The Hon. the Speaker: Are honourable senators ready for the question?

The Hon. the Speaker: Stand. Senator Wells is not here.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Wells is not —

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 254, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the Canada Grain Act review.

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Wells, would you like to move third reading?

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 260, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Veterans Affairs Canada and the provision of benefits or services to family members of veterans who are in federal or provincial prisons.

The Hon. the Speaker: The standing vote is deferred to 5:30. Senator McCallum?

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator McCallum, can you please repeat your comment?

The Hon. the Speaker: It is not clear what you are asking. Could you please repeat that?

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 251, dated September 19, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: So you are not asking for leave?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, although you claimed that your government has not mismanaged the creation of the National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan, there are many who would disagree.

Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour gave an interview on Monday in which she said the Trudeau government chose to “cheat” the winning design team by ignoring their own rules in awarding the design contract to another team. Justice Arbour served as an adviser to the team chosen by a jury.

Leader, I hope you would agree with me that a former Supreme Court Justice using the word “cheat” to describe your government’s actions should not be taken lightly. Who made the decision to overturn the jury’s decision, and did that directive come from the Office of the Prime Minister?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, Conservative MP Michael Chong recently pointed out that the U.K. government’s advice regarding travel to our country states, “Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Canada.” This advice appears to have been updated on November 3.

However, Canada’s official National Terrorism Threat Level is “Medium,” meaning that a violent act of terrorism could occur, and has been at this level since October 2014.

Leader, these are two very different assessments. Does our Five Eyes partner know something that Canadians are not being told?

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 200, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the legalization of cannabis — Health Canada.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Your Honour, now I would like to have a clarification. We were of the impression, Your Honour, that Senator McCallum was going to ask leave for her to withdraw her amendment because Senator Klyne had a different amendment. If that is the case, there would not be a vote at 5:30. Now I am hearing that she is asking leave for a vote at 5:30. We already have that. If she is asking leave to withdraw her amendment so that Senator Klyne — apparently, they have an agreement, which we are certainly not objecting to — we would not object to leave for her to withdraw, but I think we need to be clear what she is trying — because I am not clear right now.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) tabled the reply to Question No. 200, dated February 2, 2023, appearing on the Order Paper and Notice Paper in the name of the Honourable Senator Plett, regarding the legalization of cannabis — Canada Revenue Agency.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate), pursuant to notice of November 8, 2023, moved:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Question.