The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, before we proceed, I would ask senators to rise and observe one minute of silence in memory of the victims of the tragedy that occurred 33 years ago on December 6, 1989, at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

Hon. Pat Duncan: My question today is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, information provided to senators to support the Statutes Repeal Act motion states in part that, “Pursuant to Budget 2021, consultations were held to inform potential changes to the employment insurance EI program.” It further states that “Consultations have concluded and the plan to modernize the EI program is still under development.”

Senator Gold, will you please advise the chamber what “still under development” means?

Senator Martin: When this bill was studied at committee in the House of Commons, an amendment was put forward to reserve a seat on the council for a national organization that has experience with and is focused upon economic reconciliation, as was suggested by several witnesses during the study. Some witnesses called for this amendment specifically, while others spoke of its importance. For example, Karen Restoule, CEO of Shared Value Solutions and a member of Dokis First Nation, stated that:

Economic reconciliation is the vehicle forward in terms of setting our peoples or communities back on a path to prosperity . . .

Given the importance of economic reconciliation, do you know why this was not included in the bill and why it was rejected by Liberal and NDP MPs in the House of Commons committee?

This is a very important phrase that we have heard at committee: the “. . . path forward for economic reconciliation.”

Senator Audette: To be honest with you, Senator Martin, I didn’t ask that specific question but I did ask a member of the committee why and who decided and what the process was.

Right now, what I understand — and what is reassuring me — is that the board is something but the activity, the chantier — I do not know how to say that in English — the justice reconciliation, the human rights reconciliation and the economic reconciliation are all important.

I was told that it will be very animated or involved if the council is officially adopted and put in place.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report on COVID-19 Rapid Test Procurement and Distribution from the Minister of Health.

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

Last week, the Senate Banking Committee heard from Kevin Page, the former Parliamentary Budget Officer, who told the committee that an expected winter recession will hurt small businesses significantly. In fact, the combination of three factors will hurt small businesses, the backbone of the Canadian economy: a recession, high interest rates and inflation. Those mean higher costs for businesses and less money for consumers.

Mr. Page confirmed this, saying:

. . . That will hurt small businesses significantly because, with these higher interest rates, people will not want to use credit to go out and spend.

This recession will be caused by high interest rates, which are the direct result of the reckless spending by the Liberals. Leader, what is the government’s plan to help small businesses that will suffer in 2023?

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on November 17, 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on December 5, 2022, its ninth report, which deals with the subject matter of those elements contained in Subdivisions A and B of Division 3 of Part 4 of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022, and I move that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

(On motion of Senator Francis, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

Hon Senators: Agreed.

(Debate postponed until the next sitting of the Senate.)

Senator Plett: It’s surprising how many things the government believes in but does not carry through with, and this would be another one.

At the core of the role of parliamentarians are the review and the approval of spending. Senator Gold, senators and members of Parliament cannot properly scrutinize the government’s spending plan if 17% of it remains secret.

Senator Gold, when will the government stop treating Parliament like a rubber stamp and provide parliamentarians with the information that they need to do their jobs?

Senator Gold: It is simply not the case, senator, that the government treats Parliament, the Senate or the House of Commons as a rubber stamp. There are a number of measures through which the government regularly reports to this chamber and the other place so that we can discharge our responsibilities.

Monthly financial results are reported in The Fiscal Monitor. Departments provide quarterly financial reporting. Audited financial statements are published in the Public Accounts, and the government tables an annual Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report. Most importantly, measures like the Fall Economic Statement embodied in Bill C-32 come before this house for study and debate.

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan: Government leader, yesterday, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights began hearing testimony on Canada’s anti-terrorism rules that bar aid groups from working in Afghanistan. Committee members heard from lawyers, professors and charity organizations, but none of the three Liberal cabinet ministers accepted our invitation. Instead, Ministers Lametti, Mendicino and Sajjan sent bureaucrats from Public Safety Canada, Department of Justice Canada and Global Affairs Canada.

Senator Gold, we were told repeatedly during yesterday’s hearing that the government is seized — I repeat, because we heard it five times, seized — with this issue, but nothing is being done. I shudder to think, when the government is not seized with certain issues, what happens with those issues. Meanwhile, our allies have modified their rules to allow humanitarian aid to reach Afghanistan.

What are they hiding? Why send us bureaucrats limited by red tape and who, in some cases, have been in their current positions for only six months?

Senator Ataullahjan: Senator Gold, we heard from Professor Kent Roach from the University of Toronto, who took the time to explain to the Human Rights Committee that, in his professional opinion, this government is misinterpreting its own laws and that the needless suffering in Afghanistan could be avoided with solutions such as exemptions on non-prosecution agreements.

Senator Gold, Professor Roach offered three solid and simple solutions to put an end to the restrictions on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Why has the government not explored these avenues sooner?

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. Professor Roach is, indeed, a notable expert, and the government and the country have benefited from his engagement with these and many other issues over the years. The government will look seriously at his recommendations as it values the work that the committee does and those witnesses that come before it.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question.

I have not been advised of a timeline, as such. With the consultations having been finished, I have been advised that the analysis is ongoing and the work will proceed with dispatch.

I will certainly pass on your observation. The government would be receptive to the point that the system has to be adapted to the different industries, regions and circumstances that workers and businesses find themselves in.

At such time as there is a predicted date for release of more information, I will be happy to share it.

Senator Gold: I will certainly be pleased to do that. Thank you.

Hon. Jane Cordy: Honourable senators, I would like to speak about someone who has contributed greatly to my city of Dartmouth and to my province of Nova Scotia: well-known and well-respected business person Al MacPhee.

Al was determined to stand out on his own from an early age. As the tenth of 14 children, he left the family farm in French Road, Cape Breton, for the city, where he found a part-time job at a local car dealership.

Before long, he was selling cars and found he really enjoyed it. By 1983, Al owned his own dealership and eventually turned it into the third-largest General Motors dealership in Canada.

Success in the car business provided Al the means to support his community of Dartmouth and to really make a difference. He has contributed greatly over the years to the Dartmouth General Hospital and was chairman of the capital campaign to build Alderney Landing in Dartmouth — a convention centre, art gallery, market, theatre and events plaza that has helped to revitalize Dartmouth’s waterfront.

Al’s generosity to his community does not stop there. Al and his wife, Mary, have been long-time supporters of a non-profit youth education centre in downtown Dartmouth, which was established to help bridge the learning gap for youth in marginalized and disadvantaged circumstances who are underperforming in the conventional school environment and who are at serious risk of abandoning their schooling entirely.

In recognition of their generosity, the school now bears their name and is known as the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning.

In 2018, Al was a recipient of the Ford Motor Company’s prestigious Salute To Dealers, which is presented to a select number of dealers worldwide in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their community during their career.

When asked about his involvement in community projects, Al was quoted as saying, “I don’t need fancy things. I’d rather put my money back into my community.”

Turning 80 this week, Al can still be found at his dealership in Dartmouth, Monday to Saturday, working 10-hour days doing what he loves and making a difference in the city that he loves. Happy birthday, Al.

Hon. David M. Wells: Honourable senators, as you may know from my Question Period interventions over the past eight months, in April a Canadian flight crew working for Pivot Airlines was arbitrarily detained in the Dominican Republic, having discovered and reported 210 kilograms of cocaine on their aircraft during a pre-flight check.

The crew was detained, jailed with drug traffickers, received death threats and had their passports seized. A dead body was left outside their cell and they were told they would be next.

Following their release, the crew had to move from safe house to safe house. In August, video evidence came to light that showed the drugs had been loaded onto the aircraft by a third party early on the morning of departure while the crew was at their hotel.

Colleagues, after multiple interventions and continuous pressure — as you may have heard — I’m pleased to report that, after eight months, the crew has finally returned home.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[Translation]

Senator Wells: I was invited to welcome the crew on their arrival in Toronto late last week. I was able to meet the crew and their families and witness the emotional homecoming. While I am relieved that our Canadian crew has returned safely to Canada, I am disappointed that it has taken this long for the government to act for their rightful release. While they are back on safe soil, the emotional ordeal is not over.

As Pivot Airlines President Eric Edmondson stated, “The crew languished for months unnecessarily because of inaction of the government.” Transport Canada has committed to a full investigation of this, and I will be asking the government leader in the Senate about this in the coming months. The crew asked me to pass along their gratitude to all those who advocated on their behalf, including the Air Line Pilots Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, or CUPE, Unifor and, of course, Pivot Airlines. The pilot, Captain Rob Di Venanzo said this was the best Christmas gift he could ever receive. Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Nancy J. Hartling: Honourable senators, today I rise to congratulate and honour my friends from the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick. Elsipogtog means “river of fire” in the Mi’kmaq language and is located on the beautiful Richibucto River about one hour from my home in Moncton.

This year, the Elsipogtog Mi’kmaq Cultural Center Tours & Artisan Gift Shop, which runs the Mi’kmaq Heritage Path Tour, won the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s prestigious Indigenous Tourism Award. The award recognizes Indigenous businesses that demonstrate a commitment to the development, promotion and delivery of authentic, innovative experiences that promote Indigenous culture and tourism growth in the region.

This award is well deserved, and we welcome you to our Senate. I understand you have an invitation from the other Senators to attend their game in Ottawa tonight and set up a booth to display your products.

Last summer, my husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Lynn Francis, director of the Elsipogtog Economic Development and members of her staff, as well as Chrissy Guitard, co-owner of SheBuilds construction company.

We met with Lynn’s team to learn about the various economic development projects at Elsipogtog First Nation. Our meeting began with a smudging ceremony by an elder, after which we had a chance to learn about the Mi’kmaq Heritage Path Tour, which is a guided walk through the traditional lands of the community.

The tour features historical, cultural and spiritual teachings designed for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It includes an authentically constructed wigwam, longhouse and sweat lodge made by their local elder and knowledge keeper.

The tour ends inside the cultural centre where we were greeted by a group of young women wearing traditional ribbon skirts. It provides visitors a safe place to ask questions about Mi’kmaq culture, which is an excellent way to connect for folks who may not know about this profound history in New Brunswick. The Artisan Gift Shop offers very beautiful products for sale. We also enjoyed a special treat of bannock and fresh blueberries.

Later we had a chance to see several new buildings in the community such as a new hockey arena and to visit one of the SheBuilds construction sites. SheBuilds, in partnership with Elsipogtog Economic Development, provides opportunities for Mi’kmaq women to learn skilled trades while building houses in their own community. The carpenters and apprentices we met were very proud of their work that will help tackle the housing shortage in the community while increasing career opportunities for their skilled workers.

I was so grateful to have the opportunity to visit the Elsipogtog First Nation after so many years. It’s a very progressive place and definitely a tourist destination. Mark it on your calendar for a visit when coming to New Brunswick.

Friends, again, congratulations on your achievement in creating a wonderful cultural experience to share with us, and thank you for joining us today. Wela’lioq, thank you.