Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Speaker, the amendment is not an adjournment in my name; the main motion is. I believe that you called the question on the amendment. It does not affect my adjournment motion.

Senator Tannas: Yes, that is what I thought was maybe the case and consulted and did not get quite a clear answer; otherwise I would have asked for the adjournment of the debate when I was standing. I did not know whether or not I was allowed to finish my questions or just the one that was asked when we ran out of the 26 seconds, because I have a number of other questions.

Hon. Diane Bellemare: I would ask to adjourn the debate on the amendment. I think that it will go to senator —

Senator Ringuette: Yes, of course.

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Will you accept a question, Senator Ringuette?

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Senator Dalphond, do you have a question?

Senator Ringuette: Senator Tannas, this bill was sent in June to the Agriculture Committee. They met with the first sponsor of this bill, our former colleague Senator Griffin; a former MP from the Island, a proponent of the bill; and other witnesses. They also met with the Commissioner for Workers, as I stated, and also the director of policy for the department. The questions to these people, as far as I can see, have been put and they have been answered.

The most important question and piece of information that we have now at third reading is the unsolicited report from the PBO, because one of my questions to the PBO was: Did someone ask you to do this report, this analysis? His answer was, “No, this is a part of our regular process that we look at bills in front of the two chambers and we want to know what is the fiscal.” So the crux of this issue is the PBO report because, if not for that report that I questioned two weeks ago, why was it made? Why was it being transparently said in the Senate? It is this report that is the crux of why it should be reviewed again by the Agriculture and Forestry Committee. That is why my motion says that.

If I may add, Senator Tannas, this has been in front of the Senate since the end of May. P.E.I.’s seasonal workers are very much aware that this bill is in front of the Senate. Right now, they are going through a very stressful time because of Hurricane Fiona and because of the winter season coming up with fewer jobs for them. We need to deal with this quickly. I have told you how I am going to vote. In all fairness to the Agriculture Committee, I believe that they should have the opportunity to question the PBO and then report to us sooner rather than later in the interests of P.E.I.’s seasonal workers.

Senator Ringuette: May I have time to at least answer Senator Tannas?

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Is permission granted?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, senator, for your question. The government values the contribution of temporary foreign workers to Canada’s economy.

As you know, colleagues, Budget 2022 invests $29.3 million that will introduce a trusted employer model in order to reduce red tape for employers who meet the highest standards for living and working conditions, as well as the protection of wages in high-demand jobs. These changes aim to help streamline application processes for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers. This, in fact, builds upon the measures that were announced in the government’s Workforce Solutions Road Map, which introduces further changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in order to address the labour shortages across Canada.

I am advised that the government’s work to improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is ongoing. I will make inquiries with the government with regard to the trusted employer system, and I will provide details as soon as they become available.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Senator Ringuette, your time is up.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. It is an important one, as is the issue you raise.

Proper reporting and measurement are critical tools that governments and others need to ensure are in place in order to measure achievements and progress toward those objectives. In that regard, I am convinced the government will continue to work and take into account the recommendations and analysis presented in the reports that were just tabled.

As for the particular steps that may be taken, I will have to make inquiries and report back.

Senator Loffreda: Thank you for the answer, Senator Gold.

That is fine, but I’m told that the development of the program has, more or less, come to a halt at the bureaucratic level and that little progress has been made. Beyond helping address labour shortages in Canada, the trusted employer system could have the added benefits of reducing the overall number of applications and allowing the IRCC to redirect its resources to other streams.

Of businesses surveyed, 55% are experiencing revenue loss as a consequence of the delays at the IRCC. This is important. Canada is competing with other countries for high-skilled workers, including the U.K. and Australia.

I will pose my question: Senator Gold, as the government develops the trusted employer system, can you assure us that they are considering a dedicated stream for highly skilled foreign nationals? We need to attract the brightest minds and most skilled workers in order to remain globally competitive.

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?

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: The agreement for the extension was to answer the question you had on the floor.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of October 19, 2022, moved:

That, in accordance with rule 10-11(1), the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing, introduced in the House of Commons on September 20, 2022, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate; and

That, for the purposes of this study, the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 12-18(1) being suspended in relation thereto.

Hon. Patricia Bovey (The Hon. the Acting Speaker): Honourable senators, is five more minutes granted?

Agreed? Thank you.

Senator Tannas: I wonder if you could tell us why you think we only need to hear from the PBO. There’s been a number of issues raised and MPs that support this. I received a letter today from two P.E.I. MPs supporting that we pass the bill unchanged. Why wouldn’t we deal with the commissioner that you talked to on the phone and got a whole bunch new information?

Senator Patterson: Good question.