Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I don’t know the answer. I’ll certainly have to make inquiries. I’m sure that all Canadians want to be satisfied that our assets — that is, ships and other equipment that are used to protect our sovereignty and the lives of both the people and the communities that live in the North — function properly. I’ll make an inquiry about the cost of the repairs and report back.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I will have to ask the government some questions to answer your specific question. I will come back with an answer.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, and to you and other colleagues for highlighting and underlining this important issue and the challenge that we’re facing as a country to do the right thing by way of the aid workers in Afghanistan.

I’m not in a position to answer your question about the specific measures that the Attorney General may or may not be able or willing to take. That the government is seized with this issue and working hard, as you properly underlined, is a matter now of public record. Yes, legislation takes time. The Criminal Code is a blunt instrument. I will certainly make inquiries with the government and try to get an answer. Even if we’ve risen, I will try to get an answer back to you personally as soon as I can.

Senator Gold: Well, the answer is, of course, yes. That’s what I undertook to do in response to your question.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I will add that to my research to try to get an answer.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question on this reform, which is important. That is something the government is committed to doing. Unfortunately, I don’t have the information you’re looking for. I’m unaware of the schedule or the steps, but I will look into it and try to get an answer.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government appreciates the work done by LGBTQ2+ organizations, and is committed to continuing to work alongside the community and those who support it to create a Canada where everyone in the LGBTQ2+ community can live authentic lives. I am assured that the government welcomes any collaboration to advance equality for the LGBTQ2+ community.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator, thank you for your question. I will certainly have to look into the change in status of our Canadian presence in Armenia. I’ll be happy to report back when I get a proper answer.

Senator Gold: Senator, I will simply repeat my answer because I do not agree with, nor accept, your characterization of the government’s actions, or its motivations. As I said, I will make inquiries regarding the status of the Canadian diplomatic presence in Armenia. As soon as I have an answer, I will report back to the chamber.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2021-22 Annual Report of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsman, entitled Service Matters: Numbers Speak Volumes.

Senator Gold: As I have responded to your question, Senator Black, I have been advised and assured that all measures are in place, and continue to be in place, to protect the health and safety of Canadians when it comes to imported products from anywhere, including Ukraine. I think Canadians can be proud of the standards that we have in place to protect the integrity of our food supply — as they can also be proud of the efforts Canada has taken to assist Ukraine during this unjustified war waged on them by Russia.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): The answer to your question is no.

This doesn’t mean that the commissioner’s recommendations are not important or that the government and the departments identified in the report can’t do better, but the answer is no.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Well, the answer to your question is “yes,” but allow me to elaborate. The government is committed to providing efficient and effective processing of applications to support the successful integration of newcomers to Canada.

I’m advised that applicants can be assured that the 60,000 applications currently in the queue for review are, in fact, being processed. I understand that the codes, which were the subject of your question, are used to differentiate the various stages in the application flow and review. These are means of inventory management, and clients can still expect to be contacted once a decision has been made.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I move that the motion be amended by adding the following new paragraph before the final paragraph.

Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That the motion be not now adopted, but that it be amended by adding the following new paragraph before the final paragraph:

“That the committee to which Bill C-235, An Act respecting the building of a green economy in the Prairies, may have been referred, if that has happened, be authorized to meet today, even though the Senate may then be sitting, with rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto;”.

Senator Gold: Thank you for asking that question, but I’ve answered it many times. I’ve listed the historic levels of investment that this government has made in augmenting our capacity in the North, whether it’s with regard to fighter jets, helicopters or fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft. As I recall — and it seems some months ago — I also provided this chamber with a historical overview of the increases in defence spending that this government has put into place as compared to previous governments.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, on behalf of my colleagues in the Government Representative Office, I would like to welcome our newest colleague to the Red Chamber, Senator Sharon Burey.

Senator Burey has been a practising pediatrician in the Windsor region for more than 20 years. She has also provided care for the smallest patients in northern Ontario. Her list of accomplishments is a long one. She attended the University of Western Ontario, received a Bachelor of Science in Biology, got her medical degree from Dalhousie University and completed a residency in pediatrics at the IWK hospital in Halifax. She served as the president of the Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario. She is a member of the Health Policy Committee of the Ontario Medical Association, or OMA, a former pediatrics delegate to the OMA Council and a former committee member of the OMA Outreach to Women Physicians Committee. She is also an adjunct professor of pediatrics at Western University.

[Translation]

When Senator Burey was appointed, the Windsor Star published an article proudly announcing that a Windsorite had been appointed to the Senate of Canada for the first time in 40 years. What is even more remarkable is that she is the first woman and the first person of colour from Windsor to hold such a position.

Senator Burey, your hometown is very proud of you.

[English]

Senator Burey’s impressive professional and personal experience, her work in the health care field and her perspectives and passion on issues relating to diversity and inclusion are welcome additions to this chamber.

Senator Burey, I hope you’re looking forward to your time here, because we are certainly looking forward to your input and your wisdom as we deliberate, review and study the issues most affecting Canadians.

Senator Gold: Honourable senators, I rise again today on behalf of the Government Representative Office, this time to welcome Senator Rebecca Patterson to our midst.

Senator Patterson comes to us after a stellar career in the Canadian Armed Forces. As someone who holds a diploma in nursing from Niagara College Canada and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing — summa cum laude — from the University of Ottawa, she is the first person with a military nursing background to ever lead at the rank of Flag (General) Officer as Rear‑Admiral. She is a Canadian Armed Forces leader and Defence Champion for Women and, just prior to joining us, she served as Director General, Culture Change, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture, where she coordinated the whole-of-defence policy approach to support Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

[Translation]

She has also had international experience on military deployments to the Persian Gulf, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

[English]

Senator Patterson was named a Global News Edmonton Woman of Vision, was granted the Ontario Premier’s Award for excellence in health sciences for Ontario college graduates, received recognition for “Breaking Down the Barricades” in the highlights of the Esprit de Corps magazine and was presented with a Niagara College distinguished alumni award.

[Translation]

The accomplishment that she is most proud of is being the founder and director of Soldiers Helping Soldiers, a volunteer‑based organization that connects veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with service providers who can help them.

[English]

We are lucky to be welcoming to our Senate ranks someone whose life experiences will help inform us on the timely issues that are so relevant to our studies and deliberations.

Welcome, Senator Patterson.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. It is very regrettable that delays are plaguing the system, and that applicants who want to come to Canada to participate in and enrich our life together are being delayed. Any delay is not acceptable, and it is regrettable.

But as the minister said, and as I stated in my answer to you, Senator Plett, these applications are being managed in terms of the stages of their processing, and applicants will be notified when decisions are made.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I don’t want to minimize the harm done to victims. The stark contrast of those two choices is not necessarily the only answer to your important question. The issue of proportionality, constitutionality even, of consecutive sentences is an important issue in our society, but also in our legal system.

The government believes it is important for all sentences to be proportional and constitutional when judges hand them down. The government will keep working to make sure our justice system is fair and upholds the Constitution.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Minister of National Defence’s Report to Parliament on Culture Change Reforms in response to former Supreme Court Justice Arbour’s recommendations.