Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 195, dated January 31, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding a video released by the Minister of Transport.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 67, dated November 23, 2021, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding ministerial exemptions granted under COVID-19 quarantine rules — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Senator McCallum: Yes, please.

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Audette, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mégie, for the second reading of Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Do we have consent for five minutes?

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Brazeau, do you want to join the debate?

Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize National Social Work Month. I am often introduced as a former social worker and a former social work educator. Well, let me tell you that I never stopped being a social worker. Now I just do it here in the Senate. Every single day, I bring my social work lens to debates and deliberations.

Social work is often divided into two silos. The first is front-line social work, and the second is developing social policy and social work research. During my time in the Senate, I have been collaborating with the Canadian Association of Social Workers with a shared agenda to empower social workers to have a presence and to use their voices in the creation of social policy and legislation.

My parliamentary research assistant Anne-Marie Hay is also a social worker who embodies the sentiment of social work in the Senate. Anne-Marie was my first student in the Senate and started in my office while completing a master’s degree in social work at Carleton University. When I was appointed to the Senate, I decided to provide social work students with an opportunity to do their practicum placements in my Senate office. Anne-Marie shares my passion for social justice and racial justice, and that is evident in all the work we do together. I see many social work students shy away from policy — and, in fact, some run away from policy — but Anne-Marie’s passion for social justice in social work is a perfect example of why it is important to have social workers in policy positions.

Anne-Marie, thank you for the essential social work that you bring to our team in all aspects of our work.

Honourable senators, please join me in thanking all social workers for the important, essential work they do every day. Asante. Thank you.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I am not in a position to make such an assertion for several reasons. Besides, that is not what I said. I cited the findings of independent expert analyses that were endorsed by several colleagues, including the House leader of the official opposition, showing that the results of the election were not compromised.

As for the status of candidates, I imagine that that will be one of the things reviewed by the designated individuals, who will have the appropriate security clearance to access all relevant information on this issue.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 181, dated December 13, 2022, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding international aid to Russian or Belarusian organizations.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 201, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Health Canada.

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the proud Government Representative in the Senate.

Leader, on February 27, the government announced with great fanfare that TikTok, the Chinese social media platform, was being banned from government devices. We all quickly removed it from our devices because of the risks it could pose.

Again, looking through the lens of Chinese interference, imagine my surprise when I learned today that the Privy Council Office has invested millions of dollars in advertising on the Chinese social network platform.

How can the government, on the one hand, encourage Canadians to stop using TikTok and then, on the other hand, invest millions of dollars in government advertising?

Senator Gold: I will certainly make inquiries as to what resources are being dedicated to the open banking file, and I have confidence that the CRA is going to do its very best to treat all taxpayers — and all Canadians — fairly as we approach this happy time of the year when we have to face the music in our taxes. Thank you for your question.

[Translation]

Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, the Treasury Board of Canada has ruled that the Canadian Human Rights Commission has discriminated against its own Black and racialized employees. This revelation is even more disturbing considering that yesterday marked the United Nations’ seventy-fifth International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. After these brave employees have come forward with their stories, Black Canadians can no longer place their trust in the Canadian Human Rights Commission to handle complaints of anti-Black racism.

My question to you, Senator Gold, is this: What actions will the government take to address anti-Black racism in the Canadian Human Rights Commission to ensure the complaints process is equitable for Black Canadians?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Doug Deacon. He is a friend of the Honourable Senator Downe and brother of the Honourable Senator Colin Deacon.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

An Hon. Senator: Add inflation to it.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question.

According to my information, Minister Alghabra recently met with the authorities at Bathurst Regional Airport to reassure them that the government will continue working with representatives of the airport and other regional airports to help support them.

I do not know the details of that conversation, but I will reach out to the government to seek further information, if there is any.

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I would like to explain, for those who have less experience than you, honourable colleague, that just because I am a member of the Privy Council it does not mean that I have access to the information on national security that was provided to the Prime Minister or parliamentarians. I thank you for the confidence you have in my role, which I am pleased to fulfill to the best of my abilities.

However, I simply do not have access to that information. Even if I did have access to information concerning national security, I would not be allowed to share it publicly, as you are well aware.

[English]