Honourable senators, my question is also for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. It concerns the rights of seniors who are among the most vulnerable members of our society.

Health care authorities in British Columbia have recently taken steps to impose outside administrators for three senior care homes on Vancouver Island amid concerns about the neglect of residents, including the inadequate treatment of wounds and medication delays.

These seniors’ facilities were sold to Anbang Insurance Group in 2017, a Beijing-based company subsequently seized by the Chinese government in February 2018.

Senator Harder, in June 2017 you said that your government believed this transaction was appropriate and that it stood by its decision to approve this sale under the Investment Canada Act.

Given the recent revelations of poor treatment of seniors at these facilities, does your government still believe this transaction was appropriate?

With respect to the reports of neglect at these seniors’ care homes, a spokesperson for Minister Bains recently told The Globe and Mail that the federal government would monitor commitments made around the number of jobs and facilities. This seems to be quite the bare minimum of what the minister and his department should be doing, concerning all that has transpired in recent months.

I’m speaking personally as well. My mother is in care and the operations within a facility are complex. People are working very diligently, but given the facts and the information that has recently been uncovered, would you assure us what further action your government will take to demonstrate true accountability for the decision it made just two years ago to approve this transaction and to demonstrate that the rights of the seniors in British Columbia are a priority?