Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for that question; it is an important one. I will have to make inquiries and report back. As you know, the bill has just been tabled in the other place and will be studied and debated. I’m sure I will be able to have an answer for you in a reasonably short period of time.

[Translation]

Hon. Patricia Bovey: Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, according to the mandate letter of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, the minister will proceed with the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act and the harmonization of accessibility standards across Canada.

It has come to my attention that benefits in my province of Manitoba are clawed back once a disabled person’s threshold of allowed dollars is reached. That threshold is below the poverty level.

Are discussions for the Canada disability benefit dealing with concerns of provincial clawbacks, and is the minister responsible working towards a harmonization of accessibility standards and the transition off disability payments to ease the financial burden on people with disabilities?

Senator Carignan: Leader, the Prime Minister is aboard his own plane right now, on his way to the Summit of the Americas. I hope he will take note of the measures currently in effect in California and draw inspiration from them. As for the Prime Minister’s return, do you have any idea how long it will take him to get off his plane, collect his bags and get home?

Senator Gold: What a question. No.

[English]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you. I don’t have a date of publication. I will make inquiries and report back.

Senator Gold: Thank you for raising this question. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer to your question. I will make inquiries and report back as soon as I can.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Pate, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dean, for the second reading of Bill S-233, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Deacon, your time has expired. Are you asking for five more minutes?

Senator C. Deacon: Yes, if it is the wish of the chamber.

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