Senator Gold: Thank you for the question and for following up.

The government is aware of your question, but I haven’t gotten a response, unfortunately. I will try again to get an answer and will get back to you soon.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for this question, honourable colleague.

The tragedy in Nova Scotia devastated families, friends and the community and left many unanswered questions. With the public hearings now under way, our thoughts are with the community of Portapique.

All Canadians should know that this will be an in-depth and impartial inquiry that will be conducted with compassion. I don’t know why the minister has not intervened publicly, but I will follow up and attempt to get an answer.

Hon. Larry W. Smith: Honourable senators, my question is for Senator Gold.

In 2016, then-minister of the environment Catherine McKenna committed that government operations, including military bases, would be fully powered by renewable energy by 2025. In a recent response to an Order Paper question on this very topic, the government reiterated its commitment to purchase 100% clean electricity by 2025 to power government facilities. In the same response, the government conceded variances across provinces with respect to clean-energy use on Department of National Defence bases and facilities. For example, less than 28% of electricity on three DND facilities in Nova Scotia comes from clean energy, and less than 9% of electricity powering four DND facilities in Nunavut comes from clean energy.

Senator Gold, is the government on track to maintain this commitment by year 2025? If so, what plans are in place for jurisdictions where military bases are operating well below 100% renewable energy?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you. It is an important question on an important issue. I don’t have the answer, but I will seek to get it and share it with the chamber as soon as I can.

This government, more than any other government, dare I say, is committed to addressing the gaps and the inequalities that we have come to recognize plague our country with regard to those — whether women, Indigenous communities, children and others — who find themselves in vulnerable positions. The government will continue to use its efforts to redress these inequalities in this area as in others.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. The government has consistently stressed the importance of being transparent with Canadians and has made that a priority. The government also ensures that its activities are in keeping with national security needs.

As you know, honourable senator, despite the number that you mentioned, this really is nothing new. The government is required, often by law, as is the case with the Investment Canada Act, to protect information on certain subjects, such as national security and the confidentiality of investments.

I cannot presume the exact reasons, but I want to reassure this chamber that the government takes its responsibilities seriously when it comes to striking a balance between transparency, the protection of national security and other relevant issues.

(For text of Delayed Answers, see Appendix.)

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, Senator Plett. First, the government wants to acknowledge the hurt and the anger that this decision may rekindle amongst all the victims of the horrific attack in Quebec City.

As you mentioned in your question, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Criminal Code provision that allows judges to order consecutive periods of parole ineligibility in cases of multiple murders is unconstitutional.

The government’s position was and is clear. The government supported a sentencing judge’s discretion to impose a longer period of parole ineligibility where appropriate. However, the government will respect the court’s decision and is, as the minister said, carefully reviewing the implications and what the path forward may be.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator. I am advised that Minister Anand released and accepted Justice Arbour’s report in its entirety. She welcomed all of the recommendations and committed to implementing 17 of them immediately.

With regard to your specific question, as you would know, in the last year, the government has been laying the foundation for meaningful cultural change, including by implementing Madam Justice Arbour’s interim recommendation for transferring the investigation and prosecution of Criminal Code sexual offences from the military justice system to the civilian justice system. This work continues in earnest.

As you mentioned in your question, the fifth recommendation in Justice Arbour’s report is that sexual offences should be entirely removed from the jurisdiction of the military justice system, and they should be prosecuted in civilian criminal courts. This is a thoughtful and system-transforming recommendation. The minister is examining it in earnest. I am advised that the minister will be writing to her provincial and territorial justice partners in the coming days and she will be consulting with survivors and victims’ groups to determine the best path forward.

To smooth the case transfer process, Department of National Defence officials will collaborate even more closely with provincial and territorial authorities. The government is making plans to establish a formal intergovernmental table to build durable transfer processes that will serve Canadian Armed Forces members well in the long term.

Senator Coyle: Thank you, Senator Gold. I look forward to hearing further updates on that process, as you have described it.

Senator Gold, another important recommendation made by former Justice Arbour was that the civilian human rights organizations have adequate access and resources to assess and address these complaints from military personnel.

Senator Gold, will the government take action on this recommendation as well?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I will have to make inquiries; I won’t speculate.

We can all appreciate the differences between providing clean energy in our home provinces, blessed as we are with abundant hydro power, and those in the North whose lives revolve around diesel delivered by barges and tankers once or twice a year.

So I’ll make inquiries and try to report back.

Senator Gold: I’ll certainly add those to the inquiries I will make.

[Translation]