Senator Plett: The only reason Canadians know about this waste is because a group of whistle-blowers came forward. I hope the Prime Minister isn’t going to go after them the way he did with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, whistle-blowers earlier this year.

The investigators also found issues with conflict of interest and other mismanagement of funding. Yet, this past summer, the foundation said the allegations were all unfounded.

Leader, how many taxpayers’ dollars have been spent on salaries, expenses and bonuses at this foundation under the Trudeau government?

Senator Gold: I do not have the information that you have requested.

I will repeat: The government, upon learning of this, took the appropriate remedial action, and expects all of the organizations funded by the government to comply with the appropriate and strict standards.

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

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Thursday, May 19, 2022, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology in relation to its study on the Canadian assisted human reproduction legislative and regulatory framework be extended from October 31, 2023, to June 30, 2025.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[Translation]

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Omidvar, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Stefan Marquis and Colin Anderson from the Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Boyer.

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

Hon. Ratna Omidvar introduced Bill S-278, An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (disposal of foreign state assets).

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Omidvar, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

Hon. Ratna Omidvar introduced Bill S-279, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (data on registered charities).

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to remind you that yesterday the Senate adopted an order to govern the times for questions and responses during Question Period. Pursuant to the order, when we do not have a minister with us, a senator’s initial question is limited to one minute, and the answer to another minute. The senator can then ask one supplementary question of at most 30 seconds, with the answer limited to the same duration.

The reading clerk will stand 10 seconds before the expiry of these times.

Is it also agreed that, if a senator has started a question, they be allowed to continue with their supplementary question and to receive the answer without being interrupted by the expiration of the time for Question Period?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, last night the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry admitted the Trudeau government has frozen the work of Sustainable Development Technology Canada. This is a federal foundation, Senator Gold, that the Trudeau government has given $1 billion — over five years — to distribute to green technology firms.

According to external investigators, in 2020 and 2021, this foundation gave $38 million in emergency relief COVID payments to companies it had dealt with previously without proper eligibility monitoring or reporting.

Leader, this is yet another example of waste and incompetence on the part of the Trudeau government. No one was giving this foundation proper oversight. Senator Gold, is anything being done to recoup these taxpayers’ dollars?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of members of the Korean-Canadian community of British Columbia. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Martin.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Ms. Crescence Ottou, Mayor of Bikok, Cameroon. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Gerba.

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

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today in the presence of fellow Korean Canadians Ann Woo, Myung Shin An, Soon Hee Oh and Ho Sook Kwon to recognize an important day for us and the national Korean-Canadian community and people of Korean descent around the world. October 3 is Gaecheonjeol, National Foundation Day, a day that celebrates the legendary origin and ancient history of the Korean people.

Gaecheonjeol, meaning “the day when the heavens opened,” is a day to commemorate the founding of Gojoseon, the first nation of the Korean people formed in 2333 BC, according to the Dangun myth.

Gaecheonjeol has been designated as a national holiday in Korea since 1909 and is currently a public holiday that is celebrated in various ways. According to the long-standing tradition, on October 3, communities gather at official ceremonies to mark this important day. Families visit ancestral burial sites or gather to honour their ancestors. They enjoy traditional foods and play games. In towns and cities, there may be parades or festivals to bring people together to enjoy traditional performances and entertainment in celebration of the shared culture and thousands of years of history.

In celebration of Gaecheonjeol here in Ottawa, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea will be hosting an event tomorrow evening at the Fairmont Château Laurier.

This year, 2023, is indeed a historic year. It marks the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Korea and the seventieth anniversary of the Korean War armistice.

Korea has a proud history of overcoming Japanese colonial rule and the devastating Korean War and achieving today’s prosperity as the twelfth-largest economy in the world.

The Korean people also remember the courageous patriots of the independence movement from the Japanese colonialism and the Korean War veterans, whose efforts and sacrifices have built the foundation upon which Korea has flourished and become a G20 nation.

Honourable senators, please join me in recognizing Gaecheonjeol and what this day means to the more than quarter‑million members of the Korean-Canadian communities across Canada.

Thank you. Gamsahamnida.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of David Brazil, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Wells.

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

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, as soon as the government learned of the alleged wrongdoing, it engaged a third party expert to conduct a review. The government has received the report. The government takes these findings seriously; that’s why it’s taking immediate, corrective action, including implementing the action plan by December.

As this process continues, the government will monitor the situation. It expects all organizations funded by the government to adhere to the highest standards.

Hon. Leo Housakos: Senator Gold, your government repeatedly said that user-generated content would not be regulated by Bill C-11. You explicitly ruled out the regulation of podcasts.

On May 12 of this year, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, released a myths and facts communiqué stating that concerns over the regulation of podcasts were a myth, and that anyone who creates a podcast isn’t a broadcaster under this law.

Quietly, last Friday, the very same regulator announced that podcasts must be registered with your government. Senator Gold, for a government supposedly consumed with misinformation and disinformation, this government continues to engage in it. Why were Canadians lied to in this manner by the Trudeau government and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC?

Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise today in the Senate Chamber to speak about a rising concern for us all — food security. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, supply chain management difficulties and climate change, which have been challenging our crucial agricultural and food sectors, many Canadians and people throughout the world have become food insecure. While the government develops many programs, benefits and policies to correct this, it will take efforts from all aspects of society to improve Canadian food systems. That is why, today, I want to recognize a particular organization working to grow and foster food security both domestically and internationally.

The Hunger Project, as it is known, works towards ending hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable strategies and advocating for widespread practice adoption in countries throughout the world. According to The Hunger Project, up to 811 million people around the world live in chronic hunger, of which 60% are women.

In Canada, individuals like Matt Bunch, from my hometown of Fergus, continue to advocate for Canadians facing food insecurity. As the Co-Country Director, Matt continues to engage with community leaders, stakeholders and agencies to connect and improve to adapt local and regional supports to ongoing challenges.

The Hunger Project is a success story, fellow senators. Since its founding 20 years ago, it has successfully reached over 1.6 million people, helping to pull them out of food poverty, generating sustainability and a future for communities throughout the world.

It’s important, colleagues, that we in the Red Chamber continue to focus on food security and address the long-term challenges to continue supporting Canadians and people throughout the world. Advocating and supporting groups like The Hunger Project will do just that. I take pride in standing here today celebrating their continued success. Thank you. Meegwetch.