The Hon. the Speaker: All those in favour please say, “yea.”

The Hon. the Speaker: All those opposed please say, “nay.”

Some Hon. Senators: Nay.

The Hon. the Speaker: I see two senators rising.

And two honourable senators having risen:

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

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. Robert Black: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. As you may know, an immediate export certificate was approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, or CFIA, on December 1 that will allow chicken products from certain Ukrainian producers to be brought into Canada without tariffs and quotas under the Ukrainian Goods Remission Order.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the speed with which the CFIA approved this certificate, despite the fact that the Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee in the other place was still examining the issue. While I appreciate that moving nimbly in volatile situations is sometimes necessary, it is difficult to imagine that the CFIA had enough time to consider witness testimony, especially remarks from representatives from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress that highlighted the destruction of civil infrastructure targeted by Russian missiles.

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Honourable colleagues, the United States, which conducted its audit of the Ukrainian poultry and meat system in 2018-19 alongside Canada and our CFIA inspectors, has decided to delay its decision regarding Ukraine’s export permit until the war is over and it is possible to reassess the state of Ukraine’s food safety infrastructure.

Senator Gold, with the knowledge that one of our greatest allies is delaying their own decision based on their ability to reassess Ukrainian infrastructure, can you confirm that your government is confident that the inspection, and critical infrastructure, that was in place in 2019 is still valid today?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Senator Burey’s children, John Burey, Tecla Burey Vernon and Marie-Louise Burey, as well as her brother, Omar C.C. Burey. They are accompanied by other family and friends.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Senator R. Patterson’s spouse, Lieutenant-Colonel Shane Patterson; her children, Olivia Patterson and Corporal William Patterson; her sister, Rosemary MacDonald; and the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre. They are accompanied by family and friends.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Marshall, I apologize. I must interrupt you. It is now 6 p.m. Pursuant to rule 3-3(1), I must leave the chair until 8 p.m. unless it is agreed that we do not see the clock. Is it agreed that we do not see the clock?

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Hon. Denise Batters: Senator Marshall, going back to this non-existent corporation, did I understand you correctly that not only will this non-existent corporation the government is creating under Bill C-32 receive $2 billion by virtue of this bill, but it will also potentially receive additional unspecified money? If so, is there a limit put on that unspecified amount?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Senator Cotter’s partner, Professor Elaine Gibson, as well as Klara Doelle, Diane Pinet and Sudhir Nagpal.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

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.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: It was moved by the Honourable Senator Gagné, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gold, that this bill be read a second time.

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

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.