Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): I guess we will have to wait another 40 days, I will ask the question again and hopefully not get the same answer.

In a new report entitled Patrol and Persuade, Safeguard Defenders, a human rights organization based in Spain, found dozens of additional overseas Chinese police service centres around the world, including at least two right here in Canada.

Senator Gold, your government has told us that it is taking the matter seriously and investigating. Why then do we have to find out what is happening in our own country from an organization operating overseas? Had the government identified these additional stations prior to this report? If so, why was this information not shared with the public? Most importantly, why are these illegal police stations still operating on Canadian soil?

Senator Martin: In addition to higher costs caused by inflation and higher interest rates, the government will hurt small businesses by increasing energy costs and payroll taxes. It seems the government is either deaf to the demands of the business community or has no interest in helping small businesses.

Leader, why won’t the government cancel its planned hikes of carbon and payroll taxes that will hurt small businesses?

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: My question is to the Government Representative.

More than six months ago, the Honourable Louise Arbour, in her Independent External Comprehensive Review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, made 48 recommendations on how to change the way military sexual misconduct allegations are reported and handled. Days after the Arbour report was released in May, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand promised to report to Parliament by year’s end on the government’s implementation plan.

Senator Gold, it is now December 6, a day to focus on the continuum of violence against women and girls. With less than 10 sitting days remaining on the parliamentary calendar, can you please advise this chamber on when we will receive Minister Anand’s promised report on implementation of the Arbour recommendations and, in particular, which recommendations are being declined by the government?

Senator Gold: The government takes its responsibilities to Indigenous peoples, and with regard to UNDRIP very seriously — so seriously that this government introduced legislation for which the majority in the Senate, though not members of your group, voted. This government does more than pay lip service; it has done more to work with Indigenous partners and communities to advance this country on a path towards reconciliation. The work is enormous and it will take generations. It is this government that has begun the work in a serious way.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): I have a few questions if Senator Audette will accept them.

Senator Audette: Of course.

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?

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.)

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, in his November 15 report, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux identified $14.2 billion in new measures announced in the Fall Economic Statement for which no specific details were provided.

This spending represents 17% of all new measures in the Fall Economic Statement. As Mr. Giroux testified at the House of Commons Finance Committee, “This lack of transparency presents challenges for parliamentarians and the public in scrutinizing the Government’s spending plans.” He also said that “The government knows quite well the measures that are going to be funded, but is not disclosing them.”

Again, let me repeat: “The government knows quite well the measures that are going to be funded, but is not disclosing them.”

Senator Gold, why won’t your government come clean and tell Canadians what this $14.2 billion of new spending is for?

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.