Hon. Marty Deacon: Honourable senators, it is an honour to rise today to celebrate Dr. Rohinton Medhora’s incredible decade of leadership as President of the Centre for International Governance Innovation, or CIGI, in Waterloo. Dr. Medhora retired from this role on September 2, 2022.

CIGI is located in Waterloo and is a fantastic hub of innovation and global thinking.

Through Dr. Medhora’s leadership, CIGI’s research has evolved from its early focus on broad concepts, such as international relations and global economy, to a crosscut of topics related to big data, platform governance, digital standards, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Jim Balsillie, CIGI’s founder and chair of the board of directors, stated:

Rohinton has been an extraordinary leader for CIGI, who has ably guided the organization through its second decade to its current status as a go-to think tank at the intersection of technology and governance.

Personally, I have enjoyed meeting with Dr. Medhora on numerous occasions. He has helped me, and others, synthesize several global challenges, with his knack for building trust and his willingness to give his time to others in order to share his wisdom.

Under Dr. Medhora’s leadership, CIGI is now ranked thirtieth worldwide among more than 8,000 think tanks. It also holds the distinction of ranking twelfth globally in the category of science and technology policy.

As a result of CIGI surging in these global rankings, our peers, internationally, are beginning to recognize that Canadian think tanks have much to offer on the international stage. The backroom work, programming and foundation building — via the work of Dr. Medhora in making this happen — cannot be overstated.

CIGI recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary, which means that Dr. Medhora has guided this institution for half its existence, and he leaves it in excellent shape to succeed in the future, as it is left in the capable hands of the new president, Paul Samson, who lives in Ottawa.

We are excited about CIGI’s relevance and growth, and, despite all of his contributions, I suspect the best from Dr. Medhora is yet to come. He is far from done.

Thank you, Dr. Medhora, for your incredible leadership and contributions locally and globally. Thank you. Meegwetch.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. As I said yesterday, I think it was totally appropriate for the Governor General and her husband to lead a diverse and proper delegation to pay tribute to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I have every confidence that the measures taken to take care of that delegation were appropriate under the circumstances.

Senator Plett: Of course, nobody is questioning that a delegation attend. We’re questioning the expenses, Senator Gold. Again, you’re refusing to even touch on the question.

Senator Gold, in contrast to what our Canadian delegation did, U.S. President Joe Biden and his entourage incurred zero dollars for their costs there — zero dollars for taxpayers.

Senator Gold, the Prime Minister’s ultimate lack of respect for our public funds and his tradition of contempt for accountability are truly beneath the conduct of a prime minister.

The aggravation continues, as Prime Minister Trudeau also managed to keep up with another one of his traditions on this trip, which is to embarrass Canada during international visits. I’m sure nobody needs to be reminded of the unfortunate video of the Prime Minister singing the night away just days before the Queen’s funeral.

I know that this Prime Minister aspires to be a superstar, but was there no one there to remind him that such expenses would be infuriating for Canadian taxpayers?

Senator Gold, how can your government justify $6,000 per night on a hotel room when the Prime Minister himself was critical of a former Conservative minister for invoicing a $16 glass of orange juice? Is your government subject to the same standards as others?

Senator Gold: The appropriateness of expenditures varies with the context and circumstances. I repeat that I think it was appropriate for the Canadian delegation to be in London and to be accommodated in the appropriate circumstances.

Senator Plett: I heard “appropriate to spend $6,000 a night.” That’s what I heard.

Hon. Jean-Guy Dagenais: Honourable senators, I want to take a few minutes today to tell you about the background of my two visitors, Carole Drolet and Claude Texier. They are retirees from Blainville, where I live, and they are both passionate about politics. However, they both have an unconventional background that I want to share with you.

First, let me introduce Claude Texier, who was born in France, but who, since 2008, has defined himself as a proud Quebecer and Canadian, since this is where he has chosen to spend his retirement. Before meeting Ms. Drolet, whom I will speak about in a few moments, Claude Texier, who has a background in international law, chose to work in the business world. Mr. Texier spent most of his career working for a large French company called Hutchinson Mapa, a subsidiary of the TotalEnergies group.

As an aside, Hutchinson Mapa has been in the business of manufacturing rubber products for over 150 years after acquiring patents from the Goodyear company. In the beginning, the company focused on manufacturing bicycle tires.

I would be remiss if I left out the fact that our visitor completed his French military service in the Paris fire department, where he taught mathematics to officers.

A keen traveller for both work and recreation, Mr. Texier met his partner, Carole Drolet, during his travels.

The two of them had a lot in common. Ms. Drolet has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1987, but interestingly she chose the industrial world for her career — although not in rubber.

Ms. Drolet was the owner of a carbonated drink business in Quebec known as Kik Cola Denis, a fierce competitor of Coke and Pepsi, at one time. My guest today was also the vice‑president of the RE/MAX real estate brokerage and president of the tool rental company LOU-TEC. Before retiring in 2016, Ms. Drolet was president of operations at Loto-Québec for nine years.

We have two examples among us today of professionals who chose the industrial world to apply their skills, and they did so brilliantly.

After such a rich and productive professional life, my two guests chose to retire here in Canada, primarily in Quebec, when they had plenty of opportunities in other countries.

I am especially proud to count them among my constituents in Blainville. Today, I am pleased to give them a glimpse of the workings of Canadian politics on Parliament Hill, here in Ottawa, because there can never be too many people who are interested in what we do here.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): My question again is for the government leader. I want to expand on a question that Senator Martin posed last week.

The Emergencies Act inquiry has been providing Canadians more information about what was going on behind the scenes in the decision-making process at the government level. Amongst other issues, we have learned that CSIS informed senior government officials that no evidence was found in terms of foreign actors or states financing the convoy protest in the week prior to the Emergencies Act being invoked.

The director of CSIS said, “There is not a lot of energy and support from the USA to Canada,” adding that, “CSIS has also not seen any foreign money coming from other states to support this.”

Yet, leader, on February 11, when Prime Minister Trudeau was asked by Marieke Walsh for more details on the percentage of financing coming from the U.S., he said:

Those aren’t details that I have right in front of me. I have heard that, on certain platforms, the number of U.S. donations are approaching 50%.

Senator Gold, such a contradiction between the Prime Minister and CSIS will have serious consequences for the confidence of Canadians.

Leader, I know your government tries to say Canadians should have confidence in the process under way with the Emergencies Act inquiry. But we have a serious issue here: Who should Canadians believe — CSIS or the Prime Minister?

Senator Gold: The denigration of our national institutions is indeed a serious matter. I would ask that all members of this chamber, including members of the opposition, pay careful attention to their rhetoric when they seek to denigrate institutions, including the Office of the Prime Minister.

Once again, the inquiry is hearing from a variety of sources and witnesses, including the Prime Minister, who will be appearing. I have every confidence that Justice Rouleau will come to his conclusions based upon all the evidence, looked at properly in context.

[Translation]

Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate and it has to do with the management of the Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program. I am asking my question with the permission of Yves Bourque and on his behalf. He is a Paralympic athlete and a victim of thalidomide, and his story is similar to the one we read yesterday and today in Le Journal de Montréal.

For the past 18 months, since February 2021, my office has been helping Mr. Bourque navigate the Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program and deal with EPIQ, the firm to which the government delegated the management of this program. This firm has asked him over and over again for evidence from medical specialists and for X-rays. The doctor who treated his mother at the time passed away and another doctor took over. To put it clearly and concisely, the way he is being treated is inhumane.

It was only a few months ago, following a call from a senator’s office, that we were able to get the contact information for an agent from that firm, who was at least able to answer a few questions.

Here is my concern. Does the government plan to do something to ensure that the citizens who contact the delegated managers of this program are treated humanely and efficiently?

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to Alanis Obomsawin. As a member of the Abenaki Nation, Ms. Obomsawin is one of the most renowned Indigenous filmmakers in Canada. Her body of work highlights the beauty, strength and resistance of Indigenous people in the face of injustices and inequities inflicted by the state and others. It has also empowered Indigenous people — who have been silenced or ignored for too long — to share stories in their own voices.

As a result, Ms. Obomsawin has helped me, and many others, learn about our distinct but shared perspectives and experiences, as well as inspired us to connect, heal and hope. She has informed the broader public of our past and current treatment, and she has appealed for tangible action at all levels.

Over the last 60 years, Ms. Obomsawin has created more than 50 films with the National Film Board of Canada. Among the films are Incident at Restigouche in 1984; Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance in 1993; Is the Crown at War with Us? in 2002; and Trick or Treaty? in 2014, which chronicled various First Nations’ struggle to assert their rights and title to land and resources, and to secure their well-being, dignity and survival.

Other films like We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice in 2016 and Jordan River Anderson, the Messenger in 2019 focus on the plight of First Nations children and, in particular, the lack of access to health care, education and other basic services.

Given that many of these issues remain unresolved today, Ms. Obomsawin’s landmark documentaries continue to be relevant. Due to her commitment to her craft and all her relations, Ms. Obomsawin has won many awards, including the Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019. At the age of 90, she continues to be a force to be reckoned with and shows no signs of stopping.

Tonight, she is premiering one of her newest documentaries called Wabano the Light of Day, which highlights the story of the pandemic through the eyes of Indigenous people in Ottawa and the staff at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal health. I hope you have an opportunity to watch this documentary and others.

Colleagues, please join me in celebrating the remarkable life and legacy of Ms. Obomsawin. I have no doubt that she will continue to hold Canada accountable for how it treats Indigenous people, as well as profile how my brothers and sisters are working to reclaim and recover our ways of life.

Wela’lin. Thank you.

Hon. Dennis Dawson: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie concerning the Meetings of the Working Group on Reforming the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) Constitution and of the APF Political Committee, held in Quebec City, Quebec, from May 12 to 15, 2022.

Hon. Dennis Dawson: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie concerning the Meetings of the Committee on Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs, the Young Parliamentarians Network and the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, held in Papeete, French Polynesia, from April 19 to 22, 2022.

Hon. Dennis Dawson: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie concerning the Thirty-seventh Session of the America Region of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie and Conference of Branch Chairs, held in Edmonton, Alberta, from July 18 to 22, 2022.

Hon. Clément Gignac: Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, as you know, today the Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate for the sixth time to 3.75% in the hope of taming persistent inflationary pressures. At a press conference earlier today, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, said we should expect further interest rate hikes over the coming year to bring the annual inflation rate down to the 2% target.

More and more economists and experts, including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, are telling the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy that Canada is heading straight for a recession in 2023. Some parliamentarians and political party leaders believe that the Bank of Canada is making a mistake with its current policy and that, at the very least, its mandate should be revised to bring it into line with that of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Senator Gold, does your government still have full confidence in the current Governor of the Bank of Canada, or does it intend to revise the Bank of Canada’s mandate sometime soon?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The Bank of Canada has an independent monetary policy that best suits the country’s economic situation. The bank’s mandate is to monitor and ensure the stability of the rate of inflation in the interest of all Canadians.

The bank has started to bring the inflation rate back within the target range and has the necessary tools and expertise to prevent inflation from becoming entrenched. The government believes that a sound monetary policy framework is the best weapon in its arsenal to protect Canadians against inflation.

Honourable senator, Canada has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, and the government has a plan to make life more affordable by providing direct support to the Canadians who are the most vulnerable to inflation and who need it most. As the Minister of Finance recently stated, and I quote, “Canada is a country of peace, order and good government.”

This institutional stability includes the independence of the Bank of Canada, which the government remains firmly committed to supporting. The independence of the Bank of Canada is essential, and we can have confidence in Governor Macklem’s leadership.

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. One of my former professors of constitutional law, Laurence Tribe, often said that if you live with a crystal ball, you must be prepared to eat glass once in a while. Personally, I do not have a strong enough stomach for that. I have no idea what will happen over the next two years, but I do know that the confidence and supply agreement contains a very specific list of the terms and conditions for maintaining the coalition, and I don’t think that this issue is on the list.

[English]

Hon. Leo Housakos (Acting Deputy Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

While your government was voting against the motion in the House of Commons yesterday to recognize the Uighur genocide and to extend emergency refugee measures to the Uighur people fleeing persecution, it seems that one of the Trudeau government’s members of Parliament appeared to have done the right thing and voted in favour of the motion — Mary Ng. As it turns out, she quickly apologized and said it was a mistake. She even went to the extent, Senator Gold, of rising in the House of Commons on a point of order, asking for the record to be corrected. So the Trudeau government unanimously voted for the motion recognizing the Uighur genocide and giving these people some hope and emergency refugee measures.

I’m really perplexed as to why your government has such a difficult time doing what’s right when it comes to these basic human rights and standing up for this community. Is it because the Trudeau government is afraid of Beijing, or is it an unfortunate simple case that the Uighur people are just too small a voting bloc in Canada for our government to stand up for them?

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, for the second reading of Bill S-225, An Act to amend the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act (investments).

Hon. Leo Housakos (Acting Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Thank you for the question, Senator Wallin. You are absolutely right; it is very concerning. As you — an active member of the committee — and all of us on the committee have seen, the outgoing chair of the CRTC came before the committee.

Actually, his testimony created a storm and raised a lot more questions than he actually answered. If anything, he confirmed that what the government has been saying is the opposite of how he reads the legislation in terms of acknowledging that he will have the authority, under this bill, to force platforms to manipulate algorithms. This is, of course, of great concern to independent content providers and should be of concern to all of us.

We have taken steps to bring the CRTC chair back to the committee — at his request but as well at the request of our steering committee.

You are absolutely right. It has become evidently clear that his mandate is ending in the next little while, and the government is in search of a new CRTC chair. If one is to be logical about this, the most important part of this bill is the regulatory aspect of it, which is squarely on the shoulders of the incoming chair of the CRTC and the board.

I agree it would be irresponsible on the part of Parliament to pass this bill without getting all of our Ts crossed and Is dotted, and hearing from someone associated with the most important part of this legislation.

I know there are members of steering who wanted to pass this bill last week. We continue our discussions in terms of trying to maintain our course of having a robust, wide-ranging study. I hope that steering will agree to do that.

I will personally take to steering that we consider having the incoming CRTC chair testify, along with the minister, before we return here for final approval.