Senator Boisvenu: Senator Gold, I wasn’t referring to the role of the government, but to the cause. There’s a big difference. The Financial Post has a drastically different opinion than that of the person you quoted. It predicts an increase of the price of housing and rental units in urban centres where a majority of immigrants choose to live.

It also predicts that the health care system will be under a huge amount of pressure. We already know that our hospitals and schools are bursting at the seams. Our roads can barely handle the traffic as it is right now.

Senator Gold, immigrants aren’t the only ones who will be impacted by the lack of employment, health services and infrastructure. All Canadians are already feeling the effects of this out-of-control immigration.

Senator Gold, are you still convinced that the current housing crisis in Canada created itself?

Senator Gold: No. The situation is much more nuanced — frankly, everybody knows that, senator. There’s no need to create a false dichotomy between both views. The bottom line is that Canada needs immigrants.

The Government of Canada’s policy is based on consultations with the provinces and territories, which also need immigrants and labour to ensure the survival of many of their communities and even their economies. The government is trying to find the right balance between immigration levels and Canada’s needs.

Furthermore, as you rightly pointed out, social and educational services are also needed in order to ensure that all Canadians, including immigrants, enjoy a decent quality of life in Canada.

[English]

Senator Moncion: Thank you for the question.

I completely agree with you, senator. It’s important to hear from the people involved in those calculations because they can connect those dots for us — we’re running out of time, and I don’t know if senators want to give us a little more.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of members of the Survivors Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Francis, along with his spouse, Georgina Francis; his daughter, Kateri Coade; and his granddaughter, Kiara Coade.

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

Hon. Tony Loffreda: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to two important figures and community advocates in the English-speaking community of Montreal: Mr. Michael Sochaczevski and Mr. Beryl Wajsman.

Michael is the publisher of The Suburban — the largest English-language newspaper in Quebec — and Beryl is its Editor-in-Chief.

On September 15, Michael, Beryl and The Suburban were honoured at the 2023 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards in six prestigious categories, including winning the top prize for Best All-Round Newspaper, Best Editorial Page and Best Front Page for newspapers with a circulation of 17,500 and over.

For his part, Beryl received special recognition in two categories: Best National Editorial and Best News Story. The latter was for a piece that covered the debates of the Senate. Even prior to my appointment, I always appreciated The Suburban’s coverage of national politics and the business of the Senate.

I’ve always admired Beryl’s uncompromising commitment to journalism, his community engagement, his passion for reporting and commenting on the news and his loyalty to his readers.

This year also marks the sixtieth anniversary of The Suburban. For six decades, The Suburban has served our community and enriched the lives of its readership thanks to its reliable news coverage and journalistic integrity — something that Beryl and the Sochaczevski family are fully committed to.

Indeed, with a print circulation of well over 50,000 and a well‑designed, user-friendly and up-to-the-minute website, The Suburban remains a source of information you can rely on for its high-quality reporting on local, regional, national and international issues, and its diverse opinion pieces and editorials.

I am sure all honourable senators will agree with me that having a strong, independent and reliable Canadian news industry is paramount to serving the public interest. It is the cornerstone of any democratic society.

Good journalism is under threat. Citizens have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to how they consume their news. Many sources are unreliable, partisan, biased and factually misleading or misguided.

Thankfully, The Suburban — like many other newspapers nationwide — continues to uphold the highest and most important values associated with quality journalism: accuracy, reliability, independence and respect — both for the story and the audience.

Honourable senators, please join me in congratulating Michael Sochaczevski, Beryl Wajsman — its Editor-in-Chief — and the entire team at The Suburban for their journalistic excellence and for being awarded several prizes at the 2023 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards earlier this month.

Thank You.

Senator Gold: The story that the Liberal MP recounted is, unfortunately, a story that many Canadians could recount. It is not correct, however — whatever the perception is — to attribute it to the tax, any less so than it would be to attribute it to one factor, whether it is world oil prices or other circumstances that have affected this family in terms of their challenge in meeting the cost of living.

The real world that we are living in — and that the government is committed to working in for the benefit of Canadians — is one in which this government will continue to make the necessary investments for Canadians, their households and families, and in terms of our industry and economy, so that we can continue forward on a path toward a better future.

[Translation]

Senator Cormier: Thank you, colleagues.

During my visit to Nunavut, Ms. Aariak also told me that the federal Indigenous Languages Act lacks “teeth,” especially when it comes to the role of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages.

The act was passed in June 2019, and it includes a five-year review of its provisions. Does the federal government intend to comply with its obligations relating to Indigenous peoples’ right to governance and self-determination in this country?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, September 30 has been set aside to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a day of deep significance for our nation.

The history of Indigenous peoples in Canada is a story of resilience, strength and profound injustice. For generations, Indigenous communities faced colonization, dispossession of land, forced assimilation and the horrors of the residential school system. These dark chapters in our history have left indelible scars that continue to affect Indigenous individuals, families and communities today.

For too long, the experiences and suffering of Indigenous peoples in Canada have been marginalized, ignored and even denied. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation reminds us that it is time to confront this painful history, listen to the stories of survivors, learn from their wisdom and engage in meaningful dialogue.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not just a date on the calendar; it’s a mandate for change, a call for us to collectively acknowledge the truth of our past and work towards a better future.

It’s a day to reflect upon the devastating legacy of cultural assimilation policies that separated Indigenous children from their families, languages and cultures.

It’s a day to remember the thousands of children who never returned home from those schools, and to honour the survivors who have carried the weight of their trauma for generations.

This day is a testament to our commitment to acknowledging the painful truths of our past and working together to build a more just and inclusive future.

It is also a day of hope that reminds us of our collective responsibility to seek reconciliation. It requires us to confront the systemic injustices that persist today, such as inadequate access to clean water, housing and education in Indigenous communities.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day of reflection, reckoning with our history and committing to a more just and equitable future.

Together, let us build a Canada where the wounds of the past are healed, the truth is known and reconciliation is not just an aspiration but a lived reality for all.

Senator Cormier: First of all, I’d like to thank you for that background information and for the concern you have shown regarding this important legislation for official language minority communities. I’d also like to thank you for making the connection with the government’s obligations under the Official Languages Act.

You mentioned three additions that have been made. I’m referring to the paragraph that deals with commitments and the Official Languages Act. Under the heading “Funding commitments,” as you mentioned, the bill states:

early learning and child care programs and services subject to an agreement entered into with a province must be guided by the commitments set out in the Official Languages Act

Obviously, you mentioned the challenges in bilateral relations between the federal government and the provinces. I’m from New Brunswick, and there’s a major challenge in New Brunswick in terms of non-compliance with the Official Languages Act. You’ve given some very clear figures on the almost discriminatory situation that exists between anglophone and francophone communities. I would really love to hear from New Brunswick’s decision makers, who can shed some light on their obligations and on how Bill C-13 will be respected, taking into account the obligations under the federal Official Languages Act.

Senator Plett: Obviously, you’ve gone to the same school of economics as Justin Trudeau. The budget doesn’t balance itself, even if you and he believe that it does.

Leader, I will put this on the record because it is important. Liberal MP Ken MacDonald said that a constituent called him and said that she could no longer afford home heating oil. She said:

I go around my house with a blanket wrapped around me. The only time I get to have beef or chicken is if my niece or nephew invites me out to Sunday dinner.

Senator Gold, this is as a result of your regressive carbon tax. The MP tells this story to everyone he meets in the Trudeau government. He said:

At first, some people said to me, like, there’s nobody living like that . . . And I said, “If you don’t think people are living like that, you’re not living in the real world.”

I would suggest that to you and to the Prime Minister as well, Senator Gold: If you don’t believe that people are living like that because of this, you are not living in the real world.

Leader, I agree; the Prime Minister is not living in the real world. A year ago, 39 members of his cabinet spent over $46,000 on catering for a three-day trip to discuss affordability — $46,000 to discuss affordability. Is that an example of living in the real world, Senator Gold; yes or no?

Senator Moncion: Thank you, colleagues.

The group that deals with that sent us the dollar amounts and number of child care spaces, and, yes, we’ll give you that information. We’re going to ask the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to invite those people because they really have a lot of information gathered from coast to coast to coast. These people, who are with the FCFA, will be able to provide guidance as we revise the act to ensure that it recognizes and enforces the rights of francophones outside Quebec and anglophones in Quebec.

I don’t think I answered your question fully, but I believe that, as we study this matter, we’ll monitor things carefully and some people will keep an eagle eye on the bill and its potential impact on francophone families outside Quebec and anglophone families in Quebec.

[English]

Senator Plett: Senator Boehm, many of us fondly remember Senator Fraser in this chamber — a good Liberal senator. I struggle with the “good Liberal,” but, nevertheless, I fondly remember her and miss her. She was always concerned about the finances. Again, it’s surprising, given her Liberal leanings. She always asked, “What is the financial impact? Is there travel involved in this?”

If you could, please give us an idea of what the committee is planning, whether there’s an African trip involved in this, or the kind of money involved. Thank you.

Senator Boehm: Thank you, senator. The committee will meet and determine what it should do. The plan is as sketched out in the language of the motion — to look at all aspects — and I imagine that as we discuss the aspects, we would look at all options, including whether travel might be required or not.

I would only add that this committee has not travelled very much. It’s undertaken the recent travel to Washington in the pursuit of a study last December, and more recently to Europe. Before that, the last time the committee travelled was before I joined the Senate, so it was in 2017. I don’t think ruling out travel is the way to go. Perhaps looking at it in the context of whether and how it makes sense, we will be looking at that. But there is no decision. If I could only add that, on our last travel — as you will recall, senator, with the guidance of the Subcommittee on Senate Estimates and Committee Budgets and the Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration Committee — we reduced the number of senators and we all flew economy class on that trip. We are mindful of costs, and we are mindful of whether this would be a necessity or not. Thank you for the question.

(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

[Translation]

Hon. Leo Housakos: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Senate take note of:

(a)the deteriorating humanitarian crisis occurring in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor and increased military aggression against indigenous Armenian civilians in the region; and

(b)the actions of the Aliyev regime as being dictatorial, and in violation of international law; and

That the Senate call on the Government of Canada:

(a)to support the liberty of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and their right to self-determination;

(b)to immediately impose sanctions against the Azeri regime;

(c)to demand the immediate reopening of the Lachin corridor and the release of Armenian Prisoners of War;

(d)to provide a significant aid package through NGOs to those Armenian people forcefully displaced from their indigenous land; and

(e)to protect the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh through the presence of international peacekeeping forces.

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Honourable senators, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to highlight the 19th annual Montreal International Black Film Festival, being held in person and online from September 27 to October 1, 2023.

It is an audacious festival that seeks to promote the development of the independent film industry and showcase films on the realities of Black people around the world. It is a new look on Black film that offers bursaries and awards of excellence.

The MIBFF, formerly the Montreal Haitian Film Festival, has become not only the most important festival of its kind in the country, but also a key player in cultural diversity in Quebec.

Congratulations to Fabienne Colas and her entire organizing team on this 19th annual festival. Thank you.

Hon. Michèle Audette: Hello everyone, tshinashkumitin.

Colleagues, I rise today to honour the memory of the late Joyce Echaquan, who left us three years ago. This Atikamekw woman, a mother, died under inhumane, abject conditions amid a barrage of racist, discriminatory and unacceptable slurs. Even the horrific video that made its way around the world in seconds proves it.

On September 28, 2020, the fate of our gentle warrior, Joyce Echaquan, could have taken a different turn. Had we done things differently, she might still be with us today.

In her report, coroner Géhane Kamel wrote that racism or discrimination may have played a part in her death. The coroner is calling on the Government of Quebec to go a step further. She wants it to acknowledge the presence of systemic racism in its institutions, and work hard to eliminate the kinds of things that women like Joyce Echaquan experience.

In response, the Government of Quebec recently tabled Bill 32 on cultural safety. I have to say, we are fortunate to have Joyce’s Principle in its entirety.

Canada is also committed to advancing the fight against racism and discrimination. I also understand that a bill on Indigenous health is being developed to fight racism and discrimination.

In my heart, I tell myself that when someone arrives at the hospital, they have the right to be treated with dignity, respect and without discrimination or racism. I’m eagerly anticipating the day that this bill is introduced in the other place and arrives here in the Senate, so that we can all honour Joyce’s memory together, hers and the thousands of others who left without being heard.

I made a promise to her spouse, Carol, her mother, Diane, and an entire community. I promised to walk beside Joyce Echaquan, and I know many people here in this chamber will as well.

Thank you. I want to tell the family that I love them. Today is a difficult day, but we have a collective responsibility to ensure that all women, regardless of culture or background, are treated with dignity when they arrive at the hospital.

Thank you.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate its reports on issues relating to human rights generally, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

[Translation]

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Senator Gold, yesterday, in answer to a question from Senator Batters, I was surprised to hear you state that your government was in no way responsible for the current housing crisis that is having a major impact on Canadian families, particularly single-parent families.

In an article published in the August 25 edition of the Financial Post, Jack Mintz, a tax and urban infrastructure expert, said that the Liberals brought in more than a million newcomers in 2022 and are preparing to welcome over 1.2 million in 2023.

The combined total for these two years represents an increase of over 5.4% in the Canadian population, which is triple the average of the past 40 years. That makes Canada the country with the highest population growth in the G20.

As an August National Bank of Canada study shows, housing starts are currently only a quarter of population growth, compared to the historical average of 61%.

Senator Gold, with such an out-of-control immigration policy, do you still think that your government isn’t responsible for the housing crisis?