland. There is one town that has two small buses about the size of the parliamentary buses, and I have three communities that have a taxi service. There is no Uber in Newfoundland and Labrador. There are a couple of what I would call “mom and pop” van services running from a small rural community to a bigger community to help seniors, to help the underserved and to deliver parcels. But we need to do a better job.

Even though we have money under rural transit under Minister LeBlanc, I’m a firm advocate that we need to have money for planning. There is no point in you doing something in your area and someone else doing another transit project in another area if it doesn’t all link together. It has to be a hub-and-wheel-spoke system for transit if it is going to be effective and work in rural areas.

We also have to think outside of the box. Maybe it’s ride‑sharing, maybe it is working with communities that have a coach or bus service now and asking if we can supplement getting a bus to take seniors or those who are underserved to the grocery store that is an hour away once a week. I also think that, in rural Canada, we have to understand that public transit is different. If you grew up in Europe, you built your life around the bus or train schedule. As we get into the conversation of rural transit, we have to know that we have to build our lives around that transit, and that there is nothing wrong with using it.

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: That is a phenomenal question. All your questions have been phenomenal.

Senator, I had a chat with the U.S. ambassador a few months ago. He has a passion for broadband and connectivity. That was his question to me. He said, “It’s great to have the connection in the community, but do people have the skill set and do Indigenous communities have the skill set to use it?”

I’m delighted to tell you that through my department and ISED — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada — there is a Digital Skills for Youth Program, and it’s over $100 million. That was announced in the 2021 budget. There is also digital transformation money to help businesses and communities learn this new digital world that we’re in.

It’s a proven fact that when you do have that training, as we saw through COVID-19 when businesses went from in person to online, how in many cases that scaled up and their sales just exploded. But we need to make sure we’re training the skill set there.

I hear you, sir. That money is there. If you need help finding some more, you reach out and we will do our best to make sure our Indigenous communities get their share and more. Because you’re right: It is in the rural, remote and Indigenous communities that we need this work done more than ever.

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Senator Wallin, that’s an incredible question. Sadly, we have to talk about it too much.

I talked to Minister Mendicino about this, and he and I have done a round table on rural policing, because it is different.

I have nine RCMP detachments in my riding. There is hours between them, and all of them are 30% underserved. It was before the pandemic. It wasn’t just all because of the pandemic.

I also reach out to the provinces and the territories and say that we have to have a discussion of how we do rural policing better. Do we have to focus on using the RCMP for the cybersecurity and the big drug busts? In my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, we have the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Do we help put them out on the ground in further areas?

It’s a conversation we all have to have. It’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s what we can do to work together with the provinces and territories to make sure that the applicable resources are there.

This is a serious issue. I have heard terrible stories, as I’m sure you have, of people committing petty crime, probably for drug money, where they target the space in between where they know it’s a three-hour recovery for whatever policing unit to get there. They target that maximum time so they know they can get in and out. That’s not a way that we need to live in Canada.

So I’m there with you. If you have some ideas, please let me know. It’s only by creative ideas that we will be able to address this from coast to coast to coast.

[Translation]

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Minister, my question is on behalf of Senator Wells, who, of course, is from Newfoundland and Labrador:

Last week, the federal government announced they were imposing a carbon tax on Newfoundland and Labrador, which is set to take effect July 1, 2023. Alongside your colleague MP Seamus O’Regan, who is also from your province, you said you were excited about this new tax. However, this ignores the pressures people are facing in the province with the rising cost of living. In fact, the carbon tax will drive up the price of home heating fuel by 17.38 cents per litre. The significant increase in heating costs over the past year already imposed considerable economic hardship and stress on these residents. A 20% increase to the carbon tax threatens to drive residents in the province into energy poverty.

There has been disappointment expressed that the carbon tax will apply to home heating. This was exempted in the made-in-Newfoundland-and-Labrador approach implemented in 2019.

Minister, will the government consider amending this tax —

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Thank you, senator, for that question. When I answered the same question from your colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador, I didn’t have time to mention another thing that we have done for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, which was rate mitigation.

We all know what the Muskrat Falls project was doing to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. When that comes online, people’s electricity rates were going to double. The federal government stepped in to guarantee the rates would not be doubling.

Also, on the price on pollution, we’ll agree to disagree on that one. I know that the average family of four in Newfoundland and Labrador is going to pay in about $700, and they will get back over $1,300.

We have also done a variety of things to help people with the cost of living. As I said, we have increased Canada Child Benefit payments. There has been an increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement. We have a program out for people to transition off of oil and go to heat pumps. We have come with a rent subsidy for people.

But again, on the rate mitigation piece, we have delivered a lot for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and the rate mitigation piece is helping as well with their heating.

Hon. Diane Bellemare: Welcome, minister.

Your mandate is to work with the provinces and territories to generate rural economic development projects.

Would you please tell us about some successful examples of collaboration with the provinces and territories in areas other than internet access and transportation?

[English]

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Thank you, senator, for that question. I certainly hope they do consider a rural place to call home.

Minister Hussen has at his purview billions of dollars. We take the housing issue very seriously. There is a pocket of money now under the Housing Accelerator Fund. That’s to help with the capacity piece. A lot of that will be going to rural, small and remote communities to help them quarterback their way through the application process.

There has been housing earmarked specifically for rural development under the Rapid Housing Initiative stream, where 25% of that housing money that went to rural areas. Look, we know we have to make it easier for communities and not‑for‑profits and businesses — anybody — to avail themselves of the housing project.

What we haven’t done well as a federal government is making the application process fit the price. If you want to build a 10‑unit building in northern Ontario or northern Quebec, why is it the same application process for a 1,000-unit building here in downtown Ottawa?

I’m working with Minister Hussen, and there is a rural set‑aside under all his policies that are coming out now. We have worked hard to get that. We’re also suggesting to him that he use the pathfinder program. The pathfinder program was what we put in place with the Universal Broadband Fund to help people and communities get access to answers to questions like, “How do I find this information?” “How do I apply?” “With whom do I work and where do I go?” We are encouraging the minister to put this pathfinder program in the housing fund to specifically help rural and remote communities navigate through the sometimes onerous processes to access these funds.

[Translation]

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: That is a wonderful question. You probably know that we have various regional development associations — agencies across the country. Each of those six ministers has their own specific area. You have me, who is coast to coast to coast in rural economic development; you have Minister Boissonnault coast to coast to coast in tourism; and you have Minister Ng coast to coast to coast with small business and export. We get together every two weeks. We chat about what we need to do, how we can get out on the ground, how we make sure that our programs are being heard by all.

My department now has canada.ca/rural, where we’re putting all the information about funding. You go there and find information on high-speed internet. You can find information if you’re looking for funding for small communities, if you’re a not-for-profit or if you’re an Indigenous group. We’re putting all the funding in one place to make it easier for people.

I can tell you that the regional development associations are doing great work. They each have a component that focuses on rural areas in addition to my team, the Centre for Rural Economic Development team. Those people on the ground work with the regional development associations daily, so they all coordinate together. If we’re going to be successful in growing rural Canadian communities and rural Canada, we have to break down the silos and all work together, which is what we’re doing now. Thank you for the question.

Hon. Pamela Wallin: Minister, on November 22, through last-minute amendments, without debate or committee hearings on Bill C-21, the federal government moved to ban hundreds of legally owned firearms and shotguns. Many of the weapons are rifles that are low powered, slow to fire and only designed to shoot birds or deer.

In rural areas, a rifle or a shotgun is an important tool. They also help put food on the table at a time when it is also too costly. These amendments will criminalize hunters and farmers when we know that the overwhelming bulk of violent gun crime is taking place in big cities. So why target legal hunters and farmers rather than the gangs and those who import weapons illegally?

Adding insult to injury through Bill C-5, your government has actually moved to reduce sentences for those who are convicted of serious gun crimes and violence.

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Senator, you’re correct: Hurricane Fiona hit hard in Eastern Canada and, yes, in my home province. When the hurricane hit, the province reached out right away under a request for assistance, we were there and put the military in place.

The other aspect of financial assistance to any area — and this program has been around in Canada for years — is the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements with the provinces and territories. That’s where the province has a covey of items that they can pull from where they say, “Yes, we will go to the federal government and we want these items covered.”

The money that Minister Petitpas Taylor announced the other day is for things that we now know are falling through the cracks of what the province asked for under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement. I can tell you the applications are coming in, and Minister Petitpas Taylor is getting them out right away.

We know that housing and municipal infrastructure will be covered under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement. Like I said, these are things that are falling through the cracks — perhaps your community centre didn’t come under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement, for example. This was put in place to cover the things that the provinces didn’t request under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement. It’s another pot of money.

Look, we know this hurricane is probably going to cost us well in excess of what was expressed. In the Fall Economic Statement, Minister Freeland said she put aside a billion dollars for this. That’s on top of the $300 million from Minister Petitpas Taylor. We will be there to support all —

Hon. Amina Gerba: Welcome, minister. I have a question for you on behalf of our colleague, Senator Audette:

In June, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples released its report entitled Not Enough: All Words and No Action on MMIWG.

I would note that the Government of Canada ordered the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and that the commissioners, together with the families, submitted their report on June 3, 2019. Several of the Calls for Justice, including 4.1 and 4.6, urge the government to build and repair housing so that Indigenous women and girls have access to housing that is safe, appropriate to geographical and cultural needs, and available wherever they reside, whether in urban, rural or remote communities.

Minister, what have you done to ensure a safe environment for Indigenous women and girls?

[English]

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Thank you for the question, senator.

As I alluded to earlier, we were just through terrible times. We are just coming through a pandemic, and some would say we’re just at the tail end of the pandemic, along with the impacts of the war.

I can tell you that inflation is not one number, because it varies whether you’re in a remote community, an Indigenous community or what I call a really rural and remote community. The inflation number will change depending on where you go.

It’s a challenging time for people, but we have to think outside the box, too. I don’t have many food banks in my riding, but we have community kitchens, where people work together. How can we support and help by other means, not just what the Ottawa bubble would say is a food bank? What else can we do to support rural communities to help folks in need in these trying times?

I’ll be there every step of the way, sir.

Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development: Senator, when the Prime Minister asked me to take this role, I was so excited because it’s breaking down those silos. It’s not only breaking down the political silos but breaking down the departmental silos.

We must have had some impact because in June I had a call that the clerk wanted to speak with me. I don’t know how you folks feel, but when the clerk wants to see you, your heart goes in your throat.

She called me in and said, “Look, good news; we now have another deputy coming to your department, and the deputy is going to be focused on rural economic development and tourism and small business.”

That’s incredible. For the work that we’re doing on the rural part with the political side of things, she is also doing the work with the departments. So we are making headway. That was a huge thing.

Also — and you alluded to this — my mandate letter covers many departments. Our government used to put an LGBTQ lens on things. Then we were the first government to put the gender lens on. Then we put on an Indigenous lens. Now we put a rural‑reality lens on all programs and policies and legislation that we put forth.

I’m now having ministers come to me and say, “Oh, before I send this up, will you look at it? I need to sit down and talk. How is this going to work? Do we need to change it to work in rural communities?”

We are having an impact.

Sadly, I need your help, too. When you see legislation come here in this Red Chamber, I need you to push back as well to say, “What impact will this have in rural, remote and Indigenous communities?”

On tourism, sir, I can talk tourism all day long because I know that we have what the world wants and we all need to work together to welcome everybody to Canada. I think during the pandemic we all had an opportunity to explore our backyards, and people saw what we have in Canada. We need to do that more. We all need to be proud of the tourism product and grow.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, on behalf of the opposition and the Senate Conservative caucus, I am pleased to rise in this chamber to welcome our newest colleague, the Honourable Margo Greenwood. Senator Greenwood, I wish to extend to you a very warm welcome to the Senate of Canada.

As a fellow senator from our beautiful province of British Columbia, I look forward to working with you to support and advocate for British Columbians. As former educators, we also share a love of teaching and mentoring bright, young minds who may one day themselves become senators or whatever they so choose.

Senator Greenwood is certainly a role model for many, as a respected Indigenous scholar of Cree ancestry with notable achievements and a stellar record of leadership and community service. There is much written about her professional achievements, including the following on the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health site:

While her work crosses disciplines and sectors, Dr. Greenwood is particularly recognized — regionally, provincially, nationally and internationally — for her work in early childhood care and education, and in Indigenous public health.

Senator Greenwood, I am certain that your knowledge, expertise and passion for helping others will be useful and relevant in your work as a senator. As you embark on this new journey in the Senate of Canada, you will soon realize that you are not only making friends but that you have joined a new family — the Senate family. It is a family that has various opinions, perspectives and experiences but that together will serve a common purpose, which is to work for Canadians. We are here for them. We serve here, in the heart of Canadian democracy, in order to promote their best interests.

I speak not only for myself when I say we look forward to collaboratively working with you not only in this chamber but also at committee. Canadians are increasingly looking at the Senate to not only bring sober second thought and due diligence, but they are looking at the Senate for hope — hope that their voices are heard, that their concerns become ours and that together this chamber ensures the best path forward for everyone — especially minority groups — across our vast country. I trust that you will do just that.

On behalf of the opposition and the Conservative caucus, I welcome you once again to the Senate of Canada.