The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Are senators ready for the question? Senator Wallin, do you have a question?

Senator Gold: I’ll have to make inquiries and report back.

Senator Tannas: Thank you. I don’t know how far back we have to go. But you’re right, this had its beginnings a long time ago. It seems there is an issue of fairness and there are multiple parties involved. We are doing something that I don’t think has ever been done. We have extinguished what is a constitutional right of somebody. We’ve not only done that but made it retroactive.

We need to get this in front of a committee. We have an excellent Legal Affairs Committee. I think they could do this justice in short order and make it clear to folks like me what exactly it is we’re doing and why, so I can vote with a clear conscience.

Senator Tannas: Actually, I’ll put a date a little sooner than that, just because I think there is an intention to pull the rights of Canadian Pacific away before this court case happens. I don’t see any other explanation for it than that.

If that’s what we’re being asked to do, we should not foreclose that by saying we’re going to wait six months. We should deal with it in a forthright and expeditious manner and get the facts before us here so we can make the decision.

Hon. David Richards: Would Senator Tannas take a comment more than a question?

This goes back to Sandford Fleming and the Bank of Montreal and Edward Seaborne Clouston and all that was going on back in the 1880s, 1890s up until about 1910. If you’re going to study this, I think you have to go back a long way. I wonder if that’s what we’re prepared to do. I thought I would mention that.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: We have three minutes.

Some Hon. Senators: No.

Senator Mercer: Honourable senators, I grew up in Halifax in the shadow of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Royal Canadian Navy has a very proud history of protecting Canada, which continues to this day.

The Prime Minister recently announced additional support for NATO through Operation REASSURANCE — more troops, more artillery and the addition of HMCS Halifax to its operations. Is the government, in consultation with NATO and its allies, considering any further ramp-up of military personnel by land, sea or air to Ukraine in the wake of Putin’s recent threats? I have neighbours who are members of the Royal Canadian Navy, and I want to make sure that they’re safe.

Hon. Percy E. Downe: Senator Gold, why has the government allowed the concentration of federal government employment in Ottawa and the National Capital Region to reach 47% of all federal employees, when the historical average was about one third in the Ottawa area and two thirds in the rest of Canada?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Well, thank you for the question and the underlying concern that these positions be distributed equitably so that citizens outside the capital region can serve their country and have the benefit of those. I’ll make inquiries as to the reasons that might explain the change in percentage that you outline, and I’ll be happy to report back when I get an answer.

Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Gold: Senator, thank you for your question. I will make sure to add those points to my inquiries with the government.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I have no knowledge whatsoever of any such deliberate action. I will make inquiries as to why the public accounts were delayed, and I will report back to the chamber.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Colleague, thank you for your question. As your question implies, there is a requirement that it be tabled before the end of March. I have every confidence that that will be the case, but I will certainly make every effort to get that confirmed. I will try to get an answer back to you and to this chamber as quickly as I can.

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

(On motion of Senator Ringuette, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

[English]

Hon. Pierrette Ringuette introduced Bill S-239, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate).

(Bill read first time.)

Senator Mockler: Honourable senators, as we know, Canada will be stronger when all regions are strong. Leader, we remember how the current government moved the goalposts as Energy East went through the review process in 2017. Does your government commit today to giving Saint John LNG a fair hearing in order to help Europe and to continue to position Canada as a major player?

Senator Seidman: Thank you, Senator Patterson, for your question. I am afraid I cannot tell you what the committee timeline is. I am not certain of that. I do know that as soon as this bill is referred to committee, which hopefully is today, the committee will be seized with it; they will, of course, determine the witnesses they want to hear from and the role they feel they need to play.

Hon. Renée Dupuis: Would Senator Seidman agree to answer another question?