The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Unless Senator Dalphond is requesting we add five minutes.

[Translation]

Senator Dalphond, are you asking for five more minutes?

Senator Plett: And again and again.

Senator Gold: I will begin again, colleagues.

Senator Cotter: My short question is about the bijural nature of Canada, not specifically to this bill, but the question will get there.

As you may know, Senator Dalphond, Paul-André Crépeau, a distinguished Canadian, is sometimes described as the father of the modern Civil Code of Quebec. I’m mentioning him in particular because, as you may know, he was born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, has received honorary doctorates from Dalhousie University and the University of Saskatchewan and has a doctorate of laws from Sorbonne University. My question is partly in terms of the constructive bijural nature of Canada, which is emphasized by his work. Would he have anticipated the need for the exercise we are now going about, and do you think he would have supported this as a corollary requirement of supporting the bijural nature you spoke of?

Senator Gold: As I said, the government, the minister and Prime Minister have already shared their thoughts on that. We will be making inquiries to ensure that the integrity of our systems is protected.

[English]

An Hon. Senator: Order, please.

Senator Gold: Your passion on behalf of veterans is justified. The implications that this government doesn’t care is odious. It is simply not the case. Please allow me to express my feelings and my statement.

My understanding is that it may have been simply one person who made this offer. The investigation is under way. The government is taking this seriously —

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. It is a serious issue.

The government is aware of the concerns expressed not only by several doctors and doctors’ groups, but also by some provinces and territories that are taking the issue seriously and reflecting on what should be done.

That being said, a report being prepared for February will contain some recommendations on this subject, and the government will take all of this into consideration before making a decision.

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question.

The C.D. Howe Institute plays an important role. It is one of many think tanks in this country with a range of different ideological stripes.

The fact is that Canada remains an attractive place. It is a stable, democratic country with a healthy economy and an educated workforce, and Canada will continue to be a place where businesses can flourish.

Hon. Leo Housakos: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(a), I move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to meet on Thursday, December 8, 2022, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

Hon. Leo Housakos: My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Yesterday, the Auditor General released a scathing report on the Trudeau government’s spending during the pandemic. She found that over $4 billion was paid to individuals who were ineligible for benefits. She went on to say that payments amounting to $27 billion were suspicious.

In the House of Commons, the Minister of National Revenue suggested the Auditor General was playing political games. She said the Auditor General was pressured by the opposition to produce this report. That is obviously totally false and ridiculous. Shame on her for attacking an officer of Parliament like that.

Senator Gold, why is the government trying to discredit the work of the Auditor General?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, my next question is indeed troubling and very personal. There are now four reported cases of veterans being offered assisted suicide by the federal government, and more cases are expected to come forward.

The Veterans Affairs’ website has the following message front and centre:

If you are a current or former member of the CAF or RCMP, or a family member, we have targeted services and benefits to improve your well-being.

I have pause, as I struggle to stomach this, Senator Gold. The department responsible for providing support and services to members of the Canadian Forces — to soldiers who have put their own lives at risk for us and for others — is offering to our veterans assisted suicide to end their lives, Senator Gold.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question.

As the Minister of Finance has announced in various speeches surrounding the Fall Economic Statement, the projections of the government are on track for the budget to continue to come down.

The Government of Canada, I repeat, has acted in a prudent and responsible fashion. Indeed, as former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, in expressing his agreement with how quickly and effectively the Government of Canada responded to the challenges of the pandemic, noted more recently than the beginning of the pandemic, “We’ve never had a recovery as rapid as the one we had in 2021. It was incredible.”

In that regard, Senator Plett, the government will continue to work in the best interests of Canadians, as it was elected to do.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator.

The government understands, as I’ve said before in this chamber, the importance of investing in research and our students, including graduate students. Indeed, the government has made historical investments in fundamental research over the last five years.

Colleagues, I note that the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System was launched on October 6, 2022, and this panel will provide the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Health with policy advice on the structure, the governance and the management of the federal system that supports research and talent. As well, the panel will advise how to ensure that federal support for Canada’s academic research enterprise is coordinated, cohesive, responsive and agile.

The government looks forward to the panel’s work, and it is always looking for ways it can better serve Canadians.

Details of the upcoming budget for this initiative will be made available once it has been tabled.

Senator Dalphond: Yes, of course, with trepidation given that the question is from the bill’s sponsor.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Martin: Last summer it was the C.D. Howe Institute that issued a report which found that Canada was lagging behind other OECD countries for attracting investment. Researchers wrote:

Business investment is so weak that capital per member of the labour force is falling, and the implications for incomes and competitiveness are ominous.

William B.P. Robson writes:

Investment per available worker lower in Canada than abroad tells us that businesses see less opportunity in Canada, and prefigures weaker growth in Canadian earnings and living standards than in other OECD countries.

Senator Gold, do you agree with all the experts who say that Canada, under Justin Trudeau, is no longer attractive to foreign investors? And what is your government’s plan to correct this?

Senator Dalphond: Bijuralism is a rather Quebec-specific concept. When I was in university, we did not have the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms yet, but we had a lot of discussions about bijuralism and the need to harmonize federal laws with Quebec’s civil law. My professor, André Morel, wrote many articles on the subject.

When the federal harmonization policy was adopted in 1991 or 1993, but before bilingual drafting was introduced, a separate civil law unit was created at the Department of Justice. I believe that happened in 1991. It was a good sign. A deputy minister for civil law was appointed. I believe it was Justice Anne-Marie Trahan. When the bijuralism policy was announced in 1995, it was welcomed in Quebec. I attended many law faculty lectures, and I must confess that I own the three-volume collection published by the Department of Justice on lexicology, history and bijuralism.

Not enough people realize what Canada contributes. As a bijural federation, it is something of a rarity internationally. Our contribution, not only to common law in French and civil law in English, but to bijuralism at the same time, is entirely unique, in my opinion. In that sense, in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada, I think we can be proud. We are participating in two of the world’s great legal traditions, which is also fantastic. I hope that answers your question.

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[English]