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

Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Senator Gold: The appropriate order-in-council will be filed in due course.

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion withdrawn.)

(At 4:24 p.m., pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on November 25, 2021 and February 21, 2022, the Senate adjourned until 2 p.m., tomorrow.)

Senator Forest: Basically, I’m trying to determine what measures should have been taken. In my view, if there are several idiots, perhaps we should have taken a different approach with the people who are actually dangerous. Do you think we should have taken a different approach with the two types of people who may have infiltrated the convoy, Senator Plett?

[English]

Hon. Mary Coyle: Will Senator Tannas take a question?

Hon. Brent Cotter: Would the honourable senator take a question?

Senator Plett: Absolutely.

[Translation]

Senator Carignan: Senator Plett, I asked Senator Gold a question this week about the 2021 Democracy Index. I pointed out that Canada had dropped seven spots in a single year and that we are now in twelfth place on the index on global democracy. The indicators used to compile the democracy index include the functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties.

The invocation of the Emergencies Act gives the government exceptional power to limit people’s rights and freedoms and freeze their bank accounts without a court order. Are you worried that the use of the act will make Canada drop at least another five spots in 2022 and that we will end up among the lowest-ranking countries on the democracy index?

[English]

Hon. Brent Cotter: Will Senator Tannas take one more question?

Senator Yussuff: Gladly.

Senator Carignan: Leader, I’m hearing comments in this debate that make my hair stand on end.

Have we completely forgotten that we live in a society governed by the rule of law? Have we completely forgotten that there are principles enshrined in our Constitution that include investigative powers and law enforcement services that conduct investigations? Have we forgotten that, for time immemorial, criminal groups, like the Hells Angels and others that launder money and traffic drugs, have been trying to infiltrate other groups? These are groups that regularly operate under the cover of other activities with the objective of laundering money or controlling the black market, for example. This is quite common. This is how it’s always been, and it’s unlikely to change. You don’t use the Emergencies Act because a small group has been infiltrated by the Hells Angels. We have the Constitution, and we have the investigative powers. We don’t need emergency measures to do this. Is this a symptom of COVID-19?

[English]

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Senator Gold: Colleagues, first I want to thank all honourable senators for the thoughtful contributions that have been made during this important debate. I’m rising on behalf of the Government of Canada to announce in this chamber that the government has revoked the Emergencies Act in accordance with section 22 of the act.

The Hon. the Speaker: I saw Senator Gold rise first, Senator Plett, so I’m going to let Senator Gold speak and then I’ll call on you.

Senator Ataullahjan: Yes, I would.

Senator Plett: Senator Gold told me I could answer with a yes or no. I’ll say yes to part of your question and no to the other part.

[Translation]

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Would Senator Tannas agree to answer another question?

I would like to thank you for your comments and ensure that I understood correctly.

You explained earlier that we must look at the situation as it stands today. If I understand the legislation correctly and if, between nine days ago and now, we had found out that a million bank accounts had been seized and the associated financial transactions had been halted under the economic measures order, it would be a bit surprising for the Senate to confirm the declaration only to engage in a process the following week to revoke the use of the act or declare that the application of the legislation should end.

If I understand correctly, we must look at the situation as it stands today, including the impact the declaration has had, which has been positive in some ways and negative in other ways, before voting.

Have I understood that correctly, Senator Tannas?

[English]

Senator Pate: Would the senator take a question?