Hon. Patricia Bovey: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

As you know, I, along with Senators Coyle and Galvez, attended COP 27 over the last two weeks. For my part, I spent a great deal of time in the discussions around oceans protection, which is coming to the forefront again with COP 15 being held in Montreal in a few weeks.

Canada has accomplished much in this sphere, including the creation of 14 Marine Protected Areas along our coasts. Has the Government of Canada begun consultations regarding the expansion of these protected areas, and is there a proposed timeline as to the introduction of the legislation that has been promised?

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: My question is to Senator Gold, and it is about climate change and the impact of extreme weather conditions across this country, as we have seen most recently with the Hurricane Fiona disaster on our eastern neighbours.

The government created its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan to meet its international commitments to cut carbon emissions by 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030, and it’s adopted an all‑of-the-above approach to meet these goals. However, we need to acknowledge that the federal government does not have plenary power over greenhouse gas emissions, as the Supreme Court of Canada held in the 2021 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act reference. This constitutional constraint could prove to be fatal to this action plan.

What is the government doing to work alongside provinces to implement this plan? Can you inform us as to the status of formal negotiations and discussions between the federal and provincial governments?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, and thank you for underlining the important relationship between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments in the shared challenge of both addressing climate change and also maintaining and securing a prosperous economic future for all Canadians.

I don’t know the specific answer to your question, and I will make efforts to find out. I do know that the Government of Canada is in regular discussions on a variety of issues surrounding climate change initiatives, resource development, environmental assessments and the like. Some provinces are more keen to engage than others, but it’s an ongoing process. I’ll certainly make inquiries with regard to more formal consultations that may be taking place.

Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Honourable senators, usually, when we do tributes here, it is to recognize the achievements of our fellow citizens. However, today, I want to express my amused admiration for a remarkably determined herd of cows.

This is a story about some 20 cows in the region of Saint‑Sévère, Quebec. They escaped their enclosure last summer and, to quote a great article written by journalist Sébastien Houle, they have been “getting back in touch with their wild side” ever since. Witnesses say that they can jump fences like deer. Since their escape four months ago, the herd has even grown because some cows calved.

The Village of Saint-Sévère’s general manager, Marie-Andrée Cadorette, took the situation in hand. She contacted MAPAQ, Quebec’s Department of agriculture, fisheries and food, but it said that there was nothing it could do and suggested that she call the provincial Department of environment, climate change, wildlife and parks. That department said that it could not do anything because cows are not wild animals and suggested that she call the humane society.

The humane society said that it could not do anything because cows are not pets and suggested that she contact MAPAQ, so Ms. Cadorette called MAPAQ again. This time, the department suggested that the municipality destroy the runaways.

Ms. Cadorette responded, “The Municipality is me in a dress and high heels . . . I’m not going to go running after cows!” Fair enough.

Ms. Cadorette then contacted the Sûreté du Québec, the police, to ask them to kill the cows, but they refused because, in their view, this was not an emergency situation.

Finally, Ms. Cadorette got in touch with some cowboys through the Saint-Tite western festival, which is a wonderful local tradition. For the first time, someone agreed to help.

On October 30, the night before Halloween, nine cowboys arrived in Saint-Sévère: eight on horseback and one armed with a drone. The cowboys located the cows and almost managed to round them up, but the cows escaped through a corn field at the last minute. They are still on the run, hiding in the woods by day and grazing by night.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dogged determination of Marie-Andrée Cadorette and wish her the best of luck. Don’t give up. I would also like to commend the cowboys who stepped up when every government department and police force in Quebec said there was nothing they could do. There is a political lesson in there somewhere.

Finally, I would like to confess my unbridled admiration for these cows that have found freedom and are still out there, frolicking about. While we overcomplicate things, these cows are learning to jump fences.

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 2 p.m.

Hon. Rosa Galvez: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the ParlAmericas concerning the Sixth Gathering of ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network, held as virtual sessions on March 9, 15 and 22, 2022.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, yesterday the National Cattle Feeders’ Association was in Ottawa to speak with parliamentarians. One of their priority issues is the fact that, while this government is demanding that the industry make changes to help meet carbon emissions targets, they are doing little to help facilitate these changes.

One example of this is the feed additive referred to as 3-NOP. This additive is already approved for use in several countries, including the EU, Australia, Chile and Brazil, and has proven to consistently reduce emissions of methane from cattle by up to 90%, Senator Gold. This is very significant, yet the product has not been approved in Canada because of lengthy and burdensome approval processes.

Senator Gold, can you tell me if your government will commit to prioritizing the approval process of this product as requested by the National Cattle Feeders’ Association?

Hon. Scott Tannas: My question is for Senator Housakos in his capacity as the Chair of the Transport and Communications Committee.

We all know the internet is critical for building businesses and engaging in the digital economy. In this age, the internet is vital to our everyday lives in key areas like health, education and justice. That has actually led to the UN recognizing internet connectivity as a fundamental human right.

I met yesterday with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. Everybody knows that rural Canadians receive slower internet speeds at much higher prices than folks in urban areas. This year, they ran some tests in their member municipalities and found median speeds were about one third of what would be considered acceptable in an urban environment — less than one third of what would be a minimum standard.

It’s a complex issue. We know that. Wireless access and spectrum access are critical. There are a number of companies that have purchased wireless spectrum in rural markets and have not used it; they are hanging onto it, with no intention in the short or even medium term of putting it to use.

Bill S-242, the “Use It or Lose It” bill, is part of the equation for a solution. It is before your committee now. Can you advise the Senate when the committee will begin its review of that bill?

Hon. Leo Housakos: Thank you, Senator Tannas, for your important and timely question.

As you know, our committee is currently seized with government legislation — we have before us Bill C-11 — and, as always, government legislation is our priority.

I say your question is timely because one of the biggest criticisms we have been hearing on Bill C-11 is the inclusion of user-generated content. The government keeps claiming that this legislation is one of the driving forces to give more voices to under-represented people in this country.

However, the opposite seems to be being achieved, particularly when it comes to digital creators. We’ve heard from many of them, including those typically under-represented voices who are doing a number of interesting things right now using the internet. They’ve been telling the Senate committee that Indigenous creators and cultural communities are getting opportunities they have never had before thanks to digital platforms. But numerous digital creators we heard from also told us that the government should really just stay out of the way of marginalized and Indigenous Canadians’ and allow them to continue to use those media to prosper and grow.

But your point is very well taken. They brought up on a number of occasions that the biggest problem that Indigenous communities in the North and Canadians in rural Canada are facing is the lack of connectivity. Of course, the cost of connectivity is significantly higher as compared to the rest of the world.

So your question is relevant. The bill is in the queue. Unfortunately — or fortunately — we have a number of pieces of government legislation that we’re dealing with. But I hope to get to this bill, because I agree with you and the stakeholders in question with whom you’ve met that instead of our government in Canada putting so much time and energy in living in the past — because Canada, once upon a time, was a world leader in communication; that was a time when I was a young boy. Today in 2022, we have fallen behind the digital curve. I think the government should refocus its efforts toward increasing connectivity in rural and Northern Canada and allow the under-represented voices to continue to use the internet and the digital market to grow.

I wish I could give you a better answer in terms of the timeline, but I will take it to our steering committee and I will write back to you on this issue.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. The open court principle is a cornerstone of our justice system. The government is quite concerned about media reports on the court proceeding in Quebec and is keeping a close eye on developments. As you know, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada is an independent entity. As this case is still before the courts and was in fact the subject of an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, it would be inappropriate for the government to comment further.

Senator Boisvenu: Senator Gold, I was not talking about the justice system. I was talking about the Minister of Justice’s interference in the justice system.

In the SNC-Lavalin affair, former minister Jody Wilson-Raybould lost her job because she refused to cave to pressure from the Prime Minister to spare SNC-Lavalin a criminal trial. What will become of Minister Lametti? Will he stay or will he go?

Senator Plett: Somehow, housing prices doubling in six years is an indication that your government has been successful. It is mind-boggling how anyone could even try to draw that out of what the government has done.

Your government has promised action on this over the course of multiple elections and has had numerous opportunities to put forward concrete solutions to fix this housing crisis. It is abundantly clear that the Band-Aid solutions and one-time top-up benefits proposed by your government will do nothing to make housing more affordable for Canadians in the long term. Are you and your government comfortable with this simply being yet another broken election promise?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table the answers to the following oral questions:

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on December 16, 2021, by the Honourable Senator Patterson, concerning consultation with interested organizations.

Response to the oral question asked in the Senate on June 21, 2022, by the Honourable Senator Plett, concerning passport services.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Dennis Glen Patterson on December 16, 2021)

Justice Canada is consulting and cooperating with Indigenous peoples on the implementation of the UN Declaration Act (UNDA). The process focuses primarily on First Nations, Inuit and Métis rights holders, including modern treaty signatories, self-governing nations and historic treaty partners, and national/regional Indigenous representative organizations. It also includes engagement with Indigenous women, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Plus (2SLGBTQI+) as well as urban Indigenous and other organizations.

There was also a call for proposals to support Indigenous participation in the engagement process, including support for Indigenous-led consultations. An online form is also available to help ensure that the voices of individuals and community-based organizations are heard.

The next phase of engagement will follow the release of a draft action plan in February 2023. This phase will focus on validating the priorities identified by First Nations, Inuit and Metis and on addressing any gaps, leading to the completion of the action plan by June 2023.

In June 2022, the Government tabled its inaugural annual progress report as required by Section 7 of the Act, outlining work undertaken in 2021-22 to implement the UNDA. Planning is already under way to consult and cooperate with Indigenous partners on the 2023 progress report.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Donald Neil Plett on June 21, 2022)

Service Canada (SC) has streamlined the in-person application process by implementing triage measures to provide a more client-specific approach. Before offices open at busier locations, managers and executives are speaking with clients to assess urgency/situation. Triage measures have been implemented in Richmond, Quebec City, Gatineau, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Laval, Vancouver, Surrey, and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Triage methods vary by location and are based on local circumstances. As a result, in-person services are more reflective of a pre-COVID experience where lineups are manageable and passports are delivered within our service standards.

SC took a number of additional actions to help stabilize the passport program. In July, we saw significant gains, but intake still outstripped production. Throughout August and September application intake levelled off. As of mid‑August, we are consistently entitling more passports on a weekly basis than we are receiving.

The Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration was suspended as of June 20, 2022. Passport employees on administrative leave due to non-compliance with the Policy were contacted by managers to arrange their return to work as early as June 20. As of October 17, there are more than 2,200 employees processing and supporting the program.

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(At 2:53 p.m., the Senate was continued until Thursday, November 24, 2022, at 2 p.m.)