Hon. Diane Bellemare: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and pursuant to rule 5-10(1), I ask that Motion No. 55 be withdrawn from the Order Paper.

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Some Hon. Senators: Question.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Enes Kanter Freedom and Orkesh Davlet. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Housakos.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, senator. The government is reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision and, once it’s done, it will decide what measures, if any, need to be taken at that point.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Dr. Muhammad Munshi. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Ravalia.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Tony Dean: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, which deals with the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 19 and 20 of Part 5 of Bill C-19, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 and other measures.

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: My question is for Senator Gold, of course. On May 13, the Supreme Court struck down section 33.1 of the Criminal Code, which stated that self-induced intoxication is not grounds for a verdict of not criminally responsible. The court’s decision was not well received by victims’ groups, women’s groups in particular. The Supreme Court also asked the federal government to create mechanisms to better protect victims.

We know this decision will affect women most of all, especially mothers and their children. Can you tell me what the government is planning to do about this and how soon it will take action to protect the victims the Supreme Court has abandoned?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Senator Boisvenu: Senator Gold, as I have previously said, 35% of the criminal cases before our courts have to do with intimate partner violence. From now on, a man who kills his wife while intoxicated will be able to plead not criminally responsible. Furthermore, many such criminals who were incarcerated will be released because of this.

Senator Gold, the provinces are fighting intimate partner violence by adopting Clare’s Law, and Quebec is implementing the use of electronic monitoring devices, so why hasn’t the government adopted a single measure since 2015 to protect women now that the Supreme Court has made this ruling?

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. The Government of Canada has made several changes to the Criminal Code to make it more just, more equitable and more appropriate. It will continue to do so as and when necessary.

[English]

Senator Mégie: Thank you for your answer, Senator Gold. I’m pleased to know that at least some work is being done in that regard. Do you know whether there’s a simpler, more effective legislative approach for putting an end to the use of neck restraints in Canada, either through regulations or a bill?

Senator Gold: Thank you for the supplementary question, senator. I don’t know whether there are any plans for a legislative response at the federal level.

You will recall, as everyone knows, that other than the RCMP, police forces fall under provincial jurisdiction. That is why I mentioned the collaboration between the Government of Canada and the provincial and territorial authorities.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the third time?

(On motion of Senator Dean, bill referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.)

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Are honourable senators ready for the question?

Senator Simons: If I have time, absolutely.

Senator Jaffer: May I ask a second question Senator Simons?

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Thank you, Senator Simons, for your speech on Edmonton, and Senator Cordy, thank you for your speech and also for starting this inquiry. I may have missed you saying it, but wasn’t the first Muslim mosque also built in Edmonton?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it agreed, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?