Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize the tremendous work that the police and security personnel have done in resolving the protest in our nation’s capital.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Is this a notice of motion that we are adopting now or we are adopting tomorrow? I was doing something here; obviously, I should have been paying closer attention. I didn’t hear the motion. Could you please repeat what you said at the start, senator?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader.

Leader, on February 10 I asked you a couple of questions. I suggested you needed to start answering the questions that we asked. At 7:40 that night, one of my granddaughters messaged me through WhatsApp.

Leader, I’m going to read this to you, and then I will ask my question. My granddaughter said:

Grandpa, I think your questions are too complex in the Senate. No one seems be able to give you an answer, let alone say anything close to what you asked.

She went on to say:

You sound tired. I would be too if I had to sit and listen to all that BS. Love you.

I love her as well.

Leader, I’m going to ask you a question. I want you to imagine you are answering Emily and give her an answer that she will understand.

Last Thursday night, a violent attack took place at the Coastal GasLink worksite near Houston, British Columbia. About 20 people, some armed with axes, attacked security guards, smashed vehicles and heavy machinery, set fires on roadways, injured an RCMP officer and traumatized workers. A statement from the B.C. RCMP said, “This is a very troubling escalation in violent criminal activity that could have resulted in serious injury or death.” And it continues:

This was a calculated and organized violent attack that left its victims shaken and a multimillion dollar path of destruction.

Leader, why does the Trudeau government believe the trucker convoy rises to the level of national emergency when this incredibly vicious and dangerous attack in B.C. hardly drew even a mention from the Prime Minister? Does the Prime Minister think it’s okay to demonize other groups of Canadians simply because he doesn’t agree with them?