Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Senator Gold, earlier this week, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner, Daniel Therrien, said his office was informed — not consulted, but informed — by the Public Health Agency about the collection and use of the mobility data of 33 million Canadians during this pandemic without their consent.

The commissioner also said that when his office proposed to examine the technical means used to depersonalize this data and to offer advice, the Trudeau government declined and said it would rely on other experts instead.

Senator Gold, why did the government turn down an offer from the Privacy Commissioner to provide expertise on this matter? Does your government regularly refuse advice from our Privacy Commissioner? As well, who were the experts your government did consult, and how much did it cost taxpayers?

Senator Gold: I will make inquiries and report back in due course.

Some Hon. Senators: Yea.

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

On December 19, 2019, the Trudeau government announced that the Davie shipyard was the only shipyard that had qualified to build six new program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. At the time, Canadians were told that an umbrella agreement with the Davie shipyard was expected to be put in place by late 2020. That did not happen. Last May, we were told that an agreement would be in place by the end of 2021. Of course, once again, that did not happen. Two years have passed, and the government has not yet finalized the agreement.

Why is this taking so long? When will the Government of Canada and the Davie shipyard have an agreement? If the answer is “I don’t know,” feel free to say so.

Senator Cormier: Thank you for the answer.

LGBTQ2+ organizations need to do long-term planning. Funding for just one year is rather problematic. I would like to know if this LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund can be accessed by new LGBTQ2+ organizations, such as the one recently created in my province. If not, what will the government do to support these organizations, and when will it do it?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, we now move to debate.

Senator Plett: Question.

Hon. Robert Black, pursuant to notice of February 8, 2022, moved:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, in accordance with rule 12-7(10), be authorized to examine and report on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to agriculture and forestry; and

That the committee report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2023.

Hon. Diane F. Griffin: I wish to adjourn the debate.

Senator Plett: No.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: I believe the “yeas” have it.

(On motion of Senator Griffin, debate adjourned, on division.)

[Translation]

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

Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak on the Code for the Responsible Advertising of Food and Beverage Products to Children, otherwise known as the Food and Beverage Advertising Code.

The Food and Beverage Advertising Code represents a commitment made by four leading industry associations on behalf of their members: the Association of Canadian Advertisers, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada, Canadian Beverage Association and Restaurants Canada to govern the advertising of food and beverage products to children under the age of 13.

We know that this topic has long been discussed in both this chamber and in the other place in the past. I would like to take this time to thank my honourable colleagues, and specifically Senator Petitclerc, for all their hard work on this issue in the past. Although the regulations detailed in the former Bill S-228 were never adopted, as it didn’t receive Royal Assent before the 2019 federal election was called, I am proud of the work that industry has done since that time to continue to work on this important issue and make the recommendations a reality.

I would like to note also that a private member’s bill was tabled on this very matter just last night. I’m hopeful that industry has been, and will continue to be, consulted in that process because they have been working tirelessly on this important matter.

According to industry, the guidelines set out in their Food and Beverage Advertising Code exceed Health Canada’s initial recommendations from 2018. In fact, these are the same recommendations which were first introduced by our colleague former senator Nancy Greene Raine in 2016 to prohibit the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.

Ultimately, the regime set out in the code will be enforced by Ad Standards with pre-clearances and will govern advertisers across Canada on all platforms. The Food and Beverage Advertising Code will also allow Health Canada to deliver on one of its top priorities under the healthy eating strategy.

Honourable colleagues, it is clear that children represent a special audience and that messages built around the consumption and choice of food and beverage products should be regulated. This code is a critical document in the industry that will help support the way in which food products are advertised to children going forward. I am hopeful that the Food and Beverage Advertising Code will stand as an example of the type of positive results that can come from collaboration between industry, government and stakeholders and further encourage these partnerships in the future.

Thank you, meegwetch.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Base Camp, held by video conference, from August 3 to 5, 2021.

Senator McPhedran: Senator Gold, in addition to that inquiry, could you please ask specifically about the Rohingya in the largest refugee camps in the world, mostly in Bangladesh? And could you ask for an update to this chamber on what Canada is doing to provide services to the Rohingya women and children who continue to be at risk of being trafficked and having their education denied for the most part?

Senator Gold: I will certainly do so. Thank you.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance Virtual Conference, held by video conference, from December 6 to 7, 2021.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the U.S. Congressional Meetings, held by video conference, from March 15 to 18, 2021.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning the Western Governors’ Association Annual Meeting, held by video conference, from June 30 to July 1, 2021.

Hon. Paul J. Massicotte: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on emerging issues related to its mandate:

(a) The current state and future direction of production, distribution, consumption, trade, security and sustainability of Canada’s energy resources;

(b) Environmental challenges facing Canadians including responses and adaptation to global climate change, pollution, biodiversity, and ecological integrity, and the cumulative environmental effects of energy and natural resource development;

(c) Sustainable development and management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources including but not limited to water, minerals, soils, flora and fauna;

(d) Pathways to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and ways to address the human and environmental impacts of climate change and manage the transition to a low carbon economy;

(e) Opportunities and challenges for women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, newcomers, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2 Canadians, in the energy and natural resource sectors; and

(f) Canada’s international treaty obligations affecting energy, the environment and natural resources and their influence on Canada’s economic and social development; and

That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2025 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

Senator Loffreda: Thank you for that response, Senator Gold. I’m relieved to hear that the money is starting to flow into the departments and that problems are starting to be solved.

Despite encouraging unemployment numbers in recent months, I know that many employers are still having difficulty hiring people. It’s a huge problem. Word on the street is that businesses are not being consulted and asked what type of skilled workers they need.

I know the minister will unveil a new immigration plan this month. Can you assure us that the government will consult widely with the business community and experts, and that it will consider realigning its immigration priorities and policies to ensure that we attract the talent our economy actually needs?