QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Foreign Interference
May 29, 2024
Senator Gold, foreign influence has been an issue for the Conservative Party now for many years. We had legislation in the other place, the Kenny Chiu bill. I moved legislation here because it is an existential crisis facing our country which challenges our democracy and our economic institutions. Yet, this government has been negligent in dealing with this issue. In her preliminary report from the public inquiry that your government called, Justice Hogue released a scathing report against this government and how negligent you have been. I can’t wait to read the actual report.
You’ve now tabled a bill in haste — I believe it’s a public relations exercise because nobody seems to be interested in foreign interference in this chamber over the last two years or by your government. Can we have a commitment that your government in this chamber will do whatever it takes to make sure that Bill C-70, which was tabled in the other place, will become law expeditiously and efficiently before the end of this Parliament, which is 12 months or less as things are going?
Well, senator, you never miss an opportunity, do you? It’s a serious problem. I simply do not — and the government does not — accept your characterization either of what the interim report of Justice Hogue has said or of the government’s behaviour.
The Government of Canada was very pleased to see Michael Chong’s expression of support for Bill C-70 and the offer of your party to expedite its passage through the House. I can assure both you and this chamber that when we get this bill — and I do not know when we will — I have every confidence in the Senate to study it properly.
You can count on the Government Representative Office in the Senate to do everything that we can to have this bill studied properly and passed effectively and expeditiously because it’s an important bill.
Senator Gold, for a number of years, the public has seen your government run and hide when it comes to this issue. You procrastinated on having a public inquiry — it took months and months of pressure from the opposition to have one. Now we finally have a bill, and I’m asking a simple question. Yes, we will come to terms. We agree. We want to do this. We wanted to do this six years ago.
All I’m asking you is this: Will your government commit that we will get to the end of the finish line and have legislation in place so we can deal with these nefarious forces by the end of this Parliament? Can we have your commitment that it will be law, passed by both chambers, before the end of this Parliament?
Senator Housakos, you may be projecting into the future or longing for the past. I do not have the power to give you a commitment as to how the Senate will deal with a government bill. Believe me, it would make my job a lot easier if I could. I’m counting on your support, Senator Housakos, and the support of senators to do a proper study of this bill and to pass it without any delay.
