Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I will speak to government officials and get back to you as soon as possible.

[English]

Hon. Stan Kutcher: Yes I do. Would Senator Campbell take a question?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Do you have a question, Senator Kutcher?

Senator Tannas: You had two questions, but I just got one out of that.

[Translation]

Senator Tannas: Yes.

[Translation]

Hon. Renée Dupuis: Would Senator Tannas take another question?

[English]

Hon. Donna Dasko: Senator, will you take another question?

Senator Yussuff: Yes.

Hon. Terry M. Mercer: Would you accept a question?

Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Bellemare: I agree with much of what you’re saying. Your comments are very wise. They also give us an opening to question our processes and talk about the modernization of the Senate.

I have a question about your comments on the need for speeches to be given by the Government Representative in the Senate. Don’t you think it’s time we asked the minister responsible for a bill to come and present it to us in the Senate? We could set aside time for that presentation, which would be open and different from a Committee of the Whole. The senator presenting the bill would come answer our questions before we study it, perhaps at second reading. The fact that there are sponsors for bills in the Senate doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a spokesperson. What’s more, the minister responsible could appear before us to present his or her bill so that we could ask him or her questions. We can debate whether this exercise should be done at second reading or third reading, but I’d like to hear your thoughts on this.

[English]

Senator Tannas: Yes.

Senator Bellemare: Would Senator Tannas take another question?

Senator Tannas: I agree. I think it is incumbent upon all of us, on all sides of the chamber, to have on our Senate hat of sober second thought when we are confronted with these kinds of situations. That could easily, as it did, come in a motion from the Leader of the Opposition.

You’re right; we missed an opportunity. It’s not the fault of the Leader of the Opposition. He put forward the motion for good reasons and because he thought it was the right thing to do. It was our job — mine, other leaders and, indeed, every senator’s — to have jumped up and asked for further clarification or whatever needed to be done. We did not do that, and so we passed a bill that perhaps we should have spent more time on, or maybe not. Your point is well taken, Senator Dalphond. Thank you.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Debate on the amendment. Senator Tannas.

Senator Downe: Yes.

Hon. Frances Lankin: Thank you, Senator White, for your contribution and your amendment.

I agree with you and your concerns about process. I don’t want to talk about that anymore. We have spent more time talking about that so far today than we have about the bill that we’re bemoaning we don’t have enough time to talk about.

Coming back to the bill and your particular amendment, as you have indicated, there is plenty of opinion out there that while these particular provisions to change the Criminal Code may bring light, attention and messages of support, security and concern to health care workers, the actual enforcement actions could have been taken under the existing Criminal Code. Then you bring forward this amendment. I understand your rationale, that if it improves it, why not?

Provinces do most of the enforcement in the jurisdiction area we are talking about. They have access to tools as well. In particular, I’m thinking of the time in Ontario when I, as health minister, and Marion Boyd, as attorney general, brought forward an attorney general’s injunction in response to the bombing of the Morgentaler Clinic and the threatening of doctors in their homes.

What research have you done to see what other provinces have done in terms of enforcement and the necessity, or not, of this? Given all the discussion we have had about perhaps finding a way to make the point on process — but this isn’t the bill for brinksmanship, which I know we are prone to say often — why would you suggest this should be the bill we send back to the House of Commons at this point in time and potentially further delay the impact of this bill, just to get support to Canadians who are in need? Thank you.

Senator Downe: Yes. I don’t want to delay the procedure, but yes, if people agree.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Downe, are you asking for five more minutes to answer a question?

Senator Gold: Will the senator take a question?