Senator Carignan: Now that we see the disaster caused by the Trudeau government’s legalization of cannabis looming on the horizon, what does the government plan on doing to reduce youth’s access to cannabis products, improve Canadians’ health, prevent criminals from pocketing profits and stop drug trafficking?

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. The Cannabis Council of Canada estimates that the black market continues to represent at least 50% of cannabis sales in this country. According to the council, the black market for cannabis is still flourishing four years after cannabis was legalized in Canada. The industry’s viability is at risk. Apparently, nearly all Canadian cannabis producers are operating at a deficit or are on the verge of bankruptcy.

In short, the Cannabis Council of Canada asserts that the Trudeau government’s legalization of cannabis did not achieve the three main objectives because young people still have access to it on the black market, the quality of black market products doesn’t protect Canadians’ health, and organized crime continues to profit. As we saw last week, cross-border smuggling, particularly in the United States, is at record levels.

The opposition raised these four issues when the cannabis legalization bill was being studied. Senator Gold, will you admit that we were right?