On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order, or usual practice, until the end of the day on June 30, 2024, any joint committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings, with the provisions of the order of February 10, 2022, concerning such meetings, having effect; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order, or usual practice, until the end of the day on June 30, 2024, any joint committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings, with the provisions of the order of February 10, 2022, concerning such meetings, having effect; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

Senator Housakos: The only assurance that this chamber and taxpayers have is that the RCMP is looking into it. Hopefully, they’ll get to the bottom of which pockets got lined.

Senator Gold, given the latest news regarding it, will your government finally do the right thing and cancel the outstanding fines that were issued as a result of this deeply flawed and — as we now know — fraudulent app? Will you apologize to Canadians who were unlawfully ordered into quarantine despite having done nothing wrong — Canadians such as Joe Walsh and thousands of others who have been fined?

Senator Plett: These three MPs from New Brunswick yesterday had a chance to show some backbone and vote against the Prime Minister’s carbon tax in the other place, but they failed to do so. Were they whipped, leader? Is this typical of Liberal behaviour, say one thing and vote another way?

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order, or usual practice, until the end of the day on June 30, 2024, any joint committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings, with the provisions of the order of February 10, 2022, concerning such meetings, having effect; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

Senator Plett: The Prime Minister continues to live far outside of the real world. A record number of Canadians cannot feed themselves, yet his government continues to implement policies that make groceries more expensive. Three weeks ago, the Prime Minister promised food prices would be stabilized — and ideally lowered — by Thanksgiving.

Senator Gold, does your government honestly believe that telling Canadians more coupons and flyers are coming fulfills that promise?

Senator Gold: As the minister announced today, we are expecting concrete action from the five major chains with proposals to lower the cost of groceries for Canadians. The minister has also been in touch, as he was encouraged to do so by business groups, with other important players in the chain. This is about concrete action with those responsible for food prices, and that’s what the government is doing.

Senator Gold: I take your suggestion seriously, and we will discuss it quickly.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Honourable Senator Patricia Carney, former senator for British Columbia and trailblazer in many ways.

The Honourable Patricia Carney began her professional career first as a journalist in the 1960s. She was the first female business columnist for major papers in our home province of B.C., including the Vancouver Sun and what was then known as the Vancouver Province.

She was also an educator and a Canadian pioneer in the development of distance learning systems. She understood the profound impact that education plays in the lives of our children and youth and the important role that educators have in helping shape their future careers and education.

Former Senator Carney was awarded the British Columbia Institute of Technology award for Innovation in Education for work on the Satellite Tele-Education Program Hermes project — a true testament to her vision, dedication and knowledge.

She was also an avid volunteer, advocate and member of many organizations and boards. She was a published author and held Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from both the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.

In the 1980s, she changed careers and began her life in politics. She was the first female Conservative member of Parliament ever elected in B.C., and on August 30, 1990, became the first female Conservative appointed from B.C. to the Senate.

Former Senator Carney retired in March of 2008, just before I began my work in the Senate as a senator for B.C. Although we never crossed paths during our political careers, as a proud B.C. senator and a woman, it is truly an honour to follow in her footsteps and continue to represent the good people of our province.

She led a life dedicated to service, from mentoring her students to serving her community, constituents and Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Above all, she was a devoted daughter, wife and mother of two wonderful children. On behalf of our Conservative caucus in the Senate, I would like to express my deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. I hope that you can find peace in the memories you shared with her and be assured that her memory lives on in the lives of all those she has touched.

Honourable senators, please join me in saying a final farewell to an esteemed former colleague, the late Honourable Patricia Carney. May she forever rest in peace.

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order, or usual practice, until the end of the day on June 30, 2024, any joint committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings, with the provisions of the order of February 10, 2022, concerning such meetings, having effect; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house accordingly.

Senator Gold: Thank you, senator, for the question.

I was informed that this program provides refugees with income support and settlement assistance for 12 months through the Resettlement Assistance Program, and that the Rainbow Railroad is one of the organizations involved in this effort.

The government is open to improving its intake process, and I will be happy to pass along your comments to the government.

Senator Gold: I am not a part of the government, though I represent them here in the Senate. I really have no comments to make as to what is done in the other place vis-à-vis controlling members of any caucus, Liberal or otherwise.

The fact remains, as I said, that the policy of the government remains and it’s one that the government will continue to pursue.

[Translation]

Senator Gold: Again, I’ll simply repeat. The government is taking its management of the economy — to the extent that it has a role, which it does — seriously and responsibly, and that’s why Canada continues to perform well in these very tumultuous times. Importantly, the government is doing its part to help Canadians who — despite macroeconomic indicators and all the responses — are suffering, the government knows Canadians are suffering and the government is there to assist in the best way it can.

Senator Gold: Again, the government will work in partnership with Saskatchewan to address this. It is in the interest of all Canadians regardless of where we all live. Indeed, the Government of Canada knows that carbon management technologies — and there are a range of such approaches — are important tools in the broader toolbox that we all need to work with to reduce or remove emissions. Canada’s Carbon Management Strategy, released just last month, aims to support the deployment of such strategies, and the government will work with the province to that effect.

Senator Housakos: Senator Gold, I am pleading with this government. Canadians are having a hard time heating their homes and putting food on the table for their children. They’re having a hard time getting from their homes to work, very often costing them more to get there than what the work actually pays.

When will this government lift its boot off the throat of working-class Canadians and allow them to breathe during these terribly difficult times which your government has created and contributed to in creating this inflation?

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The government is pursuing policies, programs and investments to help Canadians through these difficult times. I have outlined them on many occasions in this chamber, and, with the time allocated to me, I will not repeat myself. I will leave it for you to repeat the same question over and over again. I’m afraid that the facts and my answers will speak for themselves.

Senator Gold: Thank you.

I understand the concern. It’s an important program and important that the money be flowing. I will communicate the specifics of your request.

I don’t have information on the timeline, but the government shares the common goal of having the Canada disability benefit running as soon as possible. The government knows that the disability community is counting on it to deliver.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your supplementary question. I’m not in a position to answer the specific question, but I can assure you and those in this chamber that the government knows how fundamentally important it is that data be collected and analyzed in order to inform the next steps going forward.

Senator Loffreda: Thank you for that answer.

In order to properly evaluate the success or failure of this pilot project, it is critical for Transport Canada to collect high-quality data. We need to know how often the measure is being used, who is using it, what savings are being generated for shippers and growers and what additional costs have been absorbed by some of the stakeholders along the supply chain, including railways.

Can you assure us that such data is being collected so the government can make an informed decision when this temporary measure expires?