Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I will have to add that to the inquiries that I will make, and I will report back as soon as I can.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) summer youth employment cohort. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Anderson.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this report be taken into consideration?

(On motion of Senator Dean, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, today I have a question for the government leader in the Senate.

Leader, Ukraine has been under constant attack by Russia since February 24. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes. Over 4,000 civilians have been killed, including 200 innocent children. Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has threatened food security worldwide. Despite all the misery and death Putin has caused, the Trudeau NDP-Liberal government thought it was perfectly fine to send an official to a fancy party at the Russian embassy last Friday to enjoy a lavish spread of food and drinks.

Minister Joly claims she didn’t know about this, although her office was aware. Even if we believe that, leader — and there is a big “if” there — how is it possible that almost four months since the war began Minister Joly did not make it clear to her staff that attending a party at the Russian embassy is wrong?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I am advised, indeed, as you pointed out, that though her office was made aware, the minister was not. The minister has stated publicly that it is totally unacceptable. The Prime Minister has said so as well. As Government Representative, I underline and agree with both of those statements.

Senator Gold: Minister Joly has taken responsibility, and that is a paradigmatic definition of what ministerial responsibility is. Minister Joly represents Canada and defends Canada’s interests in an exemplary fashion. Canada continues to be a strong ally of Ukraine and continues to support it financially, militarily and with humanitarian assistance.

[Translation]

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. I won’t repeat the answer of the minister who was with us earlier this week.

Canada is attempting to do the right and moral thing, and it is doing its very best under the difficult circumstances which were outlined there, including the issuing of visas and other related matters of countries bordering Afghanistan to which some of the Afghans to whom you referred have fled. But Canada is committed to doing whatever it can, it is doing the best that it can and will continue to do so.

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) moved third reading of Bill C-24, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I am aware, as we all are, of the announcement of the deal. I don’t have any details. I don’t know the details of the deal, much less of any side deals that may have been made. I will make inquiries, and I will report back when I get an answer.

Senator Gold: I will certainly add that to my inquiries.

Senator McPhedran: Senator Gold, in addition to that inquiry, if you would, please ask for a reason. If we are not sending anyone to represent the Government of Canada to listen, to gather information and to come back, please ask why. Thank you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator, thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I don’t have any further information than what I was able to provide you in response to your question. I know that time is tight. I will make an effort to get an answer and communicate it to you, either in the chamber or elsewhere, and I will do the best that I can.

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

Senator Lankin: Thank you, Senator Gold. I do understand the jurisdictional questions. When I was Minister of Health in Ontario, the ministry brought me a proposal to add a billing code to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, or OHIP, to cover female circumcision. I said no, and I refused to take it to cabinet. I heard, then, from many people and most particularly mothers who were desperate to protect their daughters from this practice, whether it was being done under the guise of a vacation to a homeland or here in our country, and we know that it is being done here. Those mothers, some of whom I have reached back out to, do not know about the Criminal Code provision. Publicizing it is an important thing.

You read my mind a little bit in your answer, so I will ask you specifically: Will you ask the government whether they would support a review of the law to determine its impact on deterrence, by either supporting a bill that we can bring forward here in the Senate, through a motion for such a study or, better yet, with an announcement that they will undertake such a review and that it will have started and be under way by this fall?

Hon. Frances Lankin: Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

First of all, I would like to thank Senator Jaffer and Senator Gerba for their recent forum on the issue of female genital mutilation, and Senator Gold, this is the issue I wish to ask you a question about today.

In February 2021, Senator Jaffer requested data from you with respect to prosecutions under the Criminal Code that outlaw female genital mutilation. As you pointed out, the government doesn’t control the charges and prosecutions in that process, but the government is responsible for determining if their law is having the desired impact on, for example, justice for victims, penalizing the perpetrators found guilty and, certainly, as with most laws, general deterrence. Without having such data, it is hard to know whether this law is having an impact given that we do not see many prosecutions.

Since the government has been made aware of this — this was almost a year and a half ago — could you tell us what the government has done to gather such data, publicize it and what the impact of this Criminal Code provision has actually been since its inception? Thank you.

Hon. Tony Dean, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, presented the following report:

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to present its

THIRD REPORT

Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016, has, in obedience to the order of reference of May 11, 2022, examined the said bill and now reports the same with the following amendments:

1.Clause 1, page 1: Replace lines 12 and 13 with the following:

“about to be exported, has had its network connectivity disabled and is in the custody or possession of a person if the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect”.

2.Clause 2, page 2: Add the following after line 14:

3.Clause 9, page 5: Replace lines 3 and 4 with the following:

“bound for the United States and that has its network connectivity disabled if the preclearance officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that”.

4.Clause 12, page 6:

(a)Replace line 8 with the following:

“a traveller bound for the United States, that has its network connectivity disabled and that is to be”;

(b)replace lines 10 and 11 with the following:

“6(2)(a) if the preclearance officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that”.

5.Clause 16, page 7: Add the following after line 22:

Respectfully submitted,

TONY DEAN

Chair

Senator Plett: Where does the buck stop with this NDP-Liberal government? Minister Joly’s office initially defended sending an official. She defended sending an official to this party before they reversed course and apologized. It’s clear now that the NDP-Liberal government can’t even do the bare minimum properly. They can’t even give symbolic support to Ukraine by turning down an invitation to a lavish party at the Russian embassy.

Who takes the fall for this, leader? Who is accountable? Who answers? Minister Joly said on Monday that the buck stops with her, but what does that mean, leader? We’ve never seen ministerial accountability from the Trudeau government, so we’re hardly going to start seeing it now. Does anyone lose their job over this?

Hon. Diane Bellemare: Honourable senators, kwei. I rise today to speak in the Senate, which is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.

To mark National Indigenous History Month in true Quebec fashion, I would like to share with you a very interesting initiative that is taking place today and tomorrow in the Innu community of Mashteuiatsh in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean. It is the first ever First Nations regional economic circle, with the theme “Relations Between Us.”

This gathering, which will be held in French, is being organized as a follow-up to the first Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous Peoples and Quebec, which took place in November in Montreal. The objective was to ensure the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Quebec’s economy, and participants expressed a desire to continue the conversations in the regions and to develop concrete projects.

This is the first of several regional circles that will be held across Quebec. This time, more than 250 participants, including both Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders, elected officials and entrepreneurs, are meeting with the objective of building partnerships. It is a great example of social dialogue in action.

In an article published on April 13 in Le Devoir, Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation Chief Gilbert Dominique was quoted as saying that Quebec’s business community is increasingly interested in establishing good relations with Indigenous peoples.

He went on to say:

 . . . there are benefits to creating businesses in partnership with band councils — and to establishing businesses in Indigenous communities, or at least nearby.

Subjects on the agenda include financing tools, Indigenous rights and affirmation, renewable energy, tourism, training and innovation.

We have much to learn from the values of Indigenous communities, including cooperation and sharing. In Quebec and elsewhere, these grand economic circles can show us the way toward inclusive economic development that demonstrates greater respect for communities and resources and recognizes dialogue as key to finding mutually beneficial solutions.

This event is certainly in keeping with the National Indigenous Economic Strategy that was launched recently by a group of Indigenous economic and business organizations. Senator Brian Francis, caucus chair of the Progressive Senate Group, is involved.

I hope this will be an opportunity for all the participants to forge ties with one another and with us.

Thank you. Meegwetch.

Hon. Jean-Guy Dagenais: Honourable senators, my guest today is a young political adviser from the Quebec National Assembly.

Since 2020, Frédéric Perreault has been working with the MNA for Vimont, my friend Jean Rousselle, who just announced that he is retiring from politics. A graduate of the communication and politics program at the University of Montreal, Frédéric also serves as the coordinator for the Quebec Liberal Party’s youth commission.

I am also proud to say that, in 2017, he contributed to a short film produced by the Sûreté du Québec to raise awareness among young people about drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. He also has an extensive and impressive record as a volunteer.

When Frédéric reached out a few months ago and asked if I could give him a closer look at how politics works here in Ottawa, I immediately agreed. His visit today will enable him to compare the parliamentary system used here in Ottawa with the one used in the province of Quebec. In my humble opinion, you can never have too many people spreading the word about our work as parliamentarians.

More importantly, let me say that you can never have too many young people interested in politics. The low voter turnout in Canada is troubling, and we need to quickly find ways to revive political interest among young people.

To me, the next generation is important in politics. I honestly believe that we have a duty to open our doors to those who are curious, those who have the knowledge and sharp wits to support us in our daily work.

This visit is not insignificant. Frédéric Perreault’s presence today in the gallery of this chamber coincides with the imminent end of our parliamentary session.

I’m going to use this visit as an opportunity to acknowledge and commend all those who work in the senators’ offices. We would definitely be lost without them. I especially want to praise them for all the work they have done over the past year under the dangerous and exceptional circumstances brought on by the pandemic. All of us, both here and at home, have benefited from their ability to serve us during difficult times.

I want to thank them for their adaptability and their individual willingness to keep each senator’s office running so the work could get done.

Thank you.