Hon. Claude Carignan: How many Ukrainians have been welcomed over the past three months with such care?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): The government is taking measures to protect our borders. The government is also assuming its responsibilities. People are treated humanely when they arrive, no matter how they get here, as is appropriate in a democratic country like ours.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Canada is working with its international partners, the provinces, municipalities and organizations here in Canada not only to invite and welcome refugees, people who are in danger because of what is happening in Ukraine, but also to give them what they need, whether they want to start a new life here in Canada or just stay here for the duration of the crisis in Ukraine. Canada will continue to do this until it is no longer necessary.

(For text of Delayed Answers, see Appendix.)

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Kutcher, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan, for the second reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Dennis Glen Patterson on December 15, 2021)

In its recently launched consultations on the upcoming 3800 MHz auction, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is advancing a rigorous set of requirements for new license holders, including consequences for non-compliance.

In its consultation document, ISED proposes rules that will require spectrum license holders to build out their networks. These rules include ambitious population and geographic coverage requirements that increase over time, and ISED will actively monitor compliance with these requirements. Failure to meet these requirements can have serious consequences, including warnings, administrative monetary penalties, license amendments, suspensions, or revocation of the license in question.

ISED also recently consulted on measures for making new licenses available for unused spectrum in commercial mobile bands, as well as implementing more aggressive deployment requirements on existing mobile bands, and will continue to put rules in place so spectrum is used for the social and economic benefit of Canadians.

The government is committed to enforcing the approach outlined above as a key instrument in ensuring the connectivity of our rural and remote communities.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Vernon White on December 16, 2021)

In response to the question, no analysis has been provided by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) directly to the Senate leader’s office regarding the government’s fiscal update.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Marie-Françoise Mégie on December 17, 2021)

The government supports the availability of existing intellectual property (IP) regime flexibilities and will consider their use in Canada on a case-by-case basis. In making any decision, the government will consider, amongst other things, the urgency of the need, domestic and international production capacity, the time required to establish new sources of supply, public safety, and the importance of developing new therapies to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

With respect to the proposed IP waiver at the World Trade Organization (WTO), the government remains committed to finding solutions and reaching an agreement that accelerates global vaccine production and does not negatively impact public health, and continues to work closely with all WTO Members in seeking a consensus-based multilateral outcome to address any IP challenges related to COVID-19.

At the same time, the government is actively pursuing practical, near-term solutions that support access to vaccines and therapies. Canada has committed to sharing its own supply of vaccines with low- and middle-income countries and, as a leading donor to the ACT-Accelerator, has committed $1.3 billion to ensure equitable access to key medical interventions. Canada is also leading the Ottawa Group and other WTO members to address supply chain constraints and export restrictions.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Robert Black on February 8, 2022)

In its recently launched consultations on the upcoming 3800 MHz auction, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is advancing a rigorous set of requirements for new license holders, including consequences for non-compliance.

In its consultation document, ISED proposes rules that will require spectrum license holders to build out their networks. These rules include ambitious population and geographic coverage requirements that increase over time, and ISED will actively monitor compliance with these requirements. Failure to meet these requirements can have serious consequences, including warnings, administrative monetary penalties, license amendments, suspensions, or revocation of the license in question.

ISED also recently consulted on measures for making new licenses available for unused spectrum in commercial mobile bands, as well as implementing more aggressive deployment requirements on existing mobile bands, and will continue to put rules in place so spectrum is used for the social and economic benefit of Canadians.

The government is committed to enforcing the approach outlined above as a key instrument in ensuring the connectivity of our rural and remote communities.

(Response to question raised by the Honourable Elizabeth Marshall on March 1, 2022)

The Estimates documents, as well as reporting mechanisms such as Departmental Results Reports (DRRs) and the Public Accounts ensure parliamentarians and Canadians have details on the government’s spending.

In a non-election year, the Public Accounts of Canada are tabled by mid-October. Due to the election, and a compensation decision by the Federal Court, tabling was delayed to December. It is not unusual for Public Accounts to be tabled in December in years where there was an election. In all instances, tabling respects the legislative timeline of December 31.

The DRRs serve as the minister’s attestation to parliament of the results achieved and resources used in a particular fiscal year. They are not deemed to be ready until the minister has approved the contents. There is no legal deadline for the tabling of the DRRs. Tabling timelines take into account the time needed for new ministers to review and approve the reports for their portfolios, as well as the House of Commons calendar.

Annual financial reporting is complemented by monthly financial results in the Fiscal Monitor and quarterly financial reporting by departments. Furthermore, the government tabled the 2022-23 Main Estimates on March 1, 2022, and Departmental Plans on March 2, 2022.

Senator Jaffer: Thank you, Senator Campbell, for your question and for letting me know beforehand that you were going to ask me this question.

As you know, our committee meets once a week unless we have government business. The Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, as you indicated, is a committee with a high volume of work. Whenever we need time, the Senate leadership enables us to find time for government business. For example, last week we needed more time, and the Senate leadership allowed us that time. That is how we are dealing with this at the Legal Committee.

Hon. Larry W. Campbell: Honourable senators, it being Wednesday, I will be directing my question to the chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Chair, would you take a question?

Senator Bellemare: Senator Gold, can you tell us how new senators will be received and what training they will be given? Will the various groups and caucuses be invited to give presentations to new senators and to help develop an onboarding program?

Senator Campbell: Can you advise the chamber on the level of cooperation we get with government ministries and, in particular, the justice ministry?

Senator Campbell: Thank you.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I understand that Senators’ Statements today will address the lives of two former parliamentarians. Our former colleague the Honourable Leonard Gustafson passed away on March 18, 2022. A few days later, on March 26, a former member of the House of Commons and minister of the Canadian government the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw also passed away.

I would ask colleagues to rise for a moment of silence in memory of those late parliamentarians before we proceed to Senators’ Statements.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I will have to make inquiries about the monies to which you have referred. I will be happy to report back to the chamber as soon as I can.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Acting Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 2 p.m.

Senator Gold: Yes, it is. Thank you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, senator, for the question. The government knows very well that boosting Canada’s productivity growth is an essential step toward ensuring economic prosperity.

Almost two years ago, the government put in place an economic response plan with unprecedented measures to meet the challenges to Canadians and to our economy that arose from the pandemic. As we emerge from the pandemic, the government believes that our national focus must be on economic growth and on making life more affordable for Canadians. I have been advised that these priorities will form the foundation of Budget 2022. The government looks forward to tabling Budget 2022 on April 7 and presenting its plan, moving forward, to all Canadians.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I’m not sure that the 14,000 who were assisted would characterize it as a failure, but there is no question that the challenges facing first-time homeowners and, more broadly, Canadians if they own a home and wish to change homes are real and pressing and have been for some time. The Government of Canada evaluates the efficacy of its programs and makes changes where it is appropriate and will continue to do so.

Senator Ataullahjan: Leader, last month it was reported that just 66 homebuyers in Toronto have qualified under the First‑Time Home Buyer Incentive program since it was created in 2019. This is despite the fact that the Trudeau government made changes in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement that it claimed would increase eligibility for Toronto homebuyers.

Leader, when this program was created, the Trudeau government said it would help up to 100,000 Canadians become homeowners, but as of last November, fewer than 14,000 have been helped. Has your government done an analysis or review of the program to determine why it has been such a failure?

Senator Omidvar: Thank you, Senator Gold, for that update. It is encouraging.

Buried in the announcement was a tiny line that the government will consider providing pathways to permanency for temporary foreign workers, or as I like to call them, essential workers. These are essential workers. I will remind us all that this chamber unanimously passed a motion last year, I think, to provide pathways to permanency for these essential workers. But the government is moving slowly on this promise. Will those in so-called low-skilled sectors have an easier path to permanency soon, or should Canadians simply accept that this program is class-based?

Senator Jaffer: Thank you, Senator Campbell. Our committee follows the Marjory LeBreton rule of “no minister, no bill,” and we operate under that rule generally.

Our committee, through our clerk, works as closely as we can with departments to secure ministerial appearances. We have had issues securing ministers for appearances, most recently on our study of Government Motion No. 14 regarding the Saskatchewan railway. Officials were made available to us, but not the ministers. The only reason the committee decided to continue is because we had a very short time to report back to the Senate.

We continue to push for ministerial appearances. Most importantly, I can always rely on the Government Representative, Senator Gold, and his staff. They go out of their way to help us with the attendance of ministers at committee. I can assure this chamber that we will work hard to ensure that ministers appear in committee to defend their bills.

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Leader, there was some good news for the economy today. The occupancy rate in Montreal hotels sits at 80%. These hotels have been rented out by the Montreal Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres, or CIUSSS. The occupancy rate is 80% because these hotels are being used to house the illegal refugees crossing at Roxham Road. As of early December, there were 8,000 of these illegal refugees.

How does the government plan to put an end to this illegal immigration?