Senator Downe: Thank you, Senator Batters. There are a couple of things. First, we got a very different bill from the House of Commons than our committee studied. Senator Tannas covered that in detail, so I won’t repeat it.

The second is, and I say this with the greatest respect for Senator Gold, whom I like very much personally, but he’s not a member of the cabinet. If he was a member of the cabinet, his words would carry more weight than they do as Government Representative in the Senate, and it is a division of authority and responsibility that has to be considered as well.

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Would Senator Tannas take another question?

[English]

Senator White: I will.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your very important question, senator.

The government is aware of the studies done by the professors you mentioned. I am friends with Professor Gold. We are not related, by the way.

As I’ve said many times, the government is working with its partners and with international organizations to ensure that everyone in the world can get vaccinated quickly. There are several possible ways to get there, and looking at intellectual property rights is one of them. The government is in talks with its partners to, quote, unquote, “change the rules” on intellectual property, in particular with respect to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which was signed under the auspices of the World Trade Organization.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. That gives me the opportunity to answer briefly. Since you asked three questions, the answer is no, it is not; no, it is not; and no, it is not.

The Hon. the Speaker: I would ask the senators who are asking questions to keep them very brief. We are running out of time.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Yussuff, I see a couple of senators have raised their hands, presumably to ask a question. Will you take a couple of questions?

Senator Yussuff: Yes.

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. Paula Simons: Would Senator Yussuff accept a 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.