Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

(Debate concluded.)

(At 3:52 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

Senator Marshall: Thank you for that answer, Senator Gold, but the spending plans of the government — most of them have been approved, and we’re nearing the end of the approval processes. Therefore, when we do get those documents, it’s going to be after the fact and they’re not going to be much use to us.

But just continuing with the government’s lack of transparency and accountability, the government has provided a number of debt management strategies over the past two years, telling us what they are planning to do with regard to the government’s borrowing program. However, we have not received any actual reports, such as the Debt Management Report. We are still waiting for that from last year. When are we going to get that report? We have all these spending plans to approve, but we’re not receiving the government’s accountability documents that we need in order to complete our studies.

Hon. Pat Duncan: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, in June of this year, George Rae, Director of Policy Analysis Initiative at Employment and Social Development Canada, told senators at the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry that the Canada Employment Insurance Commission reviews the boundaries for EI economic regions at least once every five years. He said the last one was concluded in 2021. Pierre Laliberté, Commissioner for Workers, Canada Employment Insurance Commission, also said the review is complete. The next review will start next year in 2023.

My question is: What did the review recommend about Prince Edward Island’s two zones, and when, if at all, is the minister intending to share these recommendations with parliamentarians and, more importantly, with Canadians? They do not appear to have been made public.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I don’t know, and I will have to make inquiries. I know that this is a bill that we in the Senate sent — at least a bill dealing with the P.E.I. situation — to committee, and I’m hopeful that the answers may be elicited and provided there, but, in any event, I will make inquiries.

Hon. Brent Cotter: Honourable senators, what I did for the weekend made me proud and privileged to be a Canadian. On Friday, I went to a citizenship ceremony in Saskatoon. It was probably the largest ever in Saskatchewan. Three hundred and six people took the oath to become new Canadians. Overseen by citizen judge Suzanne Carrière, an outstanding citizenship judge, it was an uplifting, emotional experience. I am grateful to be a Canadian.

Then, on Sunday, my brother and I — and I know Senator Smith is waiting for this part — went to the Grey Cup football game in Regina. I had bought tickets to the game back in August when it looked like my beloved Saskatchewan Rough Riders would be playing in the game. Alas, that did not happen by a mile.

The game was between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts. It was an outstanding event, and my congratulations go out to the Canadian Football League, or CFL, my friend Scott Banda, who is the chair of the board of the CFL, Commissioner Ambrosie and particularly the good citizens of Regina who delivered another outstanding Grey Cup celebratory event — an uplifting Canadian event. In my view, the Grey Cup and the two national curling championships, the Brier and the Scotties, are the most quintessentially Canadian sporting events we have in this country.

Now to the game. There is a convention in many regions of the country that we only cheer for Toronto teams when there is no one else to cheer for. On the other hand, there is a law in Saskatchewan — it is part of The Saskatchewan First Act that you might have heard about. It’s clause 13 of that act. Clause 13 is a particular number in the hearts of Saskatchewanians, as Senator Smith will know. Clause 13 is written in the act in invisible ink. Only Saskatchewanians can read it. I can read it. Here is what it says: “Saskatchewan Rough Riders first in our hearts. Winnipeg Blue Bombers last in our hearts.” Nevertheless, I was cheering for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the game. I may have some explaining to do back home.

The game was a fascinating one with perhaps the most dramatic finish in the history of the Grey Cup. Toronto won by one point. Congratulations to the Toronto Argonauts as Grey Cup champions for 2022.

With respect to Winnipeg, though, they are an outstanding football team harkening back to the dynasties — some will remember this as sports fans — of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the 1960s when people like Kenny Ploen, Leo Lewis and Ernie Pitts were stars, and they were coached by Bud Grant, perhaps the most outstanding football coach in professional football history.

It is quite possible that the Winnipeg loss in this Grey Cup is merely a modest interruption in what may well be for modern day Winnipeg Blue Bombers the building of another — the word I want to say next is dynasty, but I can’t quite bring myself to say it.

Congratulations to all. Grey Cup 2022 was an outstanding Canadian event. Thank you.

Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Senator Gold, my question is about the conflict between Minister Duclos and the provinces over health transfers. Health is a provincial responsibility, which is what makes this impasse so frustrating. This is not shared jurisdiction.

The nub of the problem seems to be the federal government’s desire to attach certain conditions to the transfers so that everyone works toward building “a world-class health data system.” We already have the Canadian Institute for Health Information, a not-for-profit organization whose board of directors includes a Health Canada deputy minister, an official from Statistics Canada and officials from the provincial health care systems.

Why is the government trying to reinvent the wheel and add another layer of bureaucracy rather than speedily transferring its fair share to the provinces?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I’ll answer briefly, but it raises some complex issues. Life would be very simple if every time the provinces asked for more money, no matter how it was used, the federal government said yes. That’s not how responsible government works.

Unfortunately, discussions between Minister Duclos and his counterparts were unsuccessful because of the premiers’ influence over their health ministers. They insisted that the money should be transferred without conditions and that they wanted a meeting with the Prime Minister as soon as possible. This is not how the Government of Canada should respond on an issue as important as health care funding.

With respect to your question, I think it’s appropriate for the federal government to ask the provincial and territorial governments to share their data in order to give Canadians, no matter where they live, access to the most appropriate health care system possible for a developed country.

Hon. Brian Francis: Senator Gold, according to a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who testified last week at the Indigenous Peoples Committee, the significant increase in funding allocated to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, or CIRNAC, and Indigenous Services Canada, or ISC, from 2015 to 2023 has not resulted in a commensurate increase in their ability to meet their own performance indicators. In addition, while targets are often amended, changed or not met at all, the compensation of deputy ministers and other executive-level staff responsible for day-to-day operations is not affected.

Senator Gold, could you please provide us with a detailed explanation of how current performance indicators are set and measured by both departments? Also, what are the contributors, consequences and solutions for the continuous failure to meet performance indicators?

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

Like other taxes and benefits, senator, the alcohol excise duty rate is automatically adjusted each year to account for inflation. The government is of the view that this is the right approach, and that it provides certainty to this sector while ensuring that our tax system is fair for all Canadians.

My understanding is that the increase to which you refer is less than one fifth of one cent per can of beer, and there were specific measures implemented to take into consideration the needs of craft brewers. The government is committed to continuing to work to make life more affordable for Canadians — while working to promote healthy competition, thereby building the economy of the future.

Hon. Michèle Audette: Good afternoon, honourable senators.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Audette spoke in Innu.]

Greetings, all.

Colleagues, I rise before you today with a great deal of love and emotion, and a tremendous amount of pride. As you can see, you have before you strong women, gentle warriors.

[English]

These are women who walked thousands and thousands of miles to advocate, stood against the odds and never gave up — ever. These women never gave up on raising awareness and ensuring that a national inquiry into, and justice for, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls would come to life. On top of that, I had the utmost privilege to be advised by them during the national inquiry. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are awesome, you are amazing — all of you.

Among these wonderful women, of course, is a special friend Denise Pictou-Maloney, the daughter of Anna Mae Pictou‑Aquash, a prominent American Indian Movement activist who was brutally killed in 1976. Denise and her family have fought hard to obtain justice for her mother. Today, there is a film crew following Denise on her journey. The story of her mother will be immortalized and broadcast, which also means that her mother’s legacy will live and the truth will win.

[Translation]

Colleagues, these women are some of the architects of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It is the history of all these women, the history of too many women who have lost a loved one.

[English]

I want to say thank you to the National Family and Survivors Circle for your advocacy on behalf of my daughter and all young girls across this country.

[Translation]

When I question the government about implementing calls to justice, the importance of having an ombudsman, a follow-up and accountability mechanism, a tribunal, my voice is the voice of thousands of women who deserve for their safety to remain a priority.

[English]

A year ago today I was sworn in as a senator — you are my gift today. Thank you very much.

Senator Plett: The utter lack of respect the government has for Canadians is shameful. To accuse the opposition of not having the proper questions — questions that you do not like, Senator Gold — is also reflective of that. You may not like our questions, Senator Gold, but you are obliged to answer them honestly.

Leader, even in the face of growing evidence that suggests that your plan is not working, your government continues to double down on its soft-on-crime approach that leaves Canadians vulnerable. We saw that last week, Senator Gold.

The Prime Minister continues to proudly proclaim that he took action on gun violence, but he didn’t. What he did was take action against people who aren’t hurting anyone, and never will. That same Prime Minister has also reduced penalties for dangerous people who use illegally acquired guns in the commission of gang-related crimes. These are facts, Senator Gold.

When will your government stop making it easier to be a criminal in Canada and start working to keep victims and Canadians safe?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): My next question, Senator Gold, relates to an answer I received to an Order Paper question I posed some time ago related to the operational ability of the used fighter planes that the government purchased from Australia in 2018. The answer indicated that out of 18 used aircraft purchased, only 6 are operational. There are no opposition points to be made here. Each aircraft apparently requires a month of extensive inspections and modifications prior to being made operational.

All of this means that the used aircraft we have bought will not be in full operational service until at least the middle of next year, assuming that even that deadline can be met.

Leader, how does your government justify the fact that it argued that these aircraft were supposed to fill a gap and yet here we are, Senator Gold, four years later with only six operational aircraft from that purchase?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I will certainly have to look into the details of the specific aircraft that require additional maintenance. I am sure that all senators would agree that, until those airplanes are properly reviewed and properly maintained, they should not fly. I will certainly make inquiries and report back when I can.

Senator Gold: I will make inquiries and report back.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government’s Fall Economic Statement and its management of the economy are proving to be sound and responsible. Federal spending dropped 21.6% between 2020-21 and 2021-22. I understand the most recent job numbers released by Statistics Canada show that our labour market gained over 100,000 jobs in October, with an unemployment rate of 5.2% below pre-pandemic levels. Our rate of real GDP growth remains at 2.3% — above its pre-pandemic level back in the fourth quarter of 2019. Our growth remains strong. S&P recently reaffirmed our AAA rating with a stable outlook, and this further highlights Canada’s responsible fiscal framework.

In addition, I note that in the recent update of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or PBO, it states:

For the current fiscal year 2022-23, PBO projects the deficit to decline to $25.8 billion (0.9 per cent of GDP) under status quo policy.

It goes on, “. . . the budgetary deficit is projected to decline further, reaching $3.1 billion (0.1 per cent of GDP) in 2027-28 . . . .”

Canada came into the pandemic with the lowest net debt‑to‑GDP ratio in the G7, and we’ve increased our relative advantage throughout this period.

Hon. Leo Housakos: Government leader, the Leader of the Opposition attempted to get some straight answers, and clearly all he got was talking points about what a great job the government has done.

I can tell you that, in the last couple of weeks, I have been meeting with people on the front lines, with middle-class and poor communities, directors of school boards and teachers. There is a sad and historic fact that kids are going to school with hungry stomachs. There are currently soup kitchens with record demand in our city of Montreal.

Don’t tell us what the government has done so successfully, because what I got back from teachers and school board directors is that kids are showing up with no supplies, old shoes and boots, worn-out coats and hungry stomachs. Don’t tell us the successes, because these are facts; we can tour the school boards together in Montreal. Tell us how this is going to be resolved.

Hon. René Cormier: Honourable senators, I rise briefly today to speak about the report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages tabled in this chamber on November 17 in relation to the subject matter of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

People have been waiting many years for the Official Languages Act to be modernized given that the last major reform of this quasi-constitutional act dates back to 1988.

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages produced five reports on this issue between 2017 and 2019 following a comprehensive study involving the participation of many people and industry stakeholders. Obviously, the idea of modernizing this act is nothing new.

Since May 31, 2022, as part of its pre-study on the subject matter of the bill, the committee held eight meetings, heard from 41 witnesses and received 22 briefs.

The committee placed a particular focus on the study of certain parts of Bill C-13, namely the provision regarding the bill’s purpose, Part VII, the new powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and the new legislation on the use of French in federally regulated private businesses.

I want to sincerely thank all the committee members for their hard work and commitment throughout this pre-study process. I would also like to thank the witnesses as well as the organizations and individuals who appeared or submitted a brief during this process.

Centred around seven main themes, this report sets out the committee’s general observations on selected issues that either achieved consensus or divided the experts and stakeholders.

The committee is asking the federal government to consider, without delay, the various issues raised in this report.

Colleagues, I believe that the numerous and varied reactions described in this report demonstrate that Bill C-13, once passed, will shape the future and the vitality of our two official languages and our country. I also believe that this report will help you to reflect on the merits of this legislation.

As chair of this committee, I am therefore pleased and honoured to have tabled this report in the Senate.

Thank you. Meegwetch.

(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)

Hon. David Richards: Honourable senators, this is Senator Ravalia’s bill that I will speak to in support.

I grew up in an area where, years ago, 15-year-old boys carried wood on their backs to the yard in the fall and skipped school to work in the holds of ships for $1 an hour and, coming from very little, made decent lives for themselves, never took a penny that was not theirs or committed a crime, and so I believe in self‑determination and integrity as much as anyone in this chamber.

However, there are those so damaged in the womb, they come to the world with very little hope of integrity or knowledge of self.

My sister-in-law fostered children with fetal alcohol syndrome for many years. She did so because of an obligation, having had a foster brother with fetal alcohol syndrome and no longer knowing where he is or, in fact, what jail he might be in. He is in his late 40s and she is not really sure if he is still alive. He asked her the last time she saw him if she knew why he was in jail because he did not himself know or remember.

You might recognize fetal alcohol children; their features are ever so slightly altered. Many times they have a flat surface where the nose ridge should be. Oftentimes they cannot stand noise, and worse, as children, many cannot stand another’s physical touch, so a bond with someone like her foster brother to my sister-in-law was almost impossible.

Sometimes anything at all will unsettle a fetal alcohol child and she or he will begin to scream and be unable to stop. Therefore, from the time of birth, they are in their own world and no one else’s. But they are also susceptible to suggestion because so often they have a need and a desperate wish to belong to others. They turn up anywhere someone may care for them and do things in the hope that they too may be liked or loved.

They are also blamed by the parents who cannot handle who they are or what they, the mother and father, through their own addiction to alcohol, have created when the fetal alcohol child begins to create mayhem in the house. “If it were not for you, I would not be drinking. You are the one who caused all of this.” So many of them have heard this as children from the time that they were six years old. In the world that they were in, they begin — and parents often allow this and welcome it — to drink and do drugs themselves. I have seen six-year-old boys drugged and drunk, and by eight the parents have fled, and they too are in foster care.

They are sent to foster homes, and, as in the case of my sister‑in-law’s brother, finally no foster home can hold them and they end up on the street or in jail, sometimes for acts they cannot remember having done. My sister-in-law is afraid she will get a call to tell her that her brother is dead, and the love she has had for him and the sacrifices she made for other children, both White and First Nations — that in fact she has given much of her life to — will not have mattered.

In fact, it is a brutal scenario no social worker is really equipped to handle and certainly one that no judge or police officer can mitigate fully — not that they do not wish to, not that they have not tried.

“Why did you do such-and-such?” my sister, a judge in New Brunswick, has often asked young men and women with fetal alcohol syndrome, hardly older than boys and girls. There is no answer except one of the most prevalent ones: Someone put it into their head to do so, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Like the burning of houses along our street. Four houses were set alight by a First Nations boy with fetal alcohol syndrome. It could easily have been a White boy. People escaped with their lives, but the pets were lost, and one man rushed back in, desperately trying to find his three cats. The young fellow had picked that side of the street. He could have picked ours. And later, when they asked him why, he said he didn’t really know.

Someone said to me that this proves that they shouldn’t be born. But to me, it proves something else. It proves that all life is sacred, and through our own folly and missteps, we have lost our responsibility toward them, or their parents have, and all of us must begin to recognize this.

There is no mandate that will ever stop reckless or even criminal behaviour. The lives of many women and their partners are in turmoil; many have had little or no chance. The idea of social drinking is almost obligatory where I come from and where many of us come from. Still, I support this bill brought forward by Senator Ravalia and hope that his suggestions are given full weight, and anything that can be done, even in small measures, should be.

Labelling on bottles, as Senator Brazeau has suggested, is long overdue. And every bar in Canada might have a sign saying, “Alcohol consumption can be extremely detrimental to your unborn child, and excess drinking will cause fetal alcohol syndrome.”

As well, a functioning national database and programs to educate are needed from one end of the country to the other to indicate the serious nature of this problem.

If even these small measures had been in place some years before, my sister-in-law might not be seeking in vain to find her brother, lost in a network of jails, and the houses on my street might not have been burned in the middle of the night.

For these reasons, I ask for your support of Senator Ravalia’s bill. Thank you.

(On motion of Senator Martin, for Senator Ataullahjan, debate adjourned.)

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition) rose pursuant to notice of May 18, 2022:

That he will call the attention of the Senate to the impact on Canada’s public finances of the NDP-Liberal agreement entitled Delivering for Canadians Now, A Supply and Confidence Agreement.

He said: Thank you, Your Honour. I see that this is at day 15, so I would like to move the adjournment for the balance of my time.

(On motion of Senator Plett, debate adjourned.)