Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The Government of Canada continues to work closely with its partners in the provinces and territories and with health care professionals and advisers to find and promote the best ways to encourage Canadians to be vaccinated and to encourage Canadians, whether vaccinated or not, to take public health measures to minimize the risk of exposure. It will continue to do so.

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. According to a December 3 article by Mr. Deglise in Le Devoir, on August 3, 2021, less than a month after Jovenel Moïse was murdered, the Haitian government officially asked the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to create an “international commission of inquiry” and a special court.

Senator Gold, the investigation is stalled against a backdrop of violence, corruption and political obstruction to court hearings. Can you tell us if Canada will come out for or against Haiti’s official calls for the UN to create an international commission of inquiry? Or will it abstain altogether?

Senator Mégie: I would like to add that the request has in fact been made, so your response leaves me perplexed, Senator Gold, given that the article in Le Devoir clearly indicates that.

Senator Gold: I will look into it further, even though, to my knowledge, the request has not been formally received. However, I apologize in advance if I am wrong. I will do more research with the information I was provided.

[English]

Senator Simons: Thank you very much for your response.

I want to emphasize that I’m not talking about a population of people who are within Afghanistan, although there are still Sikhs in Afghanistan looking for evacuation. I’m talking about the more than 600 people who have been in India, some up to five or six years, who have not been able to come here despite the fact that this memorandum of understanding has been signed. I’m hoping you might be able to shed some light on why this population, which has passed their security checks and health checks, is still stalled in India.

Senator Gold: I will make inquiries and report back. Thank you.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Moodie, would you take a question? You have two minutes.

Senator McPhedran: I wonder, Senator Gold, if you could please ask for an indication of when we might have a public statement from the Government of Canada on both the issue of sexual abuse by high-ranking officials and state disappearances of those who make accusations. Also, what specifically is the Government of Canada prepared to do to address the concerns around this particular case of Peng Shuai?

Hon. Leo Housakos (Acting Leader of the Opposition): Thank you, Your Honour. My interpretation of the rules you sent out — and I will respect them — was that if we had social distancing space around us that we could take the mask off if we had a cumbersome time breathing. It is a little bit cumbersome.

The Hon. the Speaker: I’m sorry for interrupting you, Senator McCallum, but your time has expired. Are you asking for five more minutes to finish?

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: Honourable senators, my question is to Senator Gold.

I ask this question in the midst of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. My question to the government is about Canada speaking out of concern for the safety and freedom of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, which has been in serious doubt since the beginning of November when she accused a powerful former Chinese Communist Party official of sexual assault. Senator Gold, in a recent statement, Human Rights Watch criticized the International Olympic Committee’s, or IOC, eagerness to ignore the voice of an Olympian who may be in danger and to support claims of state-sponsored media in China. Why has Canada not spoken out about this case and called for an independent investigation as other governments have?

Senator Gold: Although I’m aware of many things, Senator Griffin, this was one of the many of which I was not. I look forward to receiving my bag of potatoes.

Senator Martin: No. I heard the leader say he would be reporting back, so thank you for looking into that.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Martin, do you wish to ask a supplementary question?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question is also for the government leader in the Senate. In response to the recent emergency in my province, the Government of Canada announced it would match every dollar donated to the British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather appeal of the Canadian Red Cross until December 26. Last week, a request was made from four Conservative members of Parliament from B.C. for the federal government to broaden this support and match donations to other registered charities also involved in the ongoing efforts. This request is not to criticize the important work of the Red Cross here in B.C. but an acknowledgement that the need on the ground remains great and no single organization can do it all. Leader, what is your government’s response to this specific request?

Senator Gold: Thank you for the follow-up question. I will add that to the inquiries I make to the government and will attempt to report back in a timely manner.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators will remember that on November 22, 2021, we attempted to return the Senate Chamber to full chamber attendance. One of the conditions was that when in the chamber, senators are to wear masks at all times. If, for medical reasons, a senator is unable to wear a mask, we can accommodate senators when they wish to speak by either socially distancing them in the chamber if we have room or allowing for the use of the gallery when senators are not speaking and then rearranging so when senators are speaking they can be socially distanced in the chamber.

I want to remind senators that the use of masks at all times while in the chamber is necessary for now.

Hon. Lucie Moncion: It’s about the masks, Your Honour.

The Hon. the Speaker: I’m sorry, Senator Housakos. Senator Moncion is raising a point of order.