Senator Gold: Would you agree that government should take advice from law enforcement?

Senator Gold: Shall I repeat it?

Senator Plett: The answer to your first question is certainly “yes.”

I’m not entirely sure how you phrased the second question.

The Hon. the Speaker: Would you like to ask another question, Senator Audette?

Senator Bernard: Senator Plett, thank you for your speech. There has been documentation of many forms of violence for the duration of this occupation. The primary organizers have histories of far-right extremism, including evidence of racist and Islamophobic sentiment. We have heard anecdotes from Ottawa citizens being victims of violence during the past three weeks in Centretown. We have seen hate symbols on display. And we have heard reports of violence and harassment toward media and journalists.

Canadians have a right to peaceful assembly and protest, we agree. However, there has been enough evidence that this occupation has not been a safe or a peaceful environment.

My question to you, Senator Plett, is why are the rights and freedoms of participants of the “Freedom Convoy” being prioritized over the rights and freedoms of residents in Centretown who have been unable to live their lives safely in the vicinity, and also journalists who have been prevented from reporting on the convoy?

Senator Plett: Certainly, senator.

Hon. Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard: Would Senator Plett take a question, please?

Senator Plett: Sure.

Hon. Claude Carignan: Would the Leader of the Opposition take another question?

[English]

Senator LaBoucane-Benson: I’m from Alberta. Whether people are vaccinated, unvaccinated — I have both in my family — is not what this is about. At the very beginning, the convoy was about vaccine mandates. Someone in your caucus said we should have gotten rid of the vaccine mandates and everybody would have gone home. My question is this: As a government, do you do that? Do you give in to illegal activity? Do you give them the outcome they want to end this instead of using the Emergencies Act? Is that what should have happened?

Senator Carignan: Professor Andrew Potter from McGill University commented on Canada’s drop in the democracy index in an article on the Radio-Canada website, which reads, and I quote:

 . . . Mr. Trudeau is therefore “directly responsible for the consequences.” . . . “His attitude toward Parliament has been contemptuous and dismissive,” the researcher said. “What is happening in the streets of Ottawa is, to a large extent, a direct consequence of that. When people feel as though their opinions are being ignored or treated with disdain, it’s likely to cause anger.”

I imagine you agree with the professor?

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Yussuff, your time has expired, but there is at least one senator who wishes to ask a question. Are you asking for five more minutes to answer a question?

Hon. Éric Forest: Would Senator Plett take another question?

[English]

Senator Yussuff: Until we know for certain, we’ve been asked to consider if we support the government in regard to the invocation of the act. We don’t have another question before us right now. Until the House leader tells us something different, I guess we’re still voting on the motion.

Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: I’d like to ask if Senator Mercer would please take a question.

Senator Mercer: Yes, sure.

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.