Hon. Colin Deacon: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be authorized to meet on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., even though the Senate may then be sitting and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): My question again is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Senator Gold, the Trudeau government spent over $54 million to develop the failed ArriveCAN app, something that could have been done for $1 million or $2 million. Obviously, someone made a lot of money on this, and as usual with the Liberals, we all suspect it is Liberal insiders who profited. Now the plot thickens. We learned this morning that ThinkOn never received any money for the app. The Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, had listed ThinkOn as having received $1.2 million in a reply to an Order Paper question in the House. “We received no money from the CBSA,” said Mr. Craig McLellan, CEO of ThinkOn. Nor has ThinkOn done any work on ArriveCAN, he claims.

Senator Gold, why did CBSA give that information to Parliament if this is not true? Can you tell us who received the over $1 million of taxpayer funds?

Senator Plett: Well, I am sure you will add it to the list of things that we have to wait for answers for. The government refuses to allow a committee of the House to study the expenses on ArriveCAN and the value Canadian taxpayers got for that money.

I do not think you have to do any research on this one, Senator Gold. I do respect that you have to on my first question. Senator Gold, would you agree that our Senate National Finance Committee or our Transport and Communications Committee should be tasked with such a study? If the government has nothing to hide, why not let the Senate get to the bottom of this?

Senator Gold: I wish it were in my power — or anyone’s power — to ensure the realization of those objectives.

I can tell you that I met with Minister Miller today. I know that he and his colleagues — Minister Dan Vandal and many others — are taking a whole-of-government approach to try to work on all aspects of this, especially for communities like yours, and others, that are more remote from decision-making centres and, unfortunately, too infrequently in those centres’ minds.

The government is committed to doing what it can. It is slow and laborious, and it is never enough. Minister Miller, to his credit, is quite open about that. I am convinced that this government will continue to work as hard as it can, with the communities, to address the social causes and the horrible consequences that you described so well.

Hon. Senators: Yes.

Hon. Amina Gerba: Honourable senators, when asked a few days ago about the reduction of Western aid to African countries and the potential impact this could have on the ties between those countries and Russia and China, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, replied that democracies can only be defended by people who are “prepared to die for their democracy.”

Although Minister Freeland has already apologized for this, I decided to speak out today because her statement raises some serious issues.

To start, I believe it is only fair to say that the preservation of democracy in a country must rest first and foremost with its citizens, their beliefs and their determination. It is also true that democracy, the universal values it represents and its embodiment in a country are a national issue, an issue of national sovereignty. Therefore, it is important to distance ourselves from any interference in this area, except under exceptional circumstances.

Canada is one of the oldest democracies in the world. Our democratic values and institutions are exemplary. We’re available to share our experience with any country in the world that so desires. To that end, we’ve participated in a number of multilateral initiatives through major institutions, such as the World Bank, the Commonwealth and la Francophonie.

Colleagues, I believe that Canada needs to modernize and expand its diplomatic efforts to support human rights and democracy at a time when democratic gains are in jeopardy in some countries in Central and West Africa — countries that are our friends.

If we fail to do so, others will, as demonstrated by the return of dictatorships and authoritarian regimes to the continent.

I sincerely hope that democracy will prevail in these difficult times.

Thank you.

Hon. Fabian Manning: Honourable senators, today I am pleased to present Chapter 66 of “Telling Our Story.”

Dr. Cluny Macpherson was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on March 18, 1879. He received his early education at Methodist College and at McGill University Faculty of Medicine, from 1897 to 1901, where he earned his degree in medicine. He began his medical career at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

In 1902, he returned to Newfoundland, where he joined the Labrador Grenfell Mission, begun by Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, and ran the hospital in Battle Harbour, Labrador. Macpherson later became a director of the Newfoundland and International Grenfell Associations. He helped develop the Seaman’s Institute — later called the King George V Institute — another Grenfell project.

Returning to St. John’s a few years later, Dr. Macpherson opened a private practice, and eventually became the leading practitioner in Newfoundland. Macpherson started the first St. John Ambulance brigade in Newfoundland after working with the St. John Ambulance Society. When World War I broke out, members enlisted in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and he organized the volunteers into an ambulance unit which served throughout the war.

At the start of the war in August 1914, Macpherson was commissioned as the Captain and Principal Medical Officer of the newly formed Newfoundland Regiment. He saw active duty in Belgium and France, at Salonika and later at Gallipoli, as well as in Egypt.

The German army used poisonous gas for the first time against allied troops at the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium, on April 22, 1915. In response to the actions of the Germans, Macpherson began researching methods of protection against the poisonous gas. Before that, a soldier’s only protection was to breathe through a handkerchief or small piece of fabric soaked in urine.

Using a helmet, taken from a captured German prisoner, Macpherson added a canvas hood with eyepieces and a breathing tube. The helmet was treated with chemicals that would absorb the chlorine used in the gas attacks. It is said it is thanks to his medical training, knowledge of basic chemistry and some clear imagination that Macpherson invented what was at first called the Hypo Helmet and later known worldwide as the gas mask. In June 1915, Macpherson’s helmet was the first general issue gas countermeasure to be used by the British Army.

His invention was the most important protective device of the First World War, protecting countless soldiers from blindness, disfigurement or injury to their throats and lungs. For his services, Captain Macpherson was made a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1918.

During World War II, Dr. Macpherson served in ship convoys in the North Atlantic. During his lifetime, he received many awards for his duty and service. To name a few, in 1913, he was appointed a Knight of the British Order of St. John of Jerusalem; in 1955, he was appointed a Knight of Justice; and in 1964, he most deservingly received the Canadian Forces’ Decoration.

In 1902, Dr. Macpherson married Eleanora Barbara Macleod Thompson, of Northumberland County in Ontario, and they had two children. Their family home at 65 Rennie’s Mill Road in St. John’s, where he served as secretary, treasurer and registrar for the Newfoundland Medical Society, now has historic designation.

Dr. Cluny Macpherson, another proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian who proved to us all that, yes, one person can make a difference and change the world.

Hon. Ratna Omidvar: Honourable senators, we speak a great deal on the Hill about the need for innovation, disruption and for thinking outside of the box. I am very pleased to present to you its embodiment in the person of Andreas Souvaliotis.

Andreas was one of the first to harness the immense popularity of loyalty point programs in Canada and create the world’s first national wellness promotion platform, the once hugely popular Carrot app.

Carrot was built as a radical, modern alternative to old‑fashioned government advertising. It connected government and its agencies to Canadians coast to coast, allowing users to complete health questionnaires and track steps in exchange for reward points — truly a “carrot.” It promoted health and wellness, and it made it fun. No wonder, then, that at that time Andreas was frequently referred to as “Canada’s Chief Gamification Officer.”

The Carrot app quickly became so successful that it became the subject of academic studies and recognition across the world. It was named Canada’s top app of the year in 2017, and went on to win other major international awards.

But, colleagues, sadly, this story has an all too predictable Canadian ending. Jurisdictional confusion, infighting and long-entrenched differences between federal and provincial governments and policymakers unfortunately led to its untimely demise — ironically, just a few months before COVID-19 hit us. In another typically Canadian ending, whilst we have walked away from it, other nations like Greece are now picking up a made-in-Canada idea and running with it.

Just imagine how different our pandemic journey would have been if we still had a platform connecting us with millions of our citizens so directly, affordably and efficiently.

Colleagues, Andreas is a thought leader and a role model. He is autistic, gay, a musical prodigy, a philanthropist, an impact investor and an immigrant. He’s the author of a book called Misfit, because that’s what he has been: an autistic misfit. In short, colleagues, he is prolific, unconventional and relentless. I hope you will agree with me that we need many more like Andreas in Canada to make us a successful society going into the future.

[Translation]

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Colleagues, I was pleasantly surprised by an article published on the CBC website on October 7. It indicated that the federal government is currently working with immigration organizations to develop a massive program to regularize immigration status.

In a letter sent to the government in 2021, the Concertation haïtienne pour les migrants, or CHPM, pointed out the unique situation of non-status Haitian nationals in Canada. Many of these people worked in seniors’ homes at the height of the pandemic but didn’t qualify for the “guardian angels” regularization program in December 2020. They contribute to society and the Canadian francophonie but are stuck in limbo, living a parallel life with no social or legal safety net, in constant fear of being deported.

Honourable senators, I’m sure you’ve heard about the multidimensional crisis that is affecting my home country of Haiti. My heart aches at this nightmarish situation involving the collapse of democratic institutions; corruption; violence by gangs that are terrorizing people, raping women and controlling fuel; acute food insecurity; and the resurgence of cholera.

Haitians are surviving, but that is no way to live. Members of the Haitian diaspora living in Canada without status fear being deported to a country where their safety and that of their families will be in jeopardy. This regularization program will recognize their contribution to the Canadian economy and social fabric and will help give them peace of mind.

I am following this issue closely.

Colleagues, I appeal to you all to express your solidarity with the people of Haiti.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Mégie spoke in another language.]

Thank you. Mèsi anpil.

[English]

Hon. Colin Deacon: Honourable senators, it’s been nearly eight months since Russia launched its heinous invasion of Ukraine. I’m proud of Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine through this war. But what I would like to share today is not about the war. It’s about Ukraine’s ongoing digital transformation despite the war. When elected in 2019, President Zelenskyy immediately prioritized the digitalization of state services to better address the needs of Ukrainian citizens and to unleash the innovative potential of Europe’s largest IT sector. He immediately established the Ministry of Digital Transformation, responsible for creating a human-centred and transparent digital state that minimized the administrative burden for citizens and businesses.

The ministry led the creation of the Diia mobile application in its first six months of existence, powerfully demonstrating that diia means “action” in English. Today, Diia has earned the trust of 18 million users — half of Ukraine’s adult population. They have simplified access to 70 public services, documents and digital credentials like digital passports and driver’s licences. Ukraine is well on its way to having 100% of government services accessible online by 2024.

Wisely, they haven’t just digitized services but reinvented and simplified how those services are delivered. For example, registering a business was once a 64-field paper form. Today, creating a business and becoming an entrepreneur involves completing a few check boxes in 10 to 15 minutes. This is what happens when policy, practice and partnership efforts are synchronized.

Despite Russia’s constant and aggressive cyberattacks, Diia has delivered cybersecurity resilience and personal data protection, thanks to its advanced design and Ukraine’s extraordinary IT army. Whether at home or abroad, Diia has proven invaluable to Ukrainians during the war, enabling them to easily access critical information and assistance.

So how did they do it? I believe that their success rests on the recognition that government is a monopoly and the lack of competition removes pressure to innovate. To counter this fact, President Zelenskyy’s government has consistently displayed strong political leadership and commitment in support of Diia. They’ve also recognized that the risk of inaction is far greater than any other risk.

Colleagues, the United Nations reports on the e-government development status of all member states. Canada has declined steadily over the past 10 years. We now rank thirty-second, down from eleventh, and are far behind digital leaders like Denmark, the Republic of Korea and Estonia.

Estonia, the recognized leader in e-government, has accepted Ukraine’s offer to share its Diia source code, an offer that is available to Canada as well. We’d do well to look to Ukraine for ways to digitize our economy and increase the convenience of government services.

Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. No, you weren’t right. It is true that legalizing cannabis didn’t put an immediate end to the entire illegal, underground industry. It was always anticipated that it would take some time for Canadians who use cannabis to make the shift from the illegal market to legal sources.

It is also true that some cannabis producers may have been a little too optimistic about the profits that awaited them following legalization. It’s unfortunate that so many of them are struggling, but that is a risk that all entrepreneurs take when they start a business in a new industry.

For all these reasons, I wouldn’t agree that the opposition was right, on the contrary. The government was right to stop criminalizing production, and it was also right to legalize cannabis use in order to protect Canadians who want to purchase legal products and reduce the stigma for those who had no choice but to purchase it on the illegal market.

Senator Gold: The federal government is working at the border to prevent the flow of drugs in both directions. Provincial authorities chose to legislate different minimum ages for the legal purchase of cannabis.

The Canadian government and its partners in public health will continue to inform Canadians about healthy and safe ways to use cannabis.

[English]

Hon. Mary Coyle: This question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, the United Nations recognizes biodiversity as one of the world’s most pressing emergencies, along with pollution and climate change. Two days ago, our Speaker tabled the fall reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. We saw a very thick pile of paper being deposited here on the table.

Report 9 found that Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada failed to include clarity and clear reporting in their strategies to reach the species-at-risk targets set forth by the government. There were significant gaps in the reporting of planned actions, and none of the three organizations reported how their actions helped to achieve the United Nations’ goal, even though they are required to provide this information in their corporate reporting.

This news comes just a few months before, as you know, Canada will host the fifteenth United Nations Biodiversity Conference — COP 15 — where nations will meet with the goal of halting the loss of biodiversity.

Senator Gold, could you tell us what actions the government will undertake to address this situation in order to meet our species-at-risk recovery target — a target that we have missed for the past eight years?

Hon. Tony Loffreda: My question is also for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Through his mandate letters, the Prime Minister tasked Minister Fraser and Minister Qualtrough with implementing a trusted employer system that will streamline the application process for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers to fill labour shortages.

This is a pressing issue. The Canadian Employee Relocation Council recently conducted a survey, and the results speak for themselves: 88% of employers strongly agree that international talent is important to their organizations. And 81% of employers strongly agree that if ongoing processing, delays and backlogs at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, are not addressed, operations will be negatively impacted within the year.

Senator Gold, can you provide us with an update on this initiative? When will Canadian businesses finally be able to apply to become trusted employers? Businesses are eagerly awaiting an announcement. They need predictability.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The government agrees with you that we need to attract skilled workers as quickly as possible.

I’m advised that Express Entry — the government’s gateway system — can attract top-ranked, skilled candidates to apply for permanent resident status and to get them to work in Canada in the fastest time and fastest way possible.

In addition, the government offers key economic immigration programs to attract talented people to contribute to communities across our country, such as the International Mobility Program.

I note further that the government also works with Employment and Social Development Canada, or ESDC, to improve the Foreign Credential Recognition Program and to prioritize the processing of work permit applications in that regard.

Budget 2022 proposed important funding to this end — notably, seeking to help up to 11,000 internationally trained health care professionals per year to find work in their field.

The government remains responsive and open to suggestions for improvement to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including considerations for a skilled workforce.

Hon. Margaret Dawn Anderson: Quyanainni. My question is for the Government Representative, Senator Gold.

On October 3, 2022, after a disturbing increase in the number of deaths by suicide within the Northwest Territories, the Chief Coroner took the unprecedented step of releasing early data.

In 2020, the N.W.T. Coroner Service’s 10-year review reported that 10% of all deaths recorded in the N.W.T. are deaths by suicide. The largest demographics are males and young people between the ages of 20 to 40 in two key regions: the North Slave and the Beaufort Delta Region. In my home community of Tuktoyaktuk, there have been four deaths by suicide within the last three months.

Earlier this month, the federal government allocated an additional $11 million to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, or ITK, for the organization’s suicide prevention strategy over the next two years. Unfortunately, the current financial allocation does not address equitable standards across the N.W.T.

Senator Gold, my question is as follows: With the mental health crisis in the Northwest Territories, what concrete steps is the federal government taking, both in the short and long term, to help the territory, communities and people address the key factors that contribute to death by suicide?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator, and for underlining this tragedy — for individuals, families and communities — that this scourge represents.

The government has provided significant funding in an attempt to address the causes and to help prevent this tragedy from continuing. In 2021-22, the government provided the Northwest Territories with $730,000 for mental health and addiction services, which builds upon the targeted funding in 2017 for home and community care, and mental health and addictions.

You mentioned the $11 million that Indigenous Services Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami have announced for the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy. There is a commitment of a lot of money — $70 million — to this strategy to help the communities.

There is no dollar amount that can compensate for the lives that are lost to this tragedy. The Government of Canada is committed to continuing to work with the communities and their organizations to address this tragedy.

Senator Anderson: Thank you, Senator Gold. I want to point out that, if I am correct, the funding that was provided to ITK is under a funding formula whereby 13% of the funds will reach Inuvialuit in the Northwest Territories.

I understand that it is not just money. I know that right now the N.W.T. and specific interest groups are struggling in terms of economic prospects. They are running into red tape with legislation, regulations and rules that we set here. In addition to being part of the problem, we are the solution.

Moving forward, how will we — or you, as the Government Representative — ensure that funding is provided, as well as steps taken to ensure there is economic opportunity, working within the Indigenous communities, to advance and improve lives in the Northwest Territories?

Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: My question is for the Government Representative.

Senator Gold, during a recent tour of the Nunavut legislature with Senate colleagues, it was raised to me and other northern Senate colleagues, in particular, that the Nunavut Act and the Northwest Territories Act do not have one crucial amendment that was made to the Yukon Act during its devolution process. Namely, there remains an archaic provision that describes the Ottawa-appointed commissioners of Nunavut and the N.W.T. as, “chief executive officer” of the two territories. The provision would empower the Governor-in-Council or Minister of Northern Affairs, if they so choose, to give direction to the commissioner on any matter, including the possibility of dissolving the Indigenous-led territorial governments and putting the territories into trusteeship by simply instructing the territories’ commissioners.

Senator Gold, is the government aware of this colonial clause in the referenced federal statutes, and are there plans, post‑devolution in the N.W.T. or during the Nunavut devolution process, to bring those acts into alignment with the third territory, namely the Yukon, by removing the offending clauses?

Thank you.